A careless run down a trashy country road 20' off the bumper of a friends vette at 130 mph has lead to a handful of ugly rock chips on the bumper and mirrors of my...once pristine... Torch Red GS. So, what's the best thing I can do to touch up these chips short of having them repainted?

I already know it was a dumb move, and that all sorts of bras and films would have helped, so I don't really need to hear those kinds of thoughts. However, if you do have some helpful suggestions or techniques on how to best deal with the damage now, I'd love to hear them!

 

What can't be polished out will need something like a paint pen to touch up. It won't be perfect but short of a repaint probably the best you can do.


Also sounds like a few performance mods are in order so you can be the lead car next time.

 

Learn to live with it or repaint. Everything else will more than likely not leave you satisfied.

 

Every kind of "touch up" option that I've seen will never satisfy anyone that feels there Vette was pristine before. Repaint is the only true option.

 

drcolorchip will do a nice job of repairing any chips.

 

Is that a service, or a do-it-yourself product?

 

 

Lol, no kidding! I could have used some forced induction about then!! :-)

 

Do it yourself. I got GREAT results on my black 08. I recommend Dr. colorchip as well

 

Unless prior to the event your car was a garage queen, then wear the little marks as a badge of honor for a high speed road warrior.

 

Do it yourself, go to their website and order the kit, paint match is perfect and it is easy to use.

 

While I haven't had her very long, I bought the GS with 8,000 babied miles on her and she was as close to perfect as you could get. She's certainly not a garage queen in my hands, and she will be driven like she was meat to be, but I still feel pretty stupid tucking her nose into the storm of crap coming off the rear tires of the car in front of me! The smart move would have been to wait for a side by side run!

 

This. If its worth doing at all, its worth doing right.

 

 

give drcolorchip a shot. if not satisfied, have it repainted. don't feel bad, your not alone when it comes to doing something dumb when it comes to your car.

 

Trade in time sucker.

 

I have had paint chips but now the car is for lack of a better word perfect where ever I fixed the chips.

1) Wipe the chip area with something to take any wax, etc. off (alcohol).

2) Use a GM paint pen to "overfill" (make paint lump ) the chip hole so its above the surface somewhat and let dry for a couple days; may need to go back over some chips a coupe of times to get them over filled. Don't push the paint around it creates air holes in the paint.

* Meguiar's makes a reusable (may,may times) rectangular small sanding block; you will most likely have to order it once they find it in the catalog. I order the 1500 grit. Once you use it they recommend that it be stored in water.

3) Either with a water spray bottle or a very small stream of water you sand the lump of paint down to the original surface to where the surface is "dull" from the chip spot to the original surface area; with no little shiny area separating the two areas . Take your time and the stone needs to be cleaned off often. I rub the paint off the stone with my finger or thumb while spraying it with water.

4) Use something like a fine rubbing compound to get it close to OEM shine, than switch over to say Meguiar's scratch remover or a polishing compound to bring the area back to looking completely "like new"/untouched. Finish by throwing on a little wax.

A body and fender shop owner turned me on to the Meguiar's reusable sanding block which he ordered for me but any auto store should be able to get it for you.

PS: I would do a very small chip at first to get the hang of it.

 

[QUOTE=Blazin383;1586819557]A careless run down a trashy country road 20' off the bumper of a friends vette at 130 mph has lead to a handful of ugly rock chips on the bumper and mirrors of my...once pristine... Torch Red GS. So, what's the best thing I can do to touch up these chips short of having them repainted?

You are (braver?) than me. I would not follow anyone down a gravel road at 130 mph at 20' separation.

 

[QUOTE=C5A;1586842813]Totally......

 

[QUOTE=C5A;1586842813]As someone who lives on a gravel road, I am guessing he meant a trashy, paved country road. One that isn't traveled much or where the asphalt is beginning to rot and pull up from the tires. I would never go faster than 20 down my gravel road. Others do but mainly in pickup trucks or hoopties. I tend to annoy them when they come up behind me.