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Show off Your Recent Detail => Café Hall of Fame Detail Work => Topic started by: gipraw on August 17, 2008, 07:53:33 PM

Title: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 17, 2008, 07:53:33 PM
Check this out..  1962 vette.  Original paint.  this car looks awesome from 10 feet away, but up close it is rough, rough, rough.

The owner has asked me to get it to the point where he isn't embarrassed to drive it for the next 8 - 10 months, when it is scheduled to undergo a complete frame off restoration.
As you can see below .. this car has numerous issues.  There are several places where the fiberglass is cracking and failing, causing several surface paint issues.


Sitting in the driveway.
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-1.JPG)

Playing with the Gilmour:
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-2.JPG)


Close ups after washing.

There are several different places on the paint where some sort of solvent, or other chemical has been rubbed over or sprayed on the surface. This is on the front and hood:
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-3.JPG)


more of the junk all over the front of this car:
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-4.JPG)



Another angle looking at the hood:
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-5.JPG)


The hardtop looks as bad, or worse than the hood does.
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-6.JPG)


Some of the cracking I mentioned previously.
(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-7.JPG)



I have this car for most of the week, so I will be able to take my time on it, and see how much I can improve on the current condition.  I would love to make this car looks like it deserves to look, but the paint is just too far gone.  It is a shame that the car's previous owner neglected it so bad.




Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: guitarman502 on August 17, 2008, 08:03:00 PM
awww sweet!
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rollingrock on August 17, 2008, 11:06:20 PM
insert popcorn image here...   I will be watching this will fun to read.

Best of luck but I know you'll work some mojo on it.

Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Boss_429 on August 18, 2008, 06:37:59 AM
Gip...

Sweet! Wasn't the paint on those Vett's black lacquer?

Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on August 18, 2008, 08:05:30 AM
Gip...

Sweet! Wasn't the paint on those Vett's black lacquer?



You know, I think I've read that once before... Great point, Boss! 

What would one do differently on a lacquer vs. an old single-stage?  Or, is it kind of one in the same?

Can't wait to see what you can do with it Gip.  Glad to see it's finally in your driveway -- we've talked about this one for months now...
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 18, 2008, 08:25:48 AM
Yes, it is lacquer. Which, I believe, goes along way towards explaining how the finish has reacted to the various chemicals and stuff it has been exposed to over the years.

I haven't decided exactly how I am going to work it .. probably different from panel to panel .. there is so much cracking on the hood, and hard top, that I won't be able to do a lot with it.





Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on August 18, 2008, 08:45:14 AM
I am exceedingly interested in hearing how you broach the cracked paint, Gip...

My 1978 Bronco (which is a long long cry from what you're working on) has a LOT of cracking in the original paint.  I'd love to know how you work to correct that -- I simply haven't worked on enough single stage to feel comfortable chasing a solution to this one.

Again, I can't wait to see where you go with this car -- that is a beautiful car!
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 18, 2008, 09:28:00 AM
if it is lacquer checking, as most of it appears to be on this vette, then there is nothing that can be done for it, other than a repaint.   I will try and get a good picture posted of it ..  my camera batteries died last night before I got a good shot.

Overall, I will start with #80, simply because I have always liked the way it performs on this type paint, and finish with #21, topped with #16.  what I do in between is up in the air.

the only thing I really do differently when working with a lacquer are paying special attention to the least aggressive mantra, since the paint is so soft.

Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on August 18, 2008, 10:39:53 AM
Okay... guess I need to get a buzz word or two together here...

Lacquer is the same as single stage, correct? 

Also, Gip... thanks for the referral... I met with him today and gave his Black Firehawk a look.  It's pretty standard swirling --- damn, those things have all kinds of body lines and angles though.  There's hardly a flat panel on the thing...   I see a *LOT* of hand work going in to correcting his paint but, I think I'm going to take it on.  We'll see where it goes...

I need to get my paws on some 151 as, from what I've read/seen, this car is the poster child for what that stuff will do...


-RP-
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 18, 2008, 11:08:22 AM
there are several types of single stage paint .. Acrylic Enamel is the most common, Acrylic Lacquer, and I believe there is also a synthetic enamel.

you are welcome for the referral..   have fun .. that is some of the hardest clear coat on the planet. they look awesome when they are done ..   get some good before and after pics ..   if he posts the results on LS1tech, you might get run over with requests.

the other thing you will notice about that car, is that it drips for hours ..  lol ..   definately a need for the blower or the compressed air.
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on August 18, 2008, 12:00:36 PM
Ugh.... wasn't aware on the drippage.

Hard clear, eh?  I'm assuming that you've done one or eight of these things -- certainly not trying to hijack the Vette thread thus, I'll just PM you to see if I can get some insider information on how to treat it...

Hard clear with moderate swirling may be a toughy with black paint... :)  PM inbound.

Back to the regularly scheduled Vette' thread.    O0
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: hwm3 on August 18, 2008, 11:20:27 PM
Looking forward to seeing this project. 
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 18, 2008, 11:23:03 PM
have a few new pics to post, of the work in progress.

I included a couple of before shots, for easy comparison.



