Did this stripper go too far?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 266
From: Central Wisconsin
Did this stripper go too far?
I'll put up some pix but I bought my 73 with most of the paint stripped. The owner said he used a stripper designed for fiberglass but Im wondering if he went too far. Most of the car feels fuzzy and being a Corvette virgin im not sure how far is too far. A Vette guy I talked to said the guy may have taken off the Gel coat and to re-apply that will be a nightmare. 
Am I in trouble? Pix to come.
Am I in trouble? Pix to come.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,159
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi jr73,
There wasn't any gel coat on the fiberglass surface of your 73. Boats and port-potties have gel coat on them.
If you're feeling 'fuzz', the person doing the stripping went too far. It wasn't necessarily the fault of the stripper being used.
Seeing some pictures will help people give you some suggestions how best to proceed.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
There wasn't any gel coat on the fiberglass surface of your 73. Boats and port-potties have gel coat on them.
If you're feeling 'fuzz', the person doing the stripping went too far. It wasn't necessarily the fault of the stripper being used.
Seeing some pictures will help people give you some suggestions how best to proceed.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
I'll put up some pix but I bought my 73 with most of the paint stripped. The owner said he used a stripper designed for fiberglass but Im wondering if he went too far. Most of the car feels fuzzy and being a Corvette virgin im not sure how far is too far. A Vette guy I talked to said the guy may have taken off the Gel coat and to re-apply that will be a nightmare. Am I in trouble? Pix to come.
Am I in trouble? Pix to come.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 193
From: Scottsdale Arizona
How long has the car been stripped? If the car has been sitting say about a year and sunlight hits it the UV rays deteriorate the fiberglass resin leaving just the fibers. I have used resin and hardener and brushed it on and then block sand and comes out perfect.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 266
From: Central Wisconsin
the seller said he has had the car sitting in his garage for 20 years Im not sure how many of those years were spent stripped but I will ask him. That resin and hardener sounds better than the gel coat nightmare the Vette guy told me he did on his 66.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,159
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi jr73,
When using either resin or gel coat the WORK is in block sanding as 69F said.
The DIFFICULT part is getting all the edges back on the hood and doors. Then the TRICKY part is getting the sharp creases back on the fenders and the wheel openings.
Once you know what to look for you'll begin to notice bodies that have had the detail sanded off.
Careful!
Regards,
Alan
When using either resin or gel coat the WORK is in block sanding as 69F said.
The DIFFICULT part is getting all the edges back on the hood and doors. Then the TRICKY part is getting the sharp creases back on the fenders and the wheel openings.
Once you know what to look for you'll begin to notice bodies that have had the detail sanded off.
Careful!
Regards,
Alan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Looks like UV damage. I suggest you repost (with your pics) over in the paint & body section of the forum. I don't know if it will be enough to cover this with primer or if it would be better to gelcoat it?
. That couldn't be a totally repaired section with matte/resin could it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
It looks to me that your car has had a replacement nose and in the process of making all the parts fit flush someone attacked that fender and top surround with a sanding board and 24 or 36 grit paper... and kept sanding until some areas are almost paper thin.
Short answer; yes you have trouble. If the whole nose is as thin as the area with the hole you cannot leave the parts this thin, they will not live in the open air and daylight. Reinforcing that large an area with fresh laminations is a herculean task... replacing it is probably the best cure.
Check any areas that look like your first photos carefully to see how thin they are and report back. I agree with easy mike that the rear of the car looks unmolested, simply no paint and years of dirt on top.
Short answer; yes you have trouble. If the whole nose is as thin as the area with the hole you cannot leave the parts this thin, they will not live in the open air and daylight. Reinforcing that large an area with fresh laminations is a herculean task... replacing it is probably the best cure.
Check any areas that look like your first photos carefully to see how thin they are and report back. I agree with easy mike that the rear of the car looks unmolested, simply no paint and years of dirt on top.