Thanks for sharing - learned a lot...
Corvette paint system
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Corvette paint system
In case you want to read a little about the paint system on our Corvettes, I came across this article.
The swap system is even more interesting.
American Icon Turns 50
The swap system is even more interesting.
American Icon Turns 50
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Thanks - that was an informative read.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: Midland TX
All I know is that I have driven mine virtually every day for over 11 years and it still looks like it did on the showroom. Of course, I have spent countless hours polishing and Zainoing, but the paint actually looks better than the day I picked it up from the Dealership!
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Lake Mary Florida
I was aware that the Bowling Green facility was unique and it maintained tight color control for each color run, but what I didn't know was they painted extra panels and use a swap system. That is if a panel or body part intended for a specific vehicle has a blemish they just swap out the panel/part for one in the swap stock. Then they take the blemished panel repair it and send it back through when that color is painted and return it to the stock of swap parts.
What is significant about this is how you take a panel/part of same color from one vehicle, assuming original factory paint and mount it on another same color and it's a near perfect match.
So if you have damage, consider the first option is to find a recycled part in original new condition and you have a bolt on repair.
I found this out recently with a quarter panel damage. Bought a recycled quarter panel magnetic red and sure enough you put it up to the vehicle and its a perfect match. I don't know if its the same year, but I do know it's magnetic red and it matches perfectly, that to me is amazing.
Anyway just something to tuck away in your knowledge of our vehicles that may come in handy one day rather than have paint work done it may be as simple as locating a part, installing and polishing.
What is significant about this is how you take a panel/part of same color from one vehicle, assuming original factory paint and mount it on another same color and it's a near perfect match.
So if you have damage, consider the first option is to find a recycled part in original new condition and you have a bolt on repair.
I found this out recently with a quarter panel damage. Bought a recycled quarter panel magnetic red and sure enough you put it up to the vehicle and its a perfect match. I don't know if its the same year, but I do know it's magnetic red and it matches perfectly, that to me is amazing.
Anyway just something to tuck away in your knowledge of our vehicles that may come in handy one day rather than have paint work done it may be as simple as locating a part, installing and polishing.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Prosper Texas
Very informative article. Thanks for sharing. Explains why my new TPE fenders paint job did not match. I was not aware that M.Y. had a clear coat that was tinted. If I only had read this a month ago.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Lake Mary Florida
I knew Magnetic Red had a tint coat clear coat (it was on my window sticker 
) but yeah I looked this up in the Corvette Black Book and in year 2000 Millennium Yellow was introduced. It says "Millennium Yellow cost an additional $500. This was not due to the paint itself, but to the special process and equipment required for the tinted clear coat which added visual depth to the paint's appearance."
Seems to me I've seen a documentary video some where that was an exclusive of this paint facility but haven't been able to find it yet. My googling continues...
) but yeah I looked this up in the Corvette Black Book and in year 2000 Millennium Yellow was introduced. It says "Millennium Yellow cost an additional $500. This was not due to the paint itself, but to the special process and equipment required for the tinted clear coat which added visual depth to the paint's appearance."Seems to me I've seen a documentary video some where that was an exclusive of this paint facility but haven't been able to find it yet. My googling continues...
