C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Paint help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 16, 2009 | 07:38 PM
  #1  
SOF Vette's Avatar
SOF Vette
Thread Starter
Racer
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 17
From: Cape Coral, FL
Default Paint help

My Polo Green '91 was rear ended last week. I thought the original paint was in terrific shape after all the work I had put into it (clay bars / lots of Maguires / grit compound etc...). Well, the new rear bumper is on and painted...just like BRAND NEW. Unfortunately, it looks like a brand new pair of blue jeans next to a well worn and faded blue shirt. They are the same color, but the rest of the rear end is a washed out version of the bumper now.

I just bought a 2007 ZO6 and was planning on selling my C4. Any suggestions regarding polishes (do those colored ones work?) to restore more of the color to the back half of the car and at least get them closer to the same shade???

Thanks!
SOF Vette
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2009 | 08:56 PM
  #2  
CorvetteMike2024's Avatar
CorvetteMike2024
Corvette Enthusiast
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,793
Likes: 2,701
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default vette

Take your car to a painter or detailer that knows how to properly machine buff your paint. If your paint is still salvage able. Good luck!

Corvette mike
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2009 | 09:11 PM
  #3  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,026
Likes: 9,381
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

when they painted the bumper they didnt blend the paint into the rest of the car.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2009 | 10:13 PM
  #4  
GKK's Avatar
GKK
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Default

The body shop did what's called a "Butt" match, which is the improper way to do the repair.

Color matching the new paint color and "Blending" the paint onto the rear deck and quarter panels would've made the repair match the existing paint.

Last edited by GKK; Apr 16, 2009 at 10:15 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2009 | 10:36 PM
  #5  
SOF Vette's Avatar
SOF Vette
Thread Starter
Racer
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 17
From: Cape Coral, FL
Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
when they painted the bumper they didnt blend the paint into the rest of the car.
I know
The body shop was the Chevrolet dealer

SOF Vette
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 12:01 PM
  #6  
SOF Vette's Avatar
SOF Vette
Thread Starter
Racer
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 17
From: Cape Coral, FL
Default Update

So I spoke with the shop manager today, showed him the car....
"Well sir, if we blend the bumper to the deck and quarterpanels, then the doors will look off, and we'll have to do the doors, then the front will look off, if we do those, the hood will....." you get the idea
So, I called USAA back and they said they are going to send out a "regional adjustment inspector" out to see my car and make a decision / recommendation.
So for now, it is a wait and see I guess....

SOF Vette
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 01:13 PM
  #7  
DaveT91's Avatar
DaveT91
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Default

Originally Posted by SOF Vette
So I spoke with the shop manager today, showed him the car....
"Well sir, if we blend the bumper to the deck and quarterpanels, then the doors will look off, and we'll have to do the doors, then the front will look off, if we do those, the hood will....." you get the idea
So, I called USAA back and they said they are going to send out a "regional adjustment inspector" out to see my car and make a decision / recommendation.
So for now, it is a wait and see I guess....

SOF Vette
Sounds like the Shop manager doesnt understand the meaning of "Blend", and/or doesnt want to re do the Job and hopes you'll just go away
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 03:43 PM
  #8  
SOF Vette's Avatar
SOF Vette
Thread Starter
Racer
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 17
From: Cape Coral, FL
Default

Originally Posted by DaveT91
Sounds like the Shop manager doesnt understand the meaning of "Blend", and/or doesnt want to re do the Job and hopes you'll just go away
That's what the USAA Regional Claims manager said. He is sending out a supervisor to assess the repair work and has suspended payment to the dealership until is is made right.
USAA has always done right by me. They are a little more expensive, and I know some have had different experiences than my own. But they have yet to let us down.

SOF Vette
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-6

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 05:03 PM
  #9  
-=Tom=-'s Avatar
-=Tom=-
Racer
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa Ontario
Default

Seriously my thoughts are the body shop didn't do the job right. They tried to cut corners and now don't want to put in the extra work to do the job they should've done in the first place.

I've had a front bumper and rear bumper replaced and repainted on another one of our cars and you couldn't tell that they were ever replaced. Even though they were repainted they matched the rest of the car.

At least your insurance company will get their attention and make them do the job correctly. Good for you and them.

Let us know how it works out.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2009 | 05:30 PM
  #10  
GKK's Avatar
GKK
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Default

I agree with DaveT91, The shop manager doesn't understand how blending is done.

The new paint (which should be color matched as close to the original paint on the body now, not the paint code) is blended (faded) gradually onto the quarter panels and top deck areas to about 1/4-1/3 of the panel.

Then, the entire quarter panel, bumper and rear deck areas are cleared, color sanded and buffed. Also, the bumper cover should be painted with a 1/8" gap between panels so, the paint and clear won't fill in the joint and crack later on. After the clear is dry, the bumper cover can be secured permanently.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Paint help





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:17 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE