Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question?
Our 73 still has the original paint. Its definatly not perfect but still looks ok. They call it a 20 footer. It looks great from 20' away. When looking real close you can see the typical web cracking in portions of the paint. My question is, Because cold weather makes things more brittle, would driving the car in below freezing temps encourage more cracking of paint on this "old" paintjob?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
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From: Moon Township PA
Re: Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question? (Jvette73)
I would think that after 30 years, your cars body is not going to sag, crack, or do any significant movements anymore than it already has. If you are worried about the paint, think about all of the Corvettes sold in the Rocky Mountains and other cold climates. If you are dealing with a 20 foot job, a few more spider web cracks won't hurt. Drive it and enjoy it.
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question? (GaryS)
Yup..its definatly a driver. The only thing I really need to to is open up the manual shut off valves in the heater hoses and let the hot water flow thru the heater core again. We've stored it all winter in the past but this year the cover has been off and its being drivin now and then. What can we say? We're addicted. Thanks for the reply, I agree. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question? (Jvette73)
I'm not a paint expert, but I've been told the cracking you see is the result of a different expansion and contraction rate of the paint vs. the fiberglass body panels. I've also heard the newer paint formulas won't do this if you get the good quality paints. Factory paint jobs were never all that great in my opinion.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Old paint cracking...use in cold temps question? (Simon Alexander)
Thanks for the compliment Simon. We love the car. When we have it out, it definatly gets more attention than any other car Ive ever owned. Attention from young and old alike. I love it when poeple ask about when im at the pump gettin gas. Then I pull out with my right foot down and let em hear the Flowmasters growl off down the road. Sounds good to. Whenever she leaves the driveway with it, I go out and listen to it rumble and scream away. We live on a major road so she tears off pretty good sometimes. Yes, she has a lead foot also. Not quite as heavy as mine though. :yesnod: :cheers:
