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Orangepeel a problem on Corvettes?

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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 06:52 PM
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Default Orangepeel a problem on Corvettes?

I have been shopping for Corvettes for awhile now, and I have seen orangepeel in the paint of one Navy Blue I was checking out. Here appears to be another example on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3A11#mainImage

(Link doesn't quite work, look at third photo down on the left side.
Reflections in paint reveal some orangepeel effect.)

Is this a probelm with that particular color? I haven't noticed it on other Vettes at the dealerships.

Thoughts?
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 07:00 PM
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It is actually a problem on most C5's. It has been explained that the nature of the paint process on the composite panels does not led itself for the paint to cure properly and the result is varying degrees of orange peel. I beleive it is an electrostatic paint process and the inablility to get a good ground is a contributor. I'm not sure but for some reason this is what I remember reading. I'm sure someone will chime in with a better explanation or a correction if I'm wrong.

Paul
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 07:16 PM
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It's the nature of the beast, some are better than others. Met a guy at a vette cruise to Montana that color sanded the stock paint. It turned out very nice, but you better know what your doing.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 07:26 PM
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My 2003 MSGM is almost perfect. There's just a little you can see on one of the front fenders if you look real hard at the right angle.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 07:51 PM
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a lot of cars that don't have orange peel like the viper are polished at the factory to get rid of it. its a natural process of the painting process.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 08:48 PM
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They all have to some extent.It has to be sanded out.Have it done at a reputable bodyshop.It's not a good project for DIY.Plan on spending in the range of $1500-1800.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by binkysgarage
It's the nature of the beast, some are better than others. Met a guy at a vette cruise to Montana that color sanded the stock paint. It turned out very nice, but you better know what your doing.
I color sanded and buffed most of mine. It's smoooooooth. No more orange peel.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 09:37 PM
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Nature of the beast
I pulled up along side a newer BMW the other day and it had it's share of orange peel and he probably paid about the same for his car as I did mine. But I had him beat on the coolness factor
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 09:48 PM
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every car, every one, painted by machines in a factory...has orange peel.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 09:50 PM
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Nature of the beast, they all got it...
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Grumpy
every car, every one, painted by machines in a factory...has orange peel.
Mine has it all over the place.
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by LotusFan
I have been shopping for Corvettes for awhile now, and I have seen orangepeel in the paint of one Navy Blue I was checking out. Here appears to be another example on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3A11#mainImage

(Link doesn't quite work, look at third photo down on the left side.
Reflections in paint reveal some orangepeel effect.)

Is this a probelm with that particular color? I haven't noticed it on other Vettes at the dealerships.

Thoughts?
If you haven't seen orange peel at dealerships that just means you weren't looking for it.

Return to those same dealerships and look again.......

They ALL have it... IF one doesn't it's been repainted or wetsanded...
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 10:45 PM
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Went shopping for 911's with a friend of mine. $80K car with orange peel...
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 10:56 PM
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WTF is orange peel? I'm lost!
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Old Oct 28, 2005 | 11:02 PM
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It's a texture in the paint that looks like the surface of an orange... LOTS of tiny dimples... In a custom paint job, they wetsand it smooth before shooting the clear.
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Old Oct 29, 2005 | 12:05 AM
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Its the fault of the EPA.
They regulated the solvents that could be released in the air to the point that the solvents now dry so fast that the paint does not have a chance to flow once on the surface. The paint is dry when it hits the surface and builds up in small areas or clumps......we see it as orange peel.

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Old Oct 29, 2005 | 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by WolfeBros
Its the fault of the EPA.
They regulated the solvents that could be released in the air to the point that the solvents now dry so fast that the paint does not have a chance to flow once on the surface. The paint is dry when it hits the surface and builds up in small areas or clumps......we see it as orange peel.

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To Orangepeel a problem on Corvettes?

Old Oct 29, 2005 | 10:29 AM
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My Lotuses never had it...nor did my 85 Corvette.

I figure it's because Lotuses are not painted by machine, or just that in europe EPA don't mean squat. Doesn't explain the Porsches though.

So, in conclusion, I should not worry about it, just buy the one I like and if I really can't deal with it, have it professionally detailed/wet sanded. I will recheck the dealership cars today. Since they were wildly overpriced, I did not inspect closely, as I had no intention of making them my own. (Also, mostly automatics... )

Automatics are so popular...do they not suck as much as I imagine? Every automatic vehicle I've ever driven, including autosticks, has sucked. A friend has a modded F150 (this is Georgia) automatic that sounds just like a stick when he gets on it hard. Is the vette auto like that?

R
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Old Oct 29, 2005 | 11:04 AM
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Orange peel a problem for Corvettes???


Oh wait, you're serious...
Don't get me started. Sent it back to the dealer who did a fine job. Under warranty too.
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Old Oct 29, 2005 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by SeaLawyer
It's a texture in the paint that looks like the surface of an orange... LOTS of tiny dimples... In a custom paint job, they wetsand it smooth before shooting the clear.
Thanks. Looks like my Z06 is an Orange then. I have that dimple crap all over it but mostly arround the front fenders near the BSM and Z06 badge.
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