85 Corvette detail - do's and dont's?

Mister B

Mister B

New member
I just got this 85 Corvette into the shop last night. I have never worked on a corvette before and I know these have fiberglass bodies and I am wanting to know if there are any special steps I need to take in caring for this car vs all the other non-fiberglass cars I have worked on in the past? I'll be polishing it out with my PCXP.

Poor cell phone pic.

tn_Corvette.jpg


I have not had a real good look at the car yet since I did not receive it until late last night, however I did notice what looks like some cracks in the paint on the top of the rear body panel that houses the rear tail lights. I also noticed the same thing on the top of the front nose piece as well. I have not had a good look at the rest of the car yet.

Any special tips for this car?

Thanks.
 
no special tricks for a Corvette or any other fiberglass body ... paint is paint ... that being said, the 80's were not good years for clear coats in general and Corvettes had their share of problems. Don't expect perfection if it is original paint and cracks on flexible panels are to be expected.
We had a guy come by a month or so ago with a red 80's Vette with very low miles, but there was clear coat failure in a few spots and even some runs in the paint. Again typical of the era. Good luck and you will need to just use a careful eye as you move along .. :)
 
Poorboy said:
no special tricks for a Corvette or any other fiberglass body ... paint is paint ... that being said, the 80's were not good years for clear coats in general and Corvettes had their share of problems. Don't expect perfection if it is original paint and cracks on flexible panels are to be expected.
We had a guy come by a month or so ago with a red 80's Vette with very low miles, but there was clear coat failure in a few spots and even some runs in the paint. Again typical of the era. Good luck and you will need to just use a careful eye as you move along .. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, Steve.
 
That last pic show of the cracks that is what Steve is talking about. That is not marring from improper washing and such. Do not expect to remove those

The best thing that you have going for you is the car is white which will not show the marring. I would also suggest a glaze like PB WD
 
Beemerboy said:
That last pic show of the cracks that is what Steve is talking about. That is not marring from improper washing and such. Do not expect to remove those
Click to expand...

Yea, I figured i could not remove those.

Hopefully it is safe to polish over those cracks with my PCXP though to at least clean up the paint. Does anyone have experience with polishing over both front and rear type cracks, or should it be done by hand?
 
Mister B said:
Yea, I figured i could not remove those.

Hopefully it is safe to polish over those cracks with my PCXP though to at least clean up the paint. Does anyone have experience with polishing over both front and rear type cracks, or should it be done by hand?
Click to expand...

don't worry about the cracks ... they won't be changing ...

ps Jared.. that's early clear coat :wall
 
Mister B said:
Yea, I figured i could not remove those.

Hopefully it is safe to polish over those cracks with my PCXP though to at least clean up the paint. Does anyone have experience with polishing over both front and rear type cracks, or should it be done by hand?
Click to expand...

If you using a PC then its no issue as Steve said paint is paint no matter what its painted onto...in most all cases.

Your PC will be harmless :D
 
The portion on the back is NOT fiberglass it is hard rubber.
It does not dissipate heat well so you can get in trouble with a rotary but with a PC it will be OK.
Early GM clear was not the best.
 
Thanks for the helpful information everyone. :bigups

I washed and clayed the vette today. I hope to start polishing tomorrow.
 
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