From Pink to Cherry! 1964 Nova SS Exterior Paint Correction

[Tru_Shine]

Where do I begin? This 1964 Nova SS is one beautiful classic muscle car. It has had a rough life from the previous owner, but the new owner has lots of plans in store for it. Right now the owner just wanted the paint to be brought back to life to hold it off until the full frame up restoration. So he gave me a call and asked if I could work my magic. I was honored to be able to work on such a nice old school classic piece of American history. Lets get this detail going.


The paint is a Single stage paint which is notorious for fading, and this one had really bad water spot stains and some areas were basically bleached of the color.

This is the car when I first arrived for the detail.

You can tell how bad the paint was oxidized by how cloudy the reflection was.

Here are some of the spiderweb scratches

and some type of animal scratches

here are some more pics of the horizontal panels

looks like this emblem got bird bombed?

The car had quite a few chips to touch up

Over all the car is in great condition, but it still needs some luv'n

It was a Very cold morning, so I had to dress accordingly. I began the detail by giving it a thorough foam wash using my Foam Canon and Dawn Detergent.

letting it dwell

Then rinse off any heavy stuff

Re-apply the snow foam for the hand wash

Washing it in straight lines.

Getting into all the tight areas with my boar's hair brush

after the car was washed, I then rinsed it one last time.

To any detailers out there that have to detail in the cold weather. These gloves are AMAZING! They keep your hands Dry and Warm.

Next is the Clay bar step. This car had little tree sap spots all over it

Its kind of hard to see, but if you look close, these were all over the paint and windows.

here is the clay bar after finished, I had to kneed it a few times too.

So then the car was pulled inside for the rest of the job.

I started out with doing some touch up. there were a lot of spots to cover and I new it would take some time.

This touch up was more for just making them chips less noticeable. there were a lot of rusty spots that needed the rust scratched out of them and touch up paint applied.

here is one area were I removed the rust out with the corner of the razor blade.

after both of the scratches were cleaned.

Next I applied the touch up paint.

I apply a couple of layers and then let it all dry before I wetsand it smooth.

While the touch up paint dries, I start the paint correction on the lower sides of the car.

here are some pics with the Halogen lights.

And here is a 50/50

And then the Final outcome of this fender.

I experimented with different methods starting off.

My first choice was the FLEX 3401 and PFW pad using Meguiars M105.

 

[Tru_Shine]

It left some marks on the paint so I followed behind it with the Lake country Cyan pad and M105 to get those out.

It did alright, but I really wanted to use my Griots garage DA and a Surbuff R-series pad. I like the flex, but it takes a lot of back muscle to work it, and with the DA and surbuff pad, its just so smooth and cuts amazingly. Once you master the Surbuff pad you can correct the paint better and faster then a Rotary buffer with a wool pad.

So on the next panel I pulled out the Griots and Surbuff pad and got at it.

After making it down the driver side, I started on the trunk using the Griots 6in DA and Surbuff working in 2'-3' squares

Here is some of the progress

and here is a 50/50 of the trunk

To get into all of the tight spots, I got out my Rotary with a 3in Gloss-it backing plate and a 4in orange pad

Here is that touch up after the wetsanding and buffing. the color was a little off but over all it was a lot less noticable.

And this is the final outcome of the touch up at the end

This is the roof getting some M105 from the Griots DA and Surbuff pad. (You can tell that the paint is Single Stage from how the M105 is turning pink).

The Roof before

The roof After

This is the hood after

After all of the Cutting I polished the car using a LC hydrotech Tangerine pad w/ M205 on the Flex 3401.

The Roof

The Trunk

The Hood

My choice of Sealant was BFWD on a Blue LC finishing pad using my Flex 3401

While the sealant was drying, I cleaned the window and dressed the tires.

Before we pulled it out side for the Final Wipe down and walk around, I took some #0000 steel wool and polish and cleaned up all of the little rust pits on the chrome bumpers.

Next we pulled it out side for the final look over and wipe down.

 

[Tru_Shine]

Now for the reflection shots

the owner pulled it over to the side to get some posing shots, you can tell he was happy by the big smile on his face.

