Crappy GM 80's paint question

[69hurstolds]

Actually, up through 86 or so, depending on model, GM used acrylic dispersion lacquer on the earlier G-bodys, or "DIS. LACQUER" as noted on some RPO labels in the trunk. Lacquer lays down smooth due to the solvent evaporating rather quickly as compared to say, enamel paint. Enamel skins over first but the paint could remain soft underneath for a bit where you could actually start buffing lacquer the next day for an even smoother finish. The bonding of the lacquer pigmented particles together happens as the solvent flashes off and leaves a nice smooth finish without the use of oven baking or other heat-related drying processes. Lacquer is relatively easy to use, but the solvents were the main issue, thus a base/clear system was developed, and early paints sucked as the base/clear goes, so it wasn't the cat's meow. In fact, GM had a headache with the clear coat peeling in sheets. Now it's a lot of water based stuff that still isn't as durable IMO. JMO, but I think the GM painting process was the best as far as durability/finish in the early 2000's.

Here's Toby's 85 442 trunk decal (as shown in the first post of his 85 442 restoration thread)

 

[MR442]

Most of the 86 on mine included had bad paint crack on clear coat. Did'nt peel but mine actually looks foggy white in areas.

MY 84 Cutlas was lacqure. I worked in body shop at time and buffed it out .
Most if not all have been painted here IN PA I remember the Cars lined up At dealer waiting for repaint . I waited to long to get mine done .

 

[olds307 and 403]

Almost positive my 88 was also base/clear enamel. My clear is bubbling on my 2000 Dakota, also started on my 2004 Corolla before it was wrote off. Both were black which doesn't help, mostly on the roof. Our environment is awful on paint. Extreme heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter plus salt on the roads. You pretty much need a low mile garaged car that has never seen snow, expect to pay.

 

[Tuggy24g]

What would be a good polish to use to get scratches, swirl marks out and other paint imperfections on a black and silver El Camino?

 

[-83MONTESS-]

if the paint has lasted 30 or so years then it owes you nothing. Repaint the car if you think the original paint is crap.

x2! sh*t the paint on all of my family's cars is fading and flaking and they aren't 15 years old yet. Mine wasn't original when I got it but I have seen better looking paint on 80s GM vehicles than any of the newer 90s-early 00s that we have.

 

[kustomkyle]

What would be a good polish to use to get scratches, swirl marks out and other paint imperfections on a black and silver El Camino?

With black paint the only way to be completely satisfied is to keep the car garage kept and never drive it. Only use new microfiber towels and wax/polish applicator pads. Be extremely cautious not to get dust/grit on it while drying after washing and/or polish/wax. What do you use to dry the car off? Find some large microfiber drying towels if you don't already have them/use them. You have to have OCD to keep it near perfect as possible, but it all comes down to getting a feel for it. You can get decent results using all different brands of polish/wax because it depends on how you use it, so my only suggestion would be not to use anything that is too abrasive and/or hard to wipe off or any greasy products. I wouldn't used any store bought (Turtle Wax, Meguiars, Mother's) stuff on a black car that I wanted to be swirl free/perfect. You can go online and get expensive stuff like "Klasse" or "Pinnacle" or even "Zaino", but it's all up to you and how crazy you want to get with it. Is the car daily driven? Then it will never be perfect. Do you have any pictures?

 

[pontiacgp]

What would be a good polish to use to get scratches, swirl marks out and other paint imperfections on a black and silver El Camino?

maybe you can ask 565bbchevy, his black Monte looks perfect.....another one is tc1959, he's always hiding in the garage polishing his El Camino, it's red but he might have suggestions

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I use a spray on wax from Lucas that I can only find at NAPA. It works great for me and alittle goes a long way. Microfiber towels are your best friend with a black car. I wash mine about once a week even if I don't drive it. I don't wax it that often though.

 

[Tuggy24g]

What would be a good polish to use to get scratches, swirl marks out and other paint imperfections on a black and silver El Camino?

With black paint the only way to be completely satisfied is to keep the car garage kept and never drive it. Only use new microfiber towels and wax/polish applicator pads. Be extremely cautious not to get dust/grit on it while drying after washing and/or polish/wax. What do you use to dry the car off? Find some large microfiber drying towels if you don't already have them/use them. You have to have OCD to keep it near perfect as possible, but it all comes down to getting a feel for it. You can get decent results using all different brands of polish/wax because it depends on how you use it, so my only suggestion would be not to use anything that is too abrasive and/or hard to wipe off or any greasy products. I wouldn't used any store bought (Turtle Wax, Meguiars, Mother's) stuff on a black car that I wanted to be swirl free/perfect. You can go online and get expensive stuff like "Klasse" or "Pinnacle" or even "Zaino", but it's all up to you and how crazy you want to get with it. Is the car daily driven? Then it will never be perfect. Do you have any pictures?

I do not drive it as a daily. I only use it for weekends and sometime just around town. I keep it in the garage all year round when I am not driving it. The mothers product are hard to take off. So I am going to see how some black car polish specific work.

Thanks

 

[tc1959]

I use3M Perfect-It Black Foam Polishing Pad, and 3M Perfect-It Foam Polishing Pad Glaze Swirl Mark Remover. Followed by a coat of Mothers plain old Carnauba Wax. You wipe it on and polish it right off (don't let it dry) with a clean microfiber cloth.