(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/hood-1.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/hood-2.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/hood-3.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/roof-1.JPG)


And now a few afters .. this is after buffing, and prior to applying # 21



(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-1.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-2.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-3.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-4.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-5.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-7.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-8.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-9.JPG)


the roof is checked really bad, so this is as good as it is going to get.


(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-10.JPG)
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: leedriver on August 19, 2008, 09:26:57 AM
Looks amazing Gip..... NO comparrison to what it looked like upon arrival.

Also, great to have some real Pro's here to help us newbies.....  :thumbsiup: :thumbsiup:
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: tdr6874 on August 19, 2008, 02:59:12 PM
the car looks good, but like it was posted on other site, i am not too sure that the owner really knows if it is the original paint...if the removable hard top is checked more, i would guess that it is original and the body is a respray...if is is checked, but not as bad as the top....i would guess from late 70's to mid 80's was when the work was done.  the top i bet was in a lot better shape than the car when the spray was done 20+ or so years ago, so it was left alone (since the top is usually off the car and does not get the sun or heat from engine like the rest of the car has seen for over 45 years). 

the emblem that was pulled (the cross flags) i looks like a respray from the impression left.

if it is an original paint, and a high output 327 or a fuel inj car orig car i would think he should not touch it....

at first thought i was thinking it was a respray since it was a solid color, but in 1962 the solid color option came back...first time since 1953 that your vette was not a two tone only.

the car looks good, and nice work as always...but i think the owner may not know what he has unless he is original owner...they still had a hard time making the seams on the vette up till late 60's then started cheating by putting on the rubber/plastic front and rear nose parts...they made less than 15k vettes in 62....that should tell you they still did not have a real good grasp how to make them.  the seams usually bubble...like alot of 60 steel cars...the seams bubble up from the lead that is used to put the panels together.

if he is doing a full rebuilt he sure got a nice one to start with....

Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on August 19, 2008, 03:56:00 PM
I think you are pretty spot on for parts .. I think it may actually be a mix of both ..   

from looking at it more last night, I think the front has been resprayed, as I can see an old repair on the bumper, and know for a fact the front facia has been redone..  but my guess is the rear deck, and at least the rear quarters are original paint, and are pretty severly checked.
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Zaairman on August 21, 2008, 01:02:40 AM
I <3 #80 on single stage paint.  Girlfriend owns a '93 Miata that's BLACK.  Buffed it out and I felt like a pro.

  Looking good Gip!
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on August 21, 2008, 09:56:59 AM
Impressive stuff, Gip!
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Too Stroked on August 21, 2008, 01:09:07 PM
Gip,

When I first looked at your baseline pics, I never figured that #80 would be aggressive enough to get that kind of result. I'm truly amazed and impressed. Nice job!

RP,

One little additional detail on lacquer. It generally is single stage - from the factory. Some aftermarket (custom) lacquer paint jobs used multiple coats of clear lacquer to add depth. This was / is not the same as basecoat / clearcoat system though. The lacquer could survive as a single stage system - without the clear. If you try using basecoat without the clearcoat, the paint will not last long as it needs the protection of the second layer.
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Boss_429 on August 21, 2008, 05:13:48 PM
Nice work Gip!  :thumbsiup:

Lacquer paint is beautiful when it is maintained properly... just tough to keep that way. ;D
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rollingrock on August 24, 2008, 12:49:34 AM
Gip, sorry I just saw your afters...I am not sure I have proper adjectives other than incredible.

Thanks for posting here, great thread.


Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: gipraw on September 04, 2008, 02:50:12 PM
I ended up with about 27 hours or so into this car.   It was fun to do, and the owner was ecstatic with the way it turned out.   I didn't want to give this car back, and could have easily spent another 26 hours  on it.


I used a variety of products and buffers on this car, including:

Buffers: DeWalt, Flex and DA (wax removal only)

Products:
Meguiar's #80
Tropi-care Swirl Cutter Plus
Menzerna Final Polish II
Meguiar's #21 2.0
Meguiar's #16
Chemical Guys 5050



Here are some before shots:

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-2.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-3.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-4.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-5.JPG)




(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette-6.JPG)



and here are some afters:

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-1.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-2.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-3.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-4.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-5.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-6.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-8.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-9.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/after-10.JPG)


And a few outside in the sun prior to pickup:


(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-1.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-2.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-3.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-4.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-5.JPG)

(http://gipraw.zftp.com/details/vette/after-6.JPG)
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rollingrock on September 04, 2008, 03:07:34 PM
Man that is way out of my league...very impressive

Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Rockpick on September 04, 2008, 03:11:48 PM
My god... that is a SEXY car.  Nice work, Gip!
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: Too Stroked on September 04, 2008, 05:58:57 PM
Gip,

That one's flat out awesome. Now, is the owner re-thinking the re-paint thing?
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: GreyMichFX4 on September 04, 2008, 07:31:51 PM
That is one sexy looking Vette. Awesome work  :NW: :drool:
Title: Re: 46 year old paint.. in progress pics added.
Post by: hwm3 on September 04, 2008, 08:24:24 PM
I love that car. Excellent work as usual.  :thumbsiup:
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