1998 Black Corvette - Need Some Suggestions

L

Leadfootluke

New member
I will have a 98 Black Corvette to polish later this week. It is for a friend who purchased it with the intent of listing it and driving it until it sells. He wants the exterior improved, but at this point I do not have an idea of how bad the paint is. A few threads I found indicate the paint is really hard. Is that true, and what approach to polishing will work best with a DA? I have surbuf pads and the hydrotech pads with M105/M205 and some 85rd. Should I pick something else up before the car arrives? Thank you!
 
With what you already have, Surbuf and M105 will be your best bet I'm thinking. You might want to pick up some of the Meguiar's MF cutting pads as well. C5 paint is definitely very hard most of the time.



Funny, I'll be detailing a C5 Corvette that lives in Grand Rapids but is being brought down here to Lansing next week in preparation to attend Bloomington GOLD, and the week of the 27th I'm coming to Grand Rapids to work on a 1956 Corvette that is in need of some serious TLC.
 
I actually got the car dropped off early. It is an incredible mess. He wants a one step polish and wax, I will have to try some combinations to see if I can get anywhere with the paint. What do you know about the transparent roofs?



Shiny Lil Detlr said:
With what you already have, Surbuf and M105 will be your best bet I'm thinking. You might want to pick up some of the Meguiar's MF cutting pads as well. C5 paint is definitely very hard most of the time.



Funny, I'll be detailing a C5 Corvette that lives in Grand Rapids but is being brought down here to Lansing next week in preparation to attend Bloomington GOLD, and the week of the 27th I'm coming to Grand Rapids to work on a 1956 Corvette that is in need of some serious TLC.
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Leadfootluke said:
I actually got the car dropped off early. It is an incredible mess. He wants a one step polish and wax, I will have to try some combinations to see if I can get anywhere with the paint. What do you know about the transparent roofs?
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Depends... what's wrong with it? Any pics of the condition of the paint?
 
The transparent roofs are made of Lexan.



For a one step I would use M205 with the orange pad, it will get you some correction, but will finish out well enough on black.
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Depends... what's wrong with it? Any pics of the condition of the paint?
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I took some pictures, see below



gmblack3 said:
The transparent roofs are made of Lexan.



For a one step I would use M205 with the orange pad, it will get you some correction, but will finish out well enough on black.
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Great, thanks Bryan.



Here are some pictures. I have yet to start on it due to scheduling but I will be starting on it tomorrow morning.



IMG_4717.jpg




IMG_4718.jpg




Aint she beautiful



This is the headlight

IMG_4722.jpg




Bumper

IMG_4729.jpg




Condition of the Lexan roof

IMG_4723.jpg




Absolutely no clarity in the reflection on the Lexan

IMG_4726.jpg




rid city

IMG_4724.jpg




IMG_4725.jpg




Water spots

IMG_4727.jpg
 
Ouch.... big ouch.



I would agree with Bryan given all you're doing is a one-step, but it's not going to correct much on that nightmare.



That lexan can be a pain, often times once the coating has started to degrade it's almost not worth trying anything unless you want to do a several-stages-long restoration procedure on it. As bad as that car is and as little as your buddy wants done, gloss 'er up and ship 'er out. :(
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Ouch.... big ouch.



I would agree with Bryan given all you're doing is a one-step, but it's not going to correct much on that nightmare.



That lexan can be a pain, often times once the coating has started to degrade it's almost not worth trying anything unless you want to do a several-stages-long restoration procedure on it. As bad as that car is and as little as your buddy wants done, gloss 'er up and ship 'er out. :(
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Yeah, I understand. I will do my best in the amount of time I have and post up when I'm done.
 
I spent a few hours decontaminating it late last night which revealed an even bigger mess



IMG_4733.jpg




When I pulled it into the sun today, I could see the [deep] water etching. I did a small test area with my PCXP M205 and a Tangerine Hydrotech pad to see what it would do as far as removing swirls and glossing it up. It is definitely an improvement. Polishing with M205, Glaze and a sealant should make a fairly big difference in the end.



IMG_4736.jpg


IMG_4739.jpg


IMG_4740.jpg
 
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