Can this paint ever look decent again?
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Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 118
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From: Los Banos CA
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: L03
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: stock
Can this paint ever look decent again?
Hey guys. My 91 RS paint is in some bad shape. Pretty much no clear coat left on it, and can never rinse it off completely. I can wash it and rinse it 5 times over and the next day the hood will still have soap stains on it. The car looks like its in primer. I was wondering if there is anything out there that can at least make it look DECENT. Not trying to get it to shine like new paint. But just make it look a little better. Here are some pics of the paint.
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,168
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From: Marietta, GA
Car: '91 Firebird Convertible
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: 700r4, Vette Servo
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 Bolt, PBR disks
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
Yours looks great compared to what mine used to look like when I got it (see below).
Morris, you are at a decision point: Should you go for the cheapie paint job because it is your daily driver and you can afford it OR should you step it up a notch or two because you really love this car?

Actually, you might be able to do both. Do a large portion of the prep work yourself and a Maaco or Earl paint job at the mid level could be under 500 bucks and not look to bad. Count on others to follow this message with a dissenting opinion but only you can know what the car is going to be.
Morris, you are at a decision point: Should you go for the cheapie paint job because it is your daily driver and you can afford it OR should you step it up a notch or two because you really love this car?

Actually, you might be able to do both. Do a large portion of the prep work yourself and a Maaco or Earl paint job at the mid level could be under 500 bucks and not look to bad. Count on others to follow this message with a dissenting opinion but only you can know what the car is going to be.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Los Banos CA
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: L03
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
I hate even washing the thing. All of my rags are blue and if I rub too hard It will actually leave scratch marks. I really do love my car but it is a daily driver for now and the heat here really puts the hurt on the paint. I might take Cadillacs advice and Look into prepping it myself and getting a cheap(ish) paint job. Thanks guys.
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?

That's what I would suggest. The paint itself seems to be in fine shape, just needs some attention. It's amazing how much just wet sanding can do. And of course some color is going to come off, because there's no clear coat. It's not really much to worry about, any single stage paint job will do that.
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 3
From: Marietta, GA
Car: '91 Firebird Convertible
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: 700r4, Vette Servo
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 Bolt, PBR disks
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
I disagree.
Once he starts wetsanding the car, spots where the paint is worse than others will come out if they don't already exist. There is no point in clearcoating something that looks crappy in the first place. Besides, if he takes it to the Earl Maaco, a single coat of clear might be as much as if he paid for "El Presidente" or the "Ambassador" package they sell.
Lastly, I got my car "Earled" 2 years ago. The paint is holding in there but if I had the chance to do it over again, I would have either prepped it myself or saved up a little longer for a better paint shop. With either choice I would have been better off prepping some myself.
Once he starts wetsanding the car, spots where the paint is worse than others will come out if they don't already exist. There is no point in clearcoating something that looks crappy in the first place. Besides, if he takes it to the Earl Maaco, a single coat of clear might be as much as if he paid for "El Presidente" or the "Ambassador" package they sell.
Lastly, I got my car "Earled" 2 years ago. The paint is holding in there but if I had the chance to do it over again, I would have either prepped it myself or saved up a little longer for a better paint shop. With either choice I would have been better off prepping some myself.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Los Banos CA
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: L03
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
Thanks Cadillac. I am looking into it. I plan on keeping this car and getting a DD. I think I might just save up for a bitchin job.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,548
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From: Fayette County, OH
Car: basic third gens
Engine: that I like
Transmission: to restore
Axle/Gears: and enjoy
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
A guy I work with used to smear power steering fluid all over his faded paint. It kind of made it glossy, sort of
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Houston, TX
Car: '86 T/A
Engine: 350/LT1 Intake
Transmission: 700R4 - Built
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 3.42
Re: Can this paint ever look decent again?
You should be able to bring that paint back. This is what I did with my Camaro a while back. The clearcoat was dieing also. My rags were all red.
I had to modify the original post somewhat, and since search isn't down, I couldn't just link you either.
Since I haven't been driving the Camaro, or paying that much attention to it as of late, the paint has really taken a down turn. Plus, with women driving it for the past couple of years, its a wonder that the car is still in one piece. Anyway, the Clearcote started to oxidize and it lost nearly all of its luster.
Not anymore.
In an effort to bring the paint back from the dead, I employed all my detailing know-how and my right arm.
Here's a list of ingredients
Zaino Clay Bar
Meguiars #9
Clearkote Vanilla Moose
P21S
Eagle 1 tire wet
Eagle 1 20/20
Lets start off with a couple of before pics.
Here is the car as it sat this morning. Groundeffects scraped up pretty bad, and absolutuly no shine.

Here is the only black peice on the vehicle, it is a good place to show to the changes being made in the paint.

Here is a shot of the sail panel area. Can you see me in the picture? I sure can't.

Lastly, here is a shot of the car facing the sun. Notice the shineyness.

Part 3:
Finally, with some ClearKote Vanilla Mouse and Concours P21S, the paint made a breakthrough!





With all of that, I realize, I wish I had an orbital buffer. The paint would look 1000X better than what it does now.
Not anymore.
In an effort to bring the paint back from the dead, I employed all my detailing know-how and my right arm.
Here's a list of ingredients
Zaino Clay Bar
Meguiars #9
Clearkote Vanilla Moose
P21S
Eagle 1 tire wet
Eagle 1 20/20
Lets start off with a couple of before pics.
Here is the car as it sat this morning. Groundeffects scraped up pretty bad, and absolutuly no shine.

Here is the only black peice on the vehicle, it is a good place to show to the changes being made in the paint.

Here is a shot of the sail panel area. Can you see me in the picture? I sure can't.

Lastly, here is a shot of the car facing the sun. Notice the shineyness.

Part 3:
Finally, with some ClearKote Vanilla Mouse and Concours P21S, the paint made a breakthrough!





With all of that, I realize, I wish I had an orbital buffer. The paint would look 1000X better than what it does now.
I had to modify the original post somewhat, and since search isn't down, I couldn't just link you either.
Last edited by Sonar_un; Sep 26, 2007 at 10:23 PM.
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