So you think you have swirls? - Product Recommendations - 1989 Corvette

D

Danspeed1

New member
Hello,



I may need a little bit of help with this one... heres the situations. My girlfriend bought this car about a year ago. When we purchased it, we knew the paint was aweful. On the huge list of TO DO's is a new paint job but that is not one the schedule till next winter.



For now I would to get the car looking as good as possible with what I have to work with. Someone on the forum did a C4 Vette a number of years back,... in similar condition with similar paint. Granted that person was a pro, I hope to achieve results half as good.



If you look at the pictures you can see not only is the car scrached and marred to hell, but it looks like the passenger side bottom of the door was repainted. Little if any clear coat remains and the paint iself is extremely orange peeled. The top of the bumper is also heavily faded but I have plans for it so,.. not to worry.



The car is pretty dirty right now... she has not yet had a chance to wash it. I told her not to wash it because next week I am off and I will probably detail it then. Go easy on her,... she usually washed and vacuums the car every week.



This is probably how I am going to go about doing this project; but it may need some tweaking and I am not sure what type of pads to use so post your thoughts!



Wash with Dawn

Light wet sanding in certain areas with 2000 or 2500 grit

Wash with Dawn

Not sure if I need to use a heavy cutting cream or my 4Star LLC or SMR

Wash with Z7

ZPC

Z5

Z6

Z2

Z8



Couple of questions...



I know this isn't going to help me much but funds are limited and I still only own a sears rotary. How many RPM's am I going to need for this... can I away with using the rotary I have. I have used this to cut fresh paint on a different already and it worked OK but I know whats left of this clear coat is going to be HARD.



What type of cream am I going to need to get those heavy swirls out, and also remove the haze from wetsanding other areas? (LLC, SMR?)



I know I am going to have to use a Wool pad after wetsanding.. what type and where should I buy it?



Should I work some Danase Wet Glaze in their somewhere?



Thanks for the input,



Dan



The car is actually worse in person

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The Beast!

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Good questions.



If that were my car and I had only what you have to work with, first I'd got to autozone or whatever and get some good 3M compounds like 39002.



Use a harsh cutting pad and polish it out on 1500rpms, you'll probably need to do a few passes. Once you've polished the whole car 2-3 times, probably most of those scratches wll be gone and only the deep ones left.



Then do the wetsanding needed to remove the deeper scratches, then polish the marks out and repolish the rest of the car with the Zaino Fusion about 2 times with a softer pad at about 1300rpms. Then check for holograms and seal it with the Z5 and Z2.



You're talking about a 3 day project minimum, but even though you're not a pro I expect you will get excellent results following the process I described, or at least one very similar.



I want to see some after pics too when you're all finished with it.



Good luck.:2thumbs:

Josh
 
JoshVette said:
Good questions.



3M compounds like 39002.



Use a harsh cutting pad and polish it out on 1500rpms, you'll probably need to do a few passes.

---------------------

I want to see some after pics too when you're all finished with it.



Good luck.:2thumbs:

Josh
Click to expand...



Will do,... In about a week or so I will get started. Haven't checked the calendar yet but I have the week of Thanksgiving off so I expect to spend about 3-4 days in the garage anyway.



I have a few 3M heavy cut compounds on the shelf... I will have to take a look and see what I got. I also have Megs #83, and the light cut compound before that one (can't remember the number) and 4Star LLC and SMR. I happen to love the SMR and will work that in at some point.



As for the RPMs, unfortunately the junk rotary I have is trigger activated and does not have a numbered speed control so... I will have to make due. What I am wondering is what its top speed is? You think around 1500?



Also, what type of wool pad should I buy, I know that I am going to need one after the wetsanding, as for foam pads, I have about 15 of them all with different cutting and polishing capabilities.



My goal is just to practice a little, hopefully make the car look better. I want to try not to make it look worse (although I don't at all anticipate that happening).... you know how girls can be!



Anyone other advice?



DG
 
I'm not sure how fast it goes, if I had it infront of me I could tell you just by spinning it how fast it was going. (estimate)



My Makita only goes up to 3000rpms, but I've never gone past 1900 and I don't recommend you going about 1500 if you're not experienced and don't ever hold it stationary for any amount of time, you risk burning the paint.



You may have to play with it a little till you get a feel for what it will do with your pad and chemical set up, then once you feel more comfortable go at it a little faster.
 
JoshVette said:
I'm not sure how fast it goes, if I had it infront of me I could tell you just by spinning it how fast it was going. (estimate)



My Makita only goes up to 3000rpms, but I've never gone past 1900 and I don't recommend you going about 1500 if you're not experienced and don't ever hold it stationary for any amount of time, you risk burning the paint.



You may have to play with it a little till you get a feel for what it will do with your pad and chemical set up, then once you feel more comfortable go at it a little faster.
Click to expand...



Fortunately I have not burned the paint yet. I am used to using this particular machine but sometimes i feel like I need a little more power when working on heavily swirled areas. I really want a Makita but their just too expensive for me right now. This is more of a hobby and even when I charge for details they are few and far between.... I usually burn the proceeds on go fast parts!



