Earlier this week my beloved 1991 GTA (with SLP dealer installed parts when it was new) with less than 41K miles got caught out in a freak rain shower that the weatherman didn't predict. This car only goes out on nice days, so you can imagine how much of a dumb*ss I felt like.

It gets better.

I ran out right after it rained and dryed it off. Now, there are terrible water spots all over the top and wing, but they are embedded in the clear coat.

I've tried Mother's clay bar, clear coat cleaner, fine cut cleaner, polish, and wax all in an attempt to get rid of them, but nothing has helped. This morning I stopped in the body shop/paint store that I've done business with for years, and the old boy said it was acid rain that caused the damage. His solution was to wet sand with 2500 followed by 3000 grit sand paper and then polish it, obivously. It really makes me nervous to do that, since the car is black and most of the damage occured on the solid roof, which is what you see the most getting in and out of it.

Anyone ever sand clear coat? I've done color sanding, but never to clear coat. What were your results?

When I got home, I measured the paint thickness and it was 3-4 mils thick everywhere on top of the car. Seems to me that there would be plenty there for color sanding it.

Thanks in advance for help.

Aaron

 

dont skimp out on paying him and he will do it right, but dont be a tight ***. you get what you pay for.

and color sanding and wetsanding clear coat, are the same thing, unless you are talking about wetsanding a single stage paint job.

and dont be afraid of your car being black, i did a dark blue Lincoln with the same problem and it came out perfect.
if he knows what he is doing he will do fine.
and with some of that time you have on your hands, go drink a beer dont measure your paint. it doesnt matter anyways.paint doesnt lay perfectly even.

well aaron. you better get it in there soon. and dont wax over top of the marks anymore.

 

3-4 milimeters ? That's VERY thick! I seriously doubt your paint is that thick. A milimeter maybe... but not 3 or 4 !!! lol

 

He said mils.. that's a different unit of measurement than millimeters...

Millimeter = 1 thousanth of a meter
Mil = 1 thousanth of an inch

 

Check out the products at www.prowax.com. They have a product that fixes acid rain markings. This product is used by many major car companies and dealerships nationwide. I just placed an order today to try some of their polish.

The product is found at http://www.prowax.com/solvnts&rmvrs.shtml and is called C-45
POWER LIFT™ FALLOUT REMOVER LIQUID

 

Color sanding and buffing is not terribly hard however if it would be your first time, considering your car is black, you might consider someone with experience doing this.

A buffer spinning at 3000 RPM can get out of hand fairly quickly. Additionally you have to be aware of edges and trim to prevent "burning through" the clear/base and one mistake and your wipers are gone or your weatherstip is ruined.

Something else to consider is that the tools and supplies to pull off a buffing job. By the time you buy wool pads, foam pads, pro compounds you will spend about $140.00. This doesn't count the $189.00 for the buffer or the sandpaper for the color sand.

Typically a color sand and buff by a professional would run around $200.00 so you have to determine if it's worth it to do it yourself.