The Boss man stepping out! I heard the song "Bad to the Bone" playing from the clouds, lol

Thanks for viewing, have a blessed day.

 

[imported_kakeuter]

Excellent work, yet again, Eric. I always look forward to seeing your writeups. The car turned out amazing!

-Kody-

 

[Superior Shine]

Sweeeeeet!

 

[jdonnell]

My gosh this is spectacular! I enjoy checking this forum to see the fantastic work you guys do. A true work of art on that Nova.

 

[Old Pirate]

Eric, this is one the best write ups you have done and the work shows it also! Thank you for the write up here at TID! Bravo! :wizard:

 

[bmw5541]

Eric,

That was a perfect example of how a correction should be done. What a stunning and masterful turnaround that was. I applaud you.:hurray::hurray::hurray:

 

[Jeff U]

There is another thread titled:

"Best Transformations of 2010"

I think we may have the winner right here...

:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

 

[gmblack3]

Stunning correction Eric!

Glad to hear that the surbuf pads are working for you.

 

[imported_TLMitchell]

Even if the subject has some flaws SS red is about as rewarding as it gets! Makes you look like a magician. ancing Dot:

Nicely done. Now get to work cleaning those pads. :biggrin:

TL

 

[imported_broker99]

There is another thread titled:

"Best Transformations of 2010"

I think we may have the winner right here...

:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

Boy I agree, night and day. Really nice work on that Nova. The owner had to have been very happy.

 

[Tru_Shine]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone, I loved detailing this car. I hope there will be more like it to come.:thumbup:

Excellent work, yet again, Eric. I always look forward to seeing your writeups. The car turned out amazing!

-Kody-

Thanks Kodster

Sweeeeeet!

Thanks Jose

Nice job on the Nova!

Thanks

My gosh this is spectacular! I enjoy checking this forum to see the fantastic work you guys do. A true work of art on that Nova.

Thank you sir!

Eric, this is one the best write ups you have done and the work shows it also! Thank you for the write up here at TID! Bravo! :wizard:

Thanks for having me Angelo

Eric,

That was a perfect example of how a correction should be done. What a stunning and masterful turnaround that was. I applaud you.:hurray::hurray::hurray:

Thanks Barry

There is another thread titled:

"Best Transformations of 2010"

I think we may have the winner right here...

:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

Thanks, that would be pretty sweet!

Stunning correction Eric!

Glad to hear that the surbuf pads are working for you.

yeah i love them.

Even if the subject has some flaws SS red is about as rewarding as it gets! Makes you look like a magician. ancing Dot:

Nicely done. Now get to work cleaning those pads. :biggrin:

TL

lol, yeah, everything i have is pink right now.

Boy I agree, night and day. Really nice work on that Nova. The owner had to have been very happy.

yes he was, and he knows a lot more hot rod guys too, so there should be more to come.

 

[imported_wendell jarvis]

Eric, I rarely leave comments on postings, unless the work and outcome wow's me, I have seen several postings of your work....gotta say, you are on Target, I know allot of Professional detailers and my friend....you my friend have what it takes to be well above the average detailer........4 out of 5 stars !! excellent outcome.
I am going to get some of those gloves, I have always used thermal Scuba Diving gloves.

 

[imported_juliom2]

beautiful turn around....car looks amazing...
Really like the combination of pads and machines...
thumps up!!!!

 

[Tru_Shine]

Eric, I rarely leave comments on postings, unless the work and outcome wow's me, I have seen several postings of your work....gotta say, you are on Target, I know allot of Professional detailers and my friend....you my friend have what it takes to be well above the average detailer........4 out of 5 stars !! excellent outcome.
I am going to get some of those gloves, I have always used thermal Scuba Diving gloves.

Thanks a bunch, comments like this are what gets me reaching for the highest goals I can set for myself and for my business. I really appreciate what you have said and it is just going to make me work even harder. Thanks again.



-Eric

 

[Chucks88SS]

WOW!! Great turn out on that paint!!

 

[ShineTech]

Great job! That paint looks wet as wet can be. The customers smile also says it all.

 

[Trans1998AM]

What an amazing turn around! Very impressive work.

 

[dfazekas]

wow...that's one of the best turn arounds i've seen in a while.

great job man.