Clear Coat Question

[wifpd4]

I reviewed a car today for detailing and noticed the clear coat is chipping below and along the length of the window weatherstripping of the doors.

Is this an indication that the car has been repainted?

The car is severely swirled from years of neglect, I'm getting a bad feeling about the chipping clear coat. Will I have problems or should I expect problems as I anticipate spending hours working on the swirls?

The car is a 1990 black Corvette, third owner with no details of the history.

[BS MXRacer]

Re: Clear Coat Question

Was there any areas where it wasn't visibly chipping, you could attempt to find a tape line I'd so. What about any color variations from overspray or rough areas on any sections of the car?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Clear Coat Question

At that age it could very well just be the factory clear chipping due to years of neglect.

[wifpd4]

Re: Clear Coat Question

Was there any areas where it wasn't visibly chipping, you could attempt to find a tape line I'd so. What about any color variations from overspray or rough areas on any sections of the car?

I wish I had a trained eye. I was looking for scratches and swirls, not so much color variations or rough areas. The swirls were overwhelming and visible in the sun from 50 feet.

In my quick walkthrough, I didn't see any clear coat chipping on the hood or trunk lid, just below the windows.

At that age it could very well just be the factory clear chipping due to years of neglect.

Quite possible, the window trim was brittle too. I was going to lift the edge of the trim to see if there was clear coat under it, but the trim was hard and no longer flexible.


Thanks for the comments.

[greg0303]

Re: Clear Coat Question

Hi David,

I would inform the owner about that problem and take some pictures as well. While detailing I would seperate those areas by taping them off and use just a paint polish there.

I think those areas under windows have thinner clear coat generally. Least aggressive product for swirl removal may be needed even knowing how hard Corvettes' paints are.