I made a big mistake today...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
I made a big mistake today...
It was a beautiful day in NW Ohio today, and my wife and I went for a cruise in the Vette , ('78 Silver Anniv.), and we decided to stop for lunch. Well big mistake there. Ive read about these things happening on the board before, but I was hoping it wouldn't happen to me.
I backed into a parking space, so my front end was facing out. While we were in the restaurant some idiot
(this is an assumption, since they didn't bother to tell me) "bumped" the tip of my rubber bumper, leaving a small spot on the paint that is chipped, PLUS now there are a bunch of spidery cracks in the paint that radiate out from the spot that was hit. They are light, and about 4" in length.
Of course it makes me angry, but now I'm more interested in finding out if that type of crack can be buffed out, or just what I should do to repair it.
Don't get me wrong, it's no show car by any sense of the word, but it's our pride and joy to take for a cruise when we can.
I'd appreciate any helpful suggestions!
Thanks in advance!
I backed into a parking space, so my front end was facing out. While we were in the restaurant some idiot
(this is an assumption, since they didn't bother to tell me) "bumped" the tip of my rubber bumper, leaving a small spot on the paint that is chipped, PLUS now there are a bunch of spidery cracks in the paint that radiate out from the spot that was hit. They are light, and about 4" in length.Of course it makes me angry, but now I'm more interested in finding out if that type of crack can be buffed out, or just what I should do to repair it.
Don't get me wrong, it's no show car by any sense of the word, but it's our pride and joy to take for a cruise when we can.
I'd appreciate any helpful suggestions!
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Skyhawk; Nov 14, 2004 at 09:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
I hate to say this...but now that you have 'em, don't bother trying to fix 'em. Because they won't go away without a repaint. The bumper flexes (it's urethane), but the paint does not.
I have a very nice '79 with LOUSY paint -- chipped in places, crazed on the fenders and hood, cracks in the bumper (just like yours)...so the last thing I have to worry about is parking lot rash!!!
:
I have a very nice '79 with LOUSY paint -- chipped in places, crazed on the fenders and hood, cracks in the bumper (just like yours)...so the last thing I have to worry about is parking lot rash!!!
:
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
I don't believe the damage you describe can be buffed out. Bumper will probably need to be repainted. You can remove the bumper cover (about 11 small nuts to be removed, if its like a 77), and sand off most of the existing paint. Then it can be primered and painted with flex agent in the clear coat. Thats how we did mine. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i think you are stuck with it....i use to live outside of cleveland and would drive on the lake road west of bayvillage all the time great views/cruising....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 109
at least the car was still out there when you went to go home,so it was not to big of mistake,live with the flaw ,and keep on driving.
Oh,and keep it out of the salt up there,been gone since 1976,miss the seasons,but not the cold weather.good luck
Oh,and keep it out of the salt up there,been gone since 1976,miss the seasons,but not the cold weather.good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
Originally Posted by 1971corvette
at least the car was still out there when you went to go home,so it was not to big of mistake,live with the flaw ,and keep on driving.
Oh,and keep it out of the salt up there,been gone since 1976,miss the seasons,but not the cold weather.good luck
Oh,and keep it out of the salt up there,been gone since 1976,miss the seasons,but not the cold weather.good luck
You are right about it still being there! Winter IS coming, and that's why we were glad to be able to get in a little cruise today. The Vette is not allowed out after the salt hits the roads!Glad you are able to drive year round!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
i think you are stuck with it....i use to live outside of cleveland and would drive on the lake road west of bayvillage all the time great views/cruising....
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,703
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by BKbroiler
I don't believe the damage you describe can be buffed out. Bumper will probably need to be repainted. You can remove the bumper cover (about 11 small nuts to be removed, if its like a 77), and sand off most of the existing paint. Then it can be primered and painted with flex agent in the clear coat. Thats how we did mine. Good luck.
Probably the cheepest and easiest way to fix it.
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
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The samething happened to me few years ago. Somebody bump my front bumper and I ended up with very fine spider web cracks all over, you could not see them unless you got real close to the front of the car 
. I let it go for a few years but got tired of looking at it and decided to have it fix a few months ago before I put her up for the winter. Unfortunately, you cannot buff it out 
. I had a friend of mine from our corvette club repaint the whole bumper. I used acrylic paint, $$$. He did a great job, it looks super.
