C4 Paint Restoration
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Crownsville Maryland
C4 Paint Restoration
Bought an 87 C4 Convert about a month ago and am doing some minor rehabs and restoration. Would like some advice on a paint problem.
This is a white car with mostly original paint in good sound condition however the rear topside from doors back was repainted at some time.
Paint on flat surface below luggage rack developed "cracks" that look like a dried up mud puddle. The paint looked good and thick and otherwise in good shape so I wet sanded it with 1000 grit paper.
95% of the cracks are completely gone but I am hesitant to sand any more
Tried buffing with white polishing compound but that isnt bringing up shine or removing remaining cracks. I have color sanded steel body cars with good success but never a glass body with OEM acrylic.
Should I use a more agressive rubbing compound or is there some other
--possibly safer --way to go???
This is a white car with mostly original paint in good sound condition however the rear topside from doors back was repainted at some time.
Paint on flat surface below luggage rack developed "cracks" that look like a dried up mud puddle. The paint looked good and thick and otherwise in good shape so I wet sanded it with 1000 grit paper.
95% of the cracks are completely gone but I am hesitant to sand any more
Tried buffing with white polishing compound but that isnt bringing up shine or removing remaining cracks. I have color sanded steel body cars with good success but never a glass body with OEM acrylic.
Should I use a more agressive rubbing compound or is there some other
--possibly safer --way to go???
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,157
Likes: 939
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Besides getting rid of the cracks what are you trying to do?You know this pant is 2 stage,color-clear.What your buffing is color,dont know if that will bring up too much shine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 917
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte NC
C4's don't use acrylic paint. They are a two stage urethane paint system, more commonly known as base coat, clear coat (BC/CC).
Cracks in the clear coat are very common on C4's, And they go all the way though to the base.
It sounds to me like you have sanded through the clear coat and are now trying to buff the base coat.
Cracks in the clear coat are very common on C4's, And they go all the way though to the base.
It sounds to me like you have sanded through the clear coat and are now trying to buff the base coat.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Crownsville Maryland
Thanks to all who responded---however, I am pretty sure the old repaint to rear of car is acrylic. The previous owner had the remains of
a quart can of PPG acrylic. Painter did a nasty job of laying down a very thick coat of material over lightly sanded checking and it "sunk" after drying out .
Will try some brown rubbing compound and if that doesn't work will bite
bullet and haul it off for repaint.
a quart can of PPG acrylic. Painter did a nasty job of laying down a very thick coat of material over lightly sanded checking and it "sunk" after drying out .
Will try some brown rubbing compound and if that doesn't work will bite
bullet and haul it off for repaint.
