My First Corvette
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Hebron Kentucky
My First Corvette
I recently purchased this 1993 40th Anniversary edition corvette with only 19,060 miles. I traded in a Mustang that I bought back in December that had a lot more rust than I was originally aware of and decided I didn't want to deal with paying to fix it. Since I have never owned a corvette before and have always wanted to get one I began searching and jumped on this one when I saw it. It's really clean inside and out, although the tires were quite cracked upon closer inspection, so I just put new ones on. There are a number of areas where the paint has been chipped. Would a good polish take care of those or should I put touch up paint on first? I also had the windows tinted as other cars headlights are so bright when driving at night with pretty much 360 degrees of glass around me. I think it looks better with the tint as it matches the top. This is such a fun car to drive and I'm glad I went for it. My Dad and I are looking forward to going to the Corvette Museum in October!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 204
Likes: 45
From: Central Iowa
Beautiful car, looks great with the tint. Regarding the chips and polish. Start out with the least aggressive approach you can get away with. The pictures look like you have a few swirls and holograms as well. Start with a polish step. Don't go with too aggresive of a polish, its better to leave some scratches or swirls and not take off too much of your clear coat. You want your clear coat to stay intact because once you go through it you're done for. Your chips won't come out with a polish.
Do a test spot 2'x2' and see if you get the correction you want and perfect your approach. Then go over the whole car with that . You will improve your imperfections a great deal with this. Your polish shouldn't leave anything behind. Now is the time to touch up your chips and deep scratches. Let that dry completely. Then put a good last step product - a sealant or wax or coating, your choice. And then keep that last finish up and you're good to go.
Do a test spot 2'x2' and see if you get the correction you want and perfect your approach. Then go over the whole car with that . You will improve your imperfections a great deal with this. Your polish shouldn't leave anything behind. Now is the time to touch up your chips and deep scratches. Let that dry completely. Then put a good last step product - a sealant or wax or coating, your choice. And then keep that last finish up and you're good to go.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Hebron Kentucky
Beautiful car, looks great with the tint. Regarding the chips and polish. Start out with the least aggressive approach you can get away with. The pictures look like you have a few swirls and holograms as well. Start with a polish step. Don't go with too aggresive of a polish, its better to leave some scratches or swirls and not take off too much of your clear coat. You want your clear coat to stay intact because once you go through it you're done for. Your chips won't come out with a polish.
Do a test spot 2'x2' and see if you get the correction you want and perfect your approach. Then go over the whole car with that . You will improve your imperfections a great deal with this. Your polish shouldn't leave anything behind. Now is the time to touch up your chips and deep scratches. Let that dry completely. Then put a good last step product - a sealant or wax or coating, your choice. And then keep that last finish up and you're good to go.
Do a test spot 2'x2' and see if you get the correction you want and perfect your approach. Then go over the whole car with that . You will improve your imperfections a great deal with this. Your polish shouldn't leave anything behind. Now is the time to touch up your chips and deep scratches. Let that dry completely. Then put a good last step product - a sealant or wax or coating, your choice. And then keep that last finish up and you're good to go.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
There have been a lot of very satisfied Corvette owners on this forum that would recommend a "Clay Bar" treatment as your first step. This is available from Mother's and McGuire's. They're both good! I even use it on my acrylic top! Really gives you a super smooth finish, and isn't abrasive, in spite of the name!
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
Thanks for the info. As far as the swirls go, I noticed that too, but wasn't sure what would have caused that. I think this car has done a lot of sitting for the past 19 years as the carfax report only showed 3500 miles during that time. I'm going to wait until after driving to Bowling Green in October before doing too much to the body.
What year Mustang ?
Enjoy your new ride, and start living the dream.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 204
Likes: 45
From: Central Iowa
There have been a lot of very satisfied Corvette owners on this forum that would recommend a "Clay Bar" treatment as your first step. This is available from Mother's and McGuire's. They're both good! I even use it on my acrylic top! Really gives you a super smooth finish, and isn't abrasive, in spite of the name!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Hebron Kentucky
It was a 2004 Mustang GT in white. Back in 2014 I sold a 2008 Mustang GT convertible that I purchased new and had put a lot of money into. Pretty much every bolt on available like cylinder heads, long tubes etc. Never should have sold it and have regretted it ever since. I really didn't feel like doing everything over again to another Mustang, so I traded it in for the corvette and quite happy I did.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 89
From: arvada co
Congrats on your new car direction. I think you will find a vette to be a totally different experience than other American cars. I liked the 40th anniversary so much I bought one!
Read a lot this forum, it is a fantastic source of information on how to fix/upkeep your car.
Important note: DON’T GET THE OPTISPARK WET!
Read a lot this forum, it is a fantastic source of information on how to fix/upkeep your car.
Important note: DON’T GET THE OPTISPARK WET!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Hebron Kentucky