97 Corvette repaint and full paint correction

[white gecko]

A couple years ago I did a full detail on my dad`s C5. Came out nice and he and my mom took it to So-cal for a vacation. Unfortunately on their way back it got hit by several large chunks of broken up cement that came falling out of a big semi truck.



Fast forward to a month ago.....the corvette underwent a full repaint. I asked the bodyshop to take it easy with the buffing after they did the wetsanding to leave as much clear coat material as possible. To the guys doing the work this translated into "oh we don`t have to really do much at all..." Hack work ensued and left a severely scratched, swirled, and deeply scored surface. The paintwork itself was good, it was just the finishing work that was poor.



As this car belongs to my father, the job had to be exceptional. So the task was to tackle all the defects, and there were many. Sanding scratches, heavy swirls, DA sander pigtails, overspray, random isolated deep scratches (RIDS), holograms/buffer trails, etc....



35 hours was what it took to do a full correction on this car. Upon completion, the paint was above 98%+ flawless.













The pre-wash rinsing showcases strong water beading. This indicates the presence of a heavy glaze filler applied by the bodyshop. This will hide swirls, scratches, and other imperfections. Also explains why many cars look great after a bodyshop buffs them but look quite poor after a week or two.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/297e9a0a.jpg









Foaming the car to get it ready for washing...



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/89ff50e6.jpg











Initial test spot on the hood. After compounding with a wool pad, serious correction resulted, but wasn`t quite good enough. More extreme measures were needed.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/f16bc9d9.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/7f4ca549.jpg











Compounding finished and starting to look better, but still a long way to go.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/a1393ffb.jpg











Some of the paint issues around the car....



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/79bda7d0.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/bbf72e59.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/ab279eba.jpg















DEEP scratches



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/5484fea2.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/0ad96727.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/bff3ef03.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/c0dd1825.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/9865ed8d.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/b2bb7de8.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/2fbb344d.jpg













Some deep sand scratches



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/a3e7e5b2.jpg













Making more progress....



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/e1eb8465.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/eb4e105b.jpg













http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/e6cd9b67.jpg









After...



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/1fe0a518.jpg

[white gecko]

Ok.....it gets kinda bad here.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/e57bbaf8.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/73165a20.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/30403797.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/00bd3221.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/b0819db1.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/65699bb2.jpg













After heavy compounding with wool and rotary, the heavy defects were leveled out. Final polishing will remove the rotary holograms and restore even more gloss.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/a099d6bf.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/349c4159.jpg

















All paint correction work is now finished and the paint is ready for protection.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/c1075647.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/42ce4004.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/53f87a1a.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/1287aa3d.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/65b86bcc.jpg

















Since the paint is only a few weeks old it needs to be able to breathe and out-gas. Applying wax or sealant is not advised during this 30-90 day process. Luckily Chemical Guys Blacklight is a new product that protects the paint but allows it to continue the out-gassing process.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/83d138a5.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/9039eb48.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/4de0cc82.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/bb4d342d.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/65a55771.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/432db90c.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/61600782.jpg

















Gotta have the sun pictures to show the full correction.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/a7b52a07.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/560be4a9.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/334874cb.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/6b7a88de.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/73b597ed.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/6a533ddf.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/b29795df.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/40a7ba30.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/6f56a287.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/ec0e0abd.jpg















Remember that trashed passenger door?.......



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/30403797.jpg

















Looking better now!



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/05c14734.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/4dc19ffd.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/b130fbd0.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/d51ed846.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/5bac0dae.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/b52c1e17.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/26164000.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/d2528742.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/d92893c4.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/0af1f864.jpg



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/fea08485.jpg













Reflecting.....everything :)



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/cf229a1f.jpg











http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb71/immaculate_reflections_showcase/2012%20Corrections/7099f58f.jpg









Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed the read!

[Nopstnz8]

Excellent job dude!

[mikenap]

Outstanding Jeff! That body shop really abused that car, one of the worst hack jobs I`ve ever seen. The turnaround is nothing short of a miracle. :bow:

[kakeuter]

Awesome turnaround Jeff!



-Kody-

[MirandaDetailin]

That looks crazy beautiful!!!

What was your product(s) of choice to do this correction?

[Fast Eddie]

Excellent work on the hammered hacked up vette.

[white gecko]

That looks crazy beautiful!!!

What was your product(s) of choice to do this correction?



Thanks!





Numerous steps were used. M105, D300, PO203, M205, 85RD.... Edge wool, LC PFW, LC orange, tangerine, white, black pads.

[autoconcierge]

Jeff has worked with me side by side on a few cars now including this weekends fun in the rain in St Helena on a Ferrari and Maserati.... Did great work on those cars and his dad`s Corvette.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Whoa... that`s impressive. The body shop really did a number on that poor car!



Was the fresh paint as hard as factory paint, or was it softer/easier to work with?

[GA_Grooming]

Nice Work Jeff!