Good luck
. I let it go for a few years but got tired of looking at it and decided to have it fix a few months ago before I put her up for the winter. Unfortunately, you cannot buff it out . I had a friend of mine from our corvette club repaint the whole bumper. I used acrylic paint, $$$. He did a great job, it looks super. Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,889
Likes: 0
From: I've got wood IL
gotta watch out for them Toledo drivers. mine's been hit by an uninsured motorist, a 14 year "learning" to drive, some *** in a parking lot that didn't leave a note, and to top it off, some jerk threw something on my paint that left a bunch of pot marks.
thats why i moved to maumee.
sucks to hear about yours, but seems no body around here cares about anyone else's property
thats why i moved to maumee.
sucks to hear about yours, but seems no body around here cares about anyone else's property
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 1
From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
Like I have said before...I won't park it where I can't see it..pain in the ***..but if I would have seen "jughead", no offense to our very own "Jughead"..I would have went out there and kicked his *** and left a few "spider cracks" of my own on his bumper..so to speak! 
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
I never park in a crowded parking lot.
When I do, it's the outskirts of the lot, then I
take up 2 spaces, and park crooked
You have to repaint the whole bumper,
no way around it
When I do, it's the outskirts of the lot, then I
take up 2 spaces, and park crooked
You have to repaint the whole bumper,
no way around it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
haha - my 75 was purchased like that ... always was.
If you are going to drive it before fixing it, I would suggest
going over the cracks with some clear nail polish or spray can.
The reason is that the wind can get under the cracks and start
peeling the paint away.
If you are going to drive it before fixing it, I would suggest
going over the cracks with some clear nail polish or spray can.
The reason is that the wind can get under the cracks and start
peeling the paint away.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
you know i was looking at things in the garage last night and i noticed we also had those cracks, but hadn't really seen them for a long while, i then realized that when we first got the car we used the turtle wax colored wax and paint tube( looks like lipsticK) and this product did a good job in hiding those cracks....i also realized that when i was doing all the work pressure washing the engine bay i know I had gotten some of the strong detergent on the car and probably washed the wax off.... i don't know what color your car was but those colors come in a variety, i know white,black red and green ... you may want to try this...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
As others said, the spider cracks go all the way thru the paint. In
order to fix it the paint will have to be removed. Someone suggested
sanding, but I would strip it with a product designed for Urethane
bumpers. Bull dog brand makes such a product. I have purchased it
at Auto Zone and at our local auto paint store. It takes about 3 to
4 cans to completely strip a bumper. To minimize the chance of
damaging the car's paint while stripping the bumper, I would remove it
from the car. Plastic scrappers (same type used to apply body filler)
work well to remove the paint softened by the paint stripper. Don't
use a metal putty knife as it can damage the bumper.
I would not sand the paint off, as with the soft urethane it would
be easy to gouge the bumper.
To repaint it, would loosely mount it back on the car. Pull the bumper out about 1/2" and tape the car body.
This way, paint can flow around the bumper edges.
If you paint the bumper on the car and use a urethane base coat/clear
system, it it not necessary to add flex agents.
order to fix it the paint will have to be removed. Someone suggested
sanding, but I would strip it with a product designed for Urethane
bumpers. Bull dog brand makes such a product. I have purchased it
at Auto Zone and at our local auto paint store. It takes about 3 to
4 cans to completely strip a bumper. To minimize the chance of
damaging the car's paint while stripping the bumper, I would remove it
from the car. Plastic scrappers (same type used to apply body filler)
work well to remove the paint softened by the paint stripper. Don't
use a metal putty knife as it can damage the bumper.
I would not sand the paint off, as with the soft urethane it would
be easy to gouge the bumper.
To repaint it, would loosely mount it back on the car. Pull the bumper out about 1/2" and tape the car body.
This way, paint can flow around the bumper edges.
If you paint the bumper on the car and use a urethane base coat/clear
system, it it not necessary to add flex agents.
Last edited by mark79,80; Nov 16, 2004 at 06:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Ohio
Originally Posted by an81shark
gotta watch out for them Toledo drivers. mine's been hit by an uninsured motorist, a 14 year "learning" to drive, some *** in a parking lot that didn't leave a note, and to top it off, some jerk threw something on my paint that left a bunch of pot marks.
thats why i moved to maumee.
sucks to hear about yours, but seems no body around here cares about anyone else's property
thats why i moved to maumee.
sucks to hear about yours, but seems no body around here cares about anyone else's property
Well Howdy neighbor!
I use the term Toledo loosely, actually we live in Waterville, just down the road from Maumee, as you know.I agree though, many people from this area just don't take care around other people's vehicles.
I hope I get to wave at yousometime on the Anthony Wayne Trail!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by NHvette
If you are going to drive it before fixing it, I would suggest
going over the cracks with some clear nail polish or spray can.
The reason is that the wind can get under the cracks and start
peeling the paint away.
But unfortunatly as others have said, you can not buff it out! Sorry, but in the end I think fixing it will be worth it!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
I don't think you made a mistake. You took your wife to lunch in your vette. Sure beats taking the minivan. Now you don't have to worry about it so much. The first chip is the hardest. Joe