Thanks for the encouragement,



Dan
 
Danspeed1 said:
Anybody want to recommend a wool pad and a company to buy one from?

DG
Click to expand...



You won't be able to find a quality pad in any store. AutoGeek is where I get most all my stuff.

If you're not experienced with this kind of thing, I would really steer clear of wool pads....



Try some Lake Country foam curved pads, 7.5 inches. Get a few orange, and a few white at least.



My suggestion.
 
JoshVette said:
Try some Lake Country foam curved pads, 7.5 inches. Get a few orange, and a few white at least.



My suggestion.
Click to expand...



I don't have Lake Country foam pads, but I do have some foam pads (the name I can't remember). I will order a couple of foam pads from Lake Country. I know I am going to need a wool pad, foam with my rotary will never cut it, I just don't want to go too agressive.



All my finishing is going to be done with foam pads.



As far as wet sanding out scratches, I am think 2000, 2500, or 3000.... very easy strokes.



Hood seems to have a ton of clear on it and so do the tops of the doors, but I am intersted and concerned about the condition of the bottom of the doors and the back bumper. The paint is so flat,... It should be interesting to see if I can get any gloss or shine back.



DG
 
Danspeed1 said:
I don't have Lake Country foam pads, but I do have some foam pads (the name I can't remember). I will order a couple of foam pads from Lake Country. I know I am going to need a wool pad, foam with my rotary will never cut it, I just don't want to go too agressive.



All my finishing is going to be done with foam pads.



As far as wet sanding out scratches, I am think 2000, 2500, or 3000.... very easy strokes.



Hood seems to have a ton of clear on it and so do the tops of the doors, but I am intersted and concerned about the condition of the bottom of the doors and the back bumper. The paint is so flat,... It should be interesting to see if I can get any gloss or shine back.



DG
Click to expand...



Wool is the most aggresive just to let you know.

LC makes wool pads too.

I have no doubt you will get a good sparkle out of that vette.

You might try it out first with the foam pads and see how well it works. Wool pads will put in lots of harsh holograms, even if you finish down with the wool, you may have some holograms left. I just wouldn't push it too hard.



Better to start less aggresive and work you way up, then to start out super harsh. You may be surprised at what the foam pads will do.



Here's a good example of an orange LC pad with Menz Power Gloss after one good pass at about 1700rpms.

No wool.

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Dan, that's a nice standard graph.



But I'm talking from experience. Just trying to caution you a little as I'm a pro and I rarely use a wool pad, it is very aggresive and I would not suggest someone using it with that buffer or without proper experience.



Have you done this before?? sounds like maybe you have?? have you wetsanded before??



Just trying to get my barrings.:xyxthumbs



I want to give you the best advise possible, but don't know how familiar you are with all this and I want to see that car sparkle as much as you. (notice my name....JoshVette):bigups
 
Josh,



I appreciate your help and intend on following your advice. I am just concerned that I am going to jump into this project and not have all the tools i need to get job done. The pictures really did not capture how bad the paint actually is. I am sure the car has been "touched up" (not been correctly repainted) in certain areas more than once. The hood is one area I feel like I have room to work and that is where I will start my experimentation. In June I did my 96 Impala and although I came out awesome, It took forever to get done. I was so concerned about "going to aggressive" that I under estimated what I would need to get the job done. The car took up garage space while I waited for Meguiars and 4Star to ship out products. Finally it got done, and like I said it looked awesome. This car's paint is 100X worse. What I am primarily looking to do is to get the car looking nice for another year, and then it will most definitely be painted.



As for my experience, I like to call myself a beginner although I have been "experimenting" with different products and procedures for about 5 years now. It wasn't till October (I think) of last year I found this site which opened up a whole new world (and Sick Obsession) I had never seen. In the past 5 years I've done maybe 25 cars, some more than once. Most personal, or for friends and family, some recently were "on the side jobs," more to keep busy than anything else; The customers were quite pleased with the results. The best results have been within the past year. What I will tell you is although I have a cheap Rotary Buffer I am no stranger to it! A couple years back we painted a 72 Vette (Paint came out OK) and I wet sanded and buffed the entire car using cutting cream and a series of foam pads. I also wet sanded and buffed a 97 Grand Prix, which yielded better results. This was all prior to the information I know now.



As for wet sanding and buffing a 20 year old paint job,... this is going to be a new experience, but one I would like to learn to do. If I can get around the wet sanding, that would be GREAT,... It doesn't seem like all that much fun!! And if I remember correctly It wasn't all that much fun with fresh paint either.



My goal is to rid the car of swirls, oxidation, and try to get "some" gloss back to the bottom and rear bumpers of the car.



Please do not be annoyed by my enthusiasm. I know this line of work can be just that; a lot of work, but I've had the privilege of experiencing the finished results and that feeling of satisfaction for a job well done, and you can't blame me for wanting a little more of a taste. I doesn't help much that I have my girlfriend up my *ss because i am always outside polishing my baby, and her car looks like sh*t.



