Need a Professional Painter's opinion

moneymanager · 11-08-2009, 01:36 PM

My 74 has a very nice aftermarket paint job. It's fine everywhere EXCEPT in the rocker area below the doors. I'm guessing whoever did the prep stopped sanding 4 inches up from the bottom edge under the door, at least in the area shown in the pic below. As a result, some paint there has simply peeled back. (I added a stripe of nearly-matching paint at the bottom to temporarily improve the appearance after removing the rocker covers. It's the paint line clearly visible in the picture.)
I've been thinking that I might be able to refinish a stripe about 12" wide along the bottom edge of the car. The idea would be to paint to a horizontal edge, trying to do the best job of matching the paint I can. Then I'd mount a "Carrera" or other decal so that the top of it followed the edge of the new paint. In other words, the decal would cover the top "edge" of the new paint and disguise any color or consistency mismatch. But I'm afraid to really start serious sanding and prep work as I'm worried the paint might just peel off well up the side.
Is there any way to deal with this kind of problem, short of repainting the whole car? What would a pro do?

Many thanks,

962porsche · 11-08-2009, 03:21 PM

the sad thing is no if the paint keeps pealing then as you were thinking you will just keep chasing it up the side of the car . an other down side is that the carrera decal does not wrap over the edge of the wheel openings so you would have to do a clear coat blend at each end of the decals . is it on the front fenders also ?

moneymanager · 11-08-2009, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the input. As best I can tell, front fenders are ok, though as you say, the paint may just keep on peeling!

962porsche · 11-10-2009, 04:33 AM

looking at that some more it could be from the solvent creeping . what may have happend is the solvent from the under coat (i'm saying under coat becouse it does not look like chip guard) may have gotten traped under the clear coat . when the car was refinished and with no place for the sovents from the under coat to evaporate off into the air . solvantes being trapped under the clear and top coats it will at times lift and peal .

moneymanager · 11-10-2009, 06:45 AM

If I understand correctly, wouldn't the solvent tend to flow downward, cutting the chances that the paint would want to peel upwards?

962porsche · 11-11-2009, 04:48 AM

the solvent is a gas not a liquid so it would travel out in all directions . some under coats state thats its paintable . which is very misleading to the end user . it can be top coated but only after sitting for a long time (weeks to months ) and becouse it is a reverseable product that is a solvent like laquer thinner or reducer can return it back to its state as when it was first applied . it may not be able to be top coated with a catalyzed (hardener) product but only with another reversable product like enamel with no hardener . if it is a under coat that was used then the only fix would be to remove all the under coating and start over with a true chip guard .

BReyes · BReyes's Garage

Must say it has to be seen in person. BTW a pro could paint the script under the clear and the edges would not be felt. Yes that is lots of sanding, and moreover probably too late (or risky).

I would leave it until prepared to do it right.

Until then, your idea may be worth discussing with local pro$$$, and if find one that will be willing to chase this issue, finding one that would be willing to paint the script that may be the best assurance they can also prep that area properly.

Good luck.

moneymanager · 11-15-2009, 05:49 PM

Thanks for the advice. Better than being told "no problem" and ending up with a real mess.