As some of you may remember, I picked up an 04 Vette, the paint was overall good but had some swirl marks. Just got it back from a buddy who owns/runs a detail shop here in town. While it's not perfect, it is vastly improved!

Couple of before




after







And a few more for good measure...






So much construction right now it's tough to keep clean even for a day But the paint looks pretty good now.

 

Looks good. I got the same problems with my red Z. I plan on trying to restore it myself this spring.

 

Looks great!!

 

Looks good, All the colors are easy to revive with some elbow grease... Only one that is a pain in the *** is Black...

 

Revive is one thing but removing swirls is an entire new ball game

 

Thats exactly why I wasn't going to do it myself...

 

haha thats very clean! Looks brand new!

 

Not really. You invest in a portacable and use some 3M compound and finish it up with a glaze. In 2.5 hrs time it will look like a mirror. You just gotta know what you're doing. I actually enjoy it so its no big deal....

 

Looks much improved!

 

2.5 hours for a swirl free finish with just a portercable huh? On a corvette clear coat no less. That's uhhhhh, pretty impressive.

 

Yea, Here is a vid after about 2.5 hrs with a portercable on my old Z06.... Not the best quality video but the car didn't have one swirl when it was done and it was black. My Red Z06 is a little easier...

 

I won't lie, it looks really good, but without any true sun shots in the paint or a direct light source, it's going to look like glass, especially if a glaze has been put on top. Regardless, the paint does look really, really good.

 

Okay...When can I bring my BLACK Z06 over to you.... . Tons of swirl marks from previous owner (original owner) for 12 years!! Have plans on taking it to a body shop who does fine work this Spring before showing it anywhere. Just purchased a set of new Gloss Black C6 wheels with the outer red ring installed on the perimeter of the wheels...But will not have those installed until its back from getting the paint finished like brand new....

 

agreed. washing, claying, washing again, then taping takes at least 2.5 hours much less compounding/polishing the whole car. If you have to use a glaze then you did it wrong.

 

Thanks, Yea a direct sunlight pic would have been good but I took pics later in the day... It did look good though...

Bring it over lol ... Yea the car will look tough when its done...

Don't know why it would take you 2.5 hours to do just that unless your taking smoke breaks or beer breaks... I rinse the car, Wash the car, Rinse the car Wash the car again and while its soapy I then clay bar while its soapy and slick so your not playing around doing 1ft increments with detail spray. I then rinse the car again and dry, Then I can begin my detail. I don't usually tape anything unless I know I will be getting close, Such as the Brake duct and window trim ect. I use 3M 36060 cutting compound for the first step, then finish with either 3M 05996 or Brilliant Glaze. Depends on what I got. This takes me between 2.5-3hrs max... Its not rocket science and I have had enough cars to know what needs to be done to do it... If you think Glaze is wrong then more power to you, But I can tell you my paint will tell you different as well as any real detailer

 

Well as Long as you are achieving the results you want, who cares right? What do detailers know.... my guess iIs one day you got some bad advice, bought some things and went to town on your vette. My guess is you hazed the ever living **** out out your paint. In a panic you threw some glaze on to hide the haze. After the glaze went on, you had the illusion of a defect free car, I'm sure the new owner was quite pleased to see that when the glaze wore off, he was left a mess.

 

everyone has a different opinion of perfection I guess.

 

Bipolar? lmfao, One second your saying the paint looks great blah blah blah then your telling me I got bad advice, Hazed my paint and covered it up with Glaze ... Anyone who knows detailing knows you are not covering any haze with Glaze lol, Don't act like you know me guy because I can assure you any of my cars would look better 2ft up then yours 50 out...... And in other news the owner who purchased it was more then happy...

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthr...857&highlight=

I may have hazed my GTO as well lol

 

youre correct, glaze doesnt hide hazing (which is caused by compounding) it rather hides swirls and scratches. its your car and obviously you can do what you like especially if you like the results.