57 Year Old Paint, HELP with Paint Correction

Looking forward to the posted pics and more discussion on this topic, as I plan to at least try to bring back the paint currently on my '47 Olds. My car will require some repairs and paint blending but I'm hoping not to have to repaint the whole car and retain the old custom repaint it currently has on it.

 

I've done the compound - polish - wax deal way back when. Didn't know about this process until it was posted somewhere.
I've linked it in a few threads, but hopefully this thread will be the one that pops up on searches and gets responses...

 

That was my goal for this thread, to be become the go-to for bringing dead paint back to life. I expected a bigger response on here, but there are a lot of factors at play that generally make guys involved in projects just go for a full repaint. A lot of guys on here are doing major metalworking and bringing back cars that sat in fields for 70 years. There isn't much paint to save in those cases. Regardless, I'm grateful for the tips and info I've gotten and I'll take whatever help I can get.

 

This place moves very fast (due to the FNG invasion) keep plugging, but restoring and preserving are a tiny percent on a board in which modifications are the norm. Doing the top of your hood would give you a good look and feel for the material you will be putting on and into the surface you will be working. Slowly saturate the dry surface till it is literally above the paint. It did not dry out over night, nor will shine like it can overnight. Like losing body fat!

 

Obviously never read "How to make friends and influence people".

 

QuarterLifeCrisis, I doubt you will get a 50 page thread on this.
The link provided is probably the best, most researched and complete answer you will get. It's like a SBC firing order. It only needs one reply...
The old compound-polish-wax method works, but cuts too much original paint away. It's downfalls are covered in the link.

 

I just picked up some Productions Synthetic Cutting Cream to rub out my 40. Its solvent based versus having the rough compound. A local body shop guy said thats all he uses and should bring out the shine in my 72 year old paint. We shall see!

 

I think the idea most guys follow is "why spend a lot of time and effort and money trying to spruce up 57 year old paint, knowing it will never look good, when I can save up instead for a paint job?"

I think polishing an old paint job is mostly a stop-gap measure. It might make you feel good for a month but pretty soon you'll hate it as much as the dull finish.

That said.....if I were so inclined I would do this:

1) Mask off all trim, gl***, etc.
2) Wet sand paint with a fine paper, maybe 1200 or 1500 grit.
3) Isolate one or two panels at a time and spray clear urethane over the old paint.

It would make a 100 footer into a good 50 footer if you had minimal body damage to start with.

 

I've been playing with cars for over 40 years, have owned at least 40 HAMB-friendly vehicles, and that link provides the best "bring back the shine" information I have ever seen. Every few years, the 26-yr-old paint on my Nomad fades to a nice chalky pink, and although some people call it patina, I call it faded paint. I will definitely try this method out on my Nomad. Thanks for posting it.

 

10-4! And post a mini-how-you-did-it so others can see it works.

 

That first post you referenced was from my summer project on my Chevy. I didn't post any how-to since I was a FNG learning the process and getting feedback from all the good folks here. My finish started similarly to what your Plymouth looks like from the pics.

I chose to wet sand with 2000 grit paper wet with Dawn dish soap and a nice bucket. Then used 3M Perfect-It with a cheap Craftsman orbital. I went to Meguiar's fine cut cleaner, Turtle Wax Black Box glaze, and HD Poxy Sealant.

I may be biased, but my '47 Chevy still looks great and the shine and protection is still there after 1200 miles of all-weather summer and fall driving. No complaints, but I also don't plan on keeping it like this forever. Paint & body work will happen in a few years.

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If I would recommend anything, check to see how much paint you really have on your car. The AutoGeek process looks a little less 'destructive' than what I did on mine since there is very little paint removal as opposed to a gentle wet sand. As careful as you can be with a wet sand job you will still 'burn' through some areas where your original paint is thin. **** happens. As long as you're not throwing too much muscle into it...you'll be fine either way you chose.

As for the "just repaint it" comments: I completely understand that point of view, but can't a guy polish his car to see what he's got? Its not a crime to make your car look better. That's what working the paint did for me. It made my stuff look shiny and made me feel better about driving and showing it. Nobody's going to win any trophy with it. But it buys me a few years of enjoyment with my wife & I taking it out to tours and shows and the local DQ without feeling like its a pile of junk. This dude seems like he's trying to do the same thing with that clean green wagon. Let's all help him do that like you all helped me enjoy my Fleetline over the last 6 months.

Good luck with your paint work. Its one of the most rewarding jobs I think there is when you bring something back to life. That counts for paint finishes, reviving an old engine, or any aspect of this hobby. Shiney & new is good. Its also fun to rework and restore / improve.

Long live the HAMB.

 

I've used that for years, it's great! BE CAREFUL if using it with a rotary, it has a hell of a bite, and will burn right through if you let it. Good luck!