Cloudy Paint on Older Car

[LanceS4803]

My '78SC still has the original paint, but on close examination, the finish is cloudy and splotchy. Autobody shop said this is due to the clear coat wearing off over the years. He recommended trying to buff a small section and seeing if there is an inprovement.
Any fixes for this condition?

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I've seen the condition your talking about.
I wonder if a fresh coat of clear shot over the car would clean it up?
I had my front end reshot about 2 years ago and it really cleaned up a paint job that was starting to get tired, mostly from rock chips. I know they shot clear over some areas that didn't get paint. If I had it to do over I would have asked them to give the whole car a new coat of clear.
The color match was fantastic on my black metallic SC and made a believer out of me.

I think if your original paints in good shape it could be freshened up by just reshooting the bad areas instead of a total repaint. It sure worked for my car.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Bob's Flat-Six


I think if your original paints in good shape it could be freshened up by just reshooting the bad areas instead of a total repaint. It sure worked for my car.

I'm with Bob on this one.
If mine I'd make sure that it wasn't moisture then blast a 50/50 retarder/clear at 75psi after a 1,000or1,200 w&d clean up. it'll be super nice then imo.

[Kurt B]

If you pick up a compressor and a small paintgun (at a paint ship) that is designed for doing small areas, you can do it.
You'll thin the clear coat quite a bit--I use acetone although they have reducer for it.
If the spot is 3" in diameter, you'll tap off an area of around 8" in diameter and focus on the 3" part. The overspray will taper off. Don't paint anywhere near the tape; other wise you'll see the ridge when you remove it, that of course can never be sanded out. You don't put 5 coats. Just put a thin coat on it or two.

Then you'll sand all of the area down with 2000 grit and buff it.
I'll look great..but probably somewhat shinier than the rest; so it's a matter of how bad the bad part is. If it's peeling or something, then it will look better just a bit shinier. If it's just a dull spot, then you'll have see how it looks on a spot.

I've repainted areas of my 964 this way, and you can't tell at all.
Looks must better than what the PO did which was gob some touch up paint.

And of course, I painted 84 completely with single stage.

[Rot 911]

First off, do you even have clear coat over your paint? On the SC's and Carrera's Porsche only clearcoated the metallic paints.

[toolman]

Some of you guys are way off base on this. Go somewhere and have it repainted. If you have never painted an automobile before, you will probably make a huge mess out of your car and cost you several hundred dollars more than if you just took it to a reliable shop for a front end repaint. (50% retarder and 50% clear???)

[RickM]

Originally posted by toolman
(50% retarder and 50% clear???)

Perhaps Ron meant Reducer.

[hkspwrsche]

Urethane clears do not reflow. Must have been something else used. Acetone in clear coat? Was it laquer clear?

[Kemo]

Well...ive seen some projects on this board from novices that did a bang up job painting. But before you jump right into a full-on paintjob, check with a professional detailer type guy to find out if he can save the paint with buffing or clay, or whatever those masters of gloss and wax use.

[LanceS4803]

Thanks for the info. I can hardly use a spray can, much less try this on my own car!!
Point taken on the question of- does the SC even have clear coat?
I'll take it to a detailer and get the best answer of what is actually going on, and then investigate re-shooting the entire car with clearcoat. I have a good starting point here.

[jlandreth]

Unless I'm crazy...better think about that...a 1978 SC is single stage w/o clearcoat.Personally I would try an ORBITAL buffer w/ some #3 Griots.I just loaned my Porter Cable Orbital and my Griots stuff to my nephew who just bought a 5 series BMW that had been sitting in a BMW dealers lot for 7 years.The results are nothing short of amazing! Good Luck

[chuckr]

jlandreth is correct... you have no clearcoat on your 78SC.
What you are looking at is oxidation combined with weathered
residue from old waxes or polishes. A good compounding might
take care of the problem, I'd try that first.

[LanceS4803]

Talked to previous owner tonight. He had the car for quite a long time and said that he never had a clearcoat applied.
This certainly simplifies things, and I think with this info I can restore the oxidized/worn finish.
Thanks all!!