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Hmm.. I find it odd that only half the door would be faded. Are you the original owner? Does a carfax show any front end body work? Sounds almost like the fender may have been replaced and when they blended into the door they sprayed over the BSM. The blend wouldn't be noticeable until you saw the hard line with the BSM removed. Just a thought.
I have an opposing theory. A few stated that the front was damaged and painted possibly with the BSM in place. I am of the opinion that the REAR of the door was painted and blended in approaching the front. The reason being, if the front was damaged, a new fender would not have the BSM on it at all and would be painted before putting it on OR if they did a hack job, there would be NO paint under it. If the fender was not replaced, I would expect the entire fender would be painted without the BSM on the fender UT possibly still on the door. I think the repair was toward the back and the blend was done with clear, over the BSM moving toward the front of the car.
I am no paint expert, but my experience is that clear will darken the color.
This is the exact reason I'm hesitating in doing mine. Mine is silver like yours.
There is another post regarding BSM removal and those guys have inspired me to try it. But, now I read yours and..........I'm back on the fence.
I just need to ask; Are you sure that your car was never repainted at some point in its life?
Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but yes, I do believe that paint fade can go either way depending on the color and type. Whites will darken and blacks will lighten.
I have an opposing theory. A few stated that the front was damaged and painted possibly with the BSM in place. I am of the opinion that the REAR of the door was painted and blended in approaching the front. The reason being, if the front was damaged, a new fender would not have the BSM on it at all and would be painted before putting it on OR if they did a hack job, there would be NO paint under it. If the fender was not replaced, I would expect the entire fender would be painted without the BSM on the fender UT possibly still on the door. I think the repair was toward the back and the blend was done with clear, over the BSM moving toward the front of the car.
I am no paint expert, but my experience is that clear will darken the color.
If a blend was done from the rear forward with the BSM still on the door, the rear part under the BSM would be the different color. Also, to do it properly, you wouldn't blend clear, you would respray the entire panel with clear.
My guess is the painter was lazy and didn't feel like taking the time to remove the BSM to blend the door and BSM separately.
Either way, the only fix would be to remove the BSM and repaint.
Waxes and sealants will yellow over time if you allow lots of layers to build up one on top of another. I happen to disagree with all that say it has been re sprayed. A body shop would have painted the fender and molding at the same time but as separate pieces. If they prepped the panel and applied molding to it and painted it there would be no paint there once the molding was removed. Dirt, wax build up and UV will discolor clear coat over time, sometime a good cleaning like Dawn-clay bar-rubbing compound/wax will restore the old color. I have seen guys that removed very old stripes with same issues, if it's real bad than color sanding and re spray with clear coat does the job 95% of the time. Just my .02, good luck and in worst case scenario BSM don't look so bad.
Hmm.. I find it odd that only half the door would be faded. Are you the original owner? Does a carfax show any front end body work? Sounds almost like the fender may have been replaced and when they blended into the door they sprayed over the BSM. The blend wouldn't be noticeable until you saw the hard line with the BSM removed. Just a thought.
If a blend was done from the rear forward with the BSM still on the door, the rear part under the BSM would be the different color. Also, to do it properly, you wouldn't blend clear, you would respray the entire panel with clear.
My guess is the painter was lazy and didn't feel like taking the time to remove the BSM to blend the door and BSM separately.
Either way, the only fix would be to remove the BSM and repaint.
I was thinking door repair with no BSM at the time but BSM still attached to the front fender.
Waxes and sealants will yellow over time if you allow lots of layers to build up one on top of another.
Again, it would be odd for the waxes and sealants to only have built up on the front 1/3 of the door.
I happen to disagree with all that say it has been re sprayed. A body shop would have painted the fender and molding at the same time but as separate pieces. If they prepped the panel and applied molding to it and painted it there would be no paint there once the molding was removed.
A body shop SHOULD HAVE sprayed the fender/door/BSM as separate pieces....but that doesn't mean that they did.
Originally Posted by Aerovette
I was thinking door repair with no BSM at the time but BSM still attached to the front fender.
IF the BSM was removed from the door before it was blended, then it wouldn't be a different color under the BSM when the OP removed it, since it would have been blended UNDER the BSM
Took mine off my 98 the first week I had it (bought in 2012), no issues at all. I'd have the doors repainted before I ever put those dime store add-ons back on my Vette.
I've only had the car since early January, and since I got it at auction I wasn't able to get any info on the previous owner. After looking into it, I think I'll probably just get the paint blended and leave the BSM's off. I cant stand the look of BSM's
That's what I would do. If you put the BSMs back on you're just going to know whats underneath and it will probably bother the hell out of ya, I know it would me.
Let it sit on the sun for a day or two; I used to have a zinc yellow Mustang, and I had two 10" stripes on it. When I took them off, the yellow under the stripes was a bit off a different color. After it sat on the sun for a day or two, it blended. I don't know how to explain it better. The door does however look like it was re-cleared; I might be wrong.
Last edited by damilleniumboy; Jul 27, 2013 at 01:57 AM.