Paint bubble in 78 pace car--need help
06-17-2008, 07:35 PM
#1
Instructor
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Location: Shingle Springs California
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Paint bubble in 78 pace car--need help
I am looking at purchasing a 78 pace car. One issue is there is a bubble in the paint that is the size of a half-dollar right in the center of the driver side door. There is not cracking in the paint at all. Just an air bubble. I have 2 questions.
1. Is it common for factory paint jobs in the 78 era to have bubbles similar to what I described above, or does this prove that the car has had some poor repainting done.
2. Is there any way to "get rid" of the bubble without having to do the whole black section of the door?
All responses are greatly appreciated
1. Is it common for factory paint jobs in the 78 era to have bubbles similar to what I described above, or does this prove that the car has had some poor repainting done.
2. Is there any way to "get rid" of the bubble without having to do the whole black section of the door?
All responses are greatly appreciated
06-17-2008, 10:11 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Yes, it is common for these cars to have large bubbles. The factory was still using lacquer type paint products, but the body was SMC and they were not very compatable.
06-17-2008, 10:24 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Is it in the Black or Silver painted area? Black would be easy for a bodyman with some experience to make a near invisible repair, especially with lacquer. Silver wouldn't be that hard too, but a lot harder to get a silver match.
Ya would remove the bubbled paint, slightly scuff up the fiberglass and lightly feather edge the surounding paint. Apply some primer then I'd brush the paint on with a foam brush a little at a time taking care not to lift the paint below. Build it up higher than the surrounding paint surface. Once fully cured (like a month later), wetsand it flush using fine sandpaper wrapped around a paint stick, maybe start with 1000 grit, the move to 1500 grit and a few strokes of 2000 grit. Take care not to sand the surrounding paint as little as possible. Then buff out. That was one nice thing about lacquer. Very easy to repair and buff out for spot repairs. After some time you might see a faint ring where the repair occured, but hit it with a buffer and it should become invisible again, or just wax it.
Mark G
Ya would remove the bubbled paint, slightly scuff up the fiberglass and lightly feather edge the surounding paint. Apply some primer then I'd brush the paint on with a foam brush a little at a time taking care not to lift the paint below. Build it up higher than the surrounding paint surface. Once fully cured (like a month later), wetsand it flush using fine sandpaper wrapped around a paint stick, maybe start with 1000 grit, the move to 1500 grit and a few strokes of 2000 grit. Take care not to sand the surrounding paint as little as possible. Then buff out. That was one nice thing about lacquer. Very easy to repair and buff out for spot repairs. After some time you might see a faint ring where the repair occured, but hit it with a buffer and it should become invisible again, or just wax it.
Mark G
06-17-2008, 10:59 PM
#4
Drifting
Half dollar is a huge bubble or blister. Generally blisters are caused by moisture or some other contamination under the paint, causing the paint to expand. It's not normal and the repair may be more involved depending on what caused the blister. On a door, lubrication from the window regulator, door lock asm, or other part could have absorbed through the door panel or it could have simply been caused by moisture on the surface during a repaint. Once you sand off the bubble, you'll see which surface is causing the problem and then a repair method can be determined.
