Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

[Joshua Centanni]

I'm in the process of buffing my neighbors 1978 Buick Electra. It is SS paint that is heavily oxidized. I used a rotary buffer with wool pad and a final finishing/leveling product (augo magic's BC-2) to remove the oxidation. After that I went over it with a foam finishing pad.

Upon pulling it out into the sun there were multiple spots that were dull (or hazy). I went over them again with the wool and foam pads but they didn't turn out any better. Additionally after going over the whole of the trunk, the line between the half of the trunk that I did last night, and the half that I did this morning was still visible - even though I used the same process for both halves.

Here are some pictures of the dull spots (granted, it's kinda difficult to see the dull spots in the pictures) and the line.

Before buffing:



The line right down the middle (which is accented by the physical indent in the hood):


A hazy/dull spot:



Any suggestions as far as pad/product combo for removing the dull/hazy spots (it sounds like M80 comes highly recommended for SS paint, would that fix the problems?)? Ideas for fixing the line?

Oh, and as far as equipment goes, I have a variable speed rotary buffer, a foam finishing pad, a foam cutting pad, and two wool pads.

Thanks!

[Joshua Centanni]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Alas, after looking at the car in a different light it appears that the line in the center was due entirely to the lighting - however, there is a smaller line similar to that where I did my test spot - so the question still applies.

[BillyJack]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

This series of articles by our own Mike Phillips should be required reading by anyone attempting to restore an older single-stage paint finish.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44023

The articles are long and wordy, but well worth the reading time. I did the process on my old El Camino with results better than I could have ever imagined.

Here's a split shot of my roof :http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/pho...5/ppuser/30621


Bill

[Joshua Centanni]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Thanks Bill, I looked over the article and it was really helpful for thinking about working with oxidized ss paint.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Joshua, is that the original paint job on the Buick? Any repainted areas?

[Joshua Centanni]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

The previous owner said that the whole car had been repainted, but from my understanding he may not exactly be the most reliable source...

Also, in removing the oxidation I put an assortment of swirl marks in the paint as well. I tried using Ultimate Compound to get them out but that didn't work too well.

Do you have any suggestions for fixing the swirl marks (and the hazy spots and the line)?

[Shawn T.]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Try some M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish followed by M80 Speed Glaze. I have used M80 before on a black car with a bc/cc finish. Unfortunately I only had time to do the hood at the time but it really made a difference on the old, dry, bc/cc finish.

These are the SS paint champions and have been for many years. I would give them a shot and see how dramatic the difference is. M80 should also remove msot of the swirl marks and probably most of the oxidation.

[Joshua Centanni]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Alright, I'll look into getting some M83/M80 to try out. Thanks!

[Murr1525]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

A repaint could be softer than normal.

But you may need to get away from a rotary as well to something milder.

[Calais]

Re: Help trouble shooting a SS 1978 Buick Electra

Go ahead with ColorX on wool at a slowish speed, it should cut the majority of the nastiness. Follow up with M80 or M205 via G110 on a polishing pad.