Thanks again for your assistance,



Dan



P.S. What year vette are you rolling around in?
 
Danspeed1 said:
Josh,



I appreciate your help and intend on following your advice. I am just concerned that I am going to jump into this project and not have all the tools i need to get job done. The pictures really did not capture how bad the paint actually is. I am sure the car has been "touched up" (not been correctly repainted) in certain areas more than once. The hood is one area I feel like I have room to work and that is where I will start my experimentation. In June I did my 96 Impala and although I came out awesome, It took forever to get done. I was so concerned about "going to aggressive" that I under estimated what I would need to get the job done. The car took up garage space while I waited for Meguiars and 4Star to ship out products. Finally it got done, and like I said it looked awesome. This car's paint is 100X worse. What I am primarily looking to do is to get the car looking nice for another year, and then it will most definitely be painted.



As for my experience, I like to call myself a beginner although I have been "experimenting" with different products and procedures for about 5 years now. It wasn't till October (I think) of last year I found this site which opened up a whole new world (and Sick Obsession) I had never seen. In the past 5 years I've done maybe 25 cars, some more than once. Most personal, or for friends and family, some recently were "on the side jobs," more to keep busy than anything else; The customers were quite pleased with the results. The best results have been within the past year. What I will tell you is although I have a cheap Rotary Buffer I am no stranger to it! A couple years back we painted a 72 Vette (Paint came out OK) and I wet sanded and buffed the entire car using cutting cream and a series of foam pads. I also wet sanded and buffed a 97 Grand Prix, which yielded better results. This was all prior to the information I know now.



As for wet sanding and buffing a 20 year old paint job,... this is going to be a new experience, but one I would like to learn to do. If I can get around the wet sanding, that would be GREAT,... It doesn't seem like all that much fun!! And if I remember correctly It wasn't all that much fun with fresh paint either.



My goal is to rid the car of swirls, oxidation, and try to get "some" gloss back to the bottom and rear bumpers of the car.



Please do not be annoyed by my enthusiasm. I know this line of work can be just that; a lot of work, but I've had the privilege of experiencing the finished results and that feeling of satisfaction for a job well done, and you can't blame me for wanting a little more of a taste. I doesn't help much that I have my girlfriend up my *ss because i am always outside polishing my baby, and her car looks like sh*t.



Thanks again for your assistance,



Dan



P.S. What year vette are you rolling around in?
Click to expand...





Dan, I'm very relieved to read this, I wasn't sure if you knew anything at all or if you'd done this a few times already, knowing some of your background with wetsanding and such, I think you will be the best to judge about the wool pad and all. I just didn't want something to come back on me or this forum or whatever as I gave you a bit of advise.



Glad to hear you know what you're doing.



I sold my vette a year ago when I got married, good trade off btw.:2thumbs: It was a black 2002 coupe, tan interior, fully loaded with chromies a few go fast goodies (nothing big though) I loved that car. Here's a pic. Tell you GF when you're done with her car it will look like this....:lol



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Good luck with it my friend, can't wait to see the after pics.:spot
 
JoshVette said:
I just didn't want something to come back on me or this forum or whatever as I gave you a bit of advise.



Glad to hear you know what you're doing.



Tell you GF when you're done with her car it will look like this....:lol
Click to expand...



All your advice so far has been very helpful. I am aware of what can happen when you press the buffer down in one area hard and don't move it. I let a friend borrow the cheap on i had to "clean" his car up and he made a mess. I was just looking for a good company to purchase from. I would love to buy all the pads and such but with a Corvette Driving girlfriend, I can't afford to do that. :LOLOL



I will be sure to post pictures when I am finished and I'll drop you a line.



If I tell my girfriend her vette will look like yours when its done, I can kiss all the warm meals, and the rest of the benefits goodbye.



Beautiful Vette by the way.... That will hopefully be MY next car!



For Now, I boat:



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One of the Girlfriend:

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Nice Impala, I always like those "caprice" looking years the best, the new ones are just another family mobile, not sporty at all like the origionals or yours.



Looks like your GF is a keeper right there.:clap:



Josh
 
Danspeed1 said:
Anybody want to recommend a wool pad and a company to buy one from?

DG
Click to expand...



You should have a local Meguiars professional product distributor near you (Meguiars has a dealer locator on their website) that should carry the full like of Meguiars 6.5 and 8" pads.
 
rydawg said:
It is very fixable. I did an 86 back in the summer that was a total nightmare and brought it back to showroom condition in a day. Check it out for some inspiration.



http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/92503-finished-86-vette-black-death-new-life-its-alive-kicken.html
Click to expand...



If only I could get ours to look 1/2 as decent I would be thrilled. I saw your post a few months back, it was the reason I haven't rushed to get the car painted. The more time I can get out of the paint job the car has now, the more money we can spend on go fast parts.... :bigups . Fantastic work might I add!



Any advice you would like to give me? Do's? Don'ts? Tips? Care to elaborate on your process?



Dan
 
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