Do I need a Detailer, or a Paint/Body Shop?

**RDW** · 12-28-2004, 09:31 PM

I have a 1996 Chevy Caprice (9c1). It was painted about a year and a half a go; using something called a "single stage" process. It has a number of scratches (not deep), and some dimples. It`s black.

I`m in the SF East Bay area.

**CharlesW** · 12-28-2004, 10:38 PM

Hard to say without actually seeing the vehicle.
My personal experience has been to try the polish route first, then go to the painting as a last resort.
For a daily driver or fun show car, you can really make some pretty bad finishes look awfully good from 5 to 10 feet away.
If you are seriously into the showcar bit, hang on to your wallet and go see a painter that specializes in showcars. A showcar paint job costs money, lots of money.

Charles

**Dynamic Detail** · 12-28-2004, 10:46 PM

I was wondering why they went with a single stage paint. 96 chevy should have a basecoat clear coat paint job. I would agree try polishing it first and if you don`t acheive the results that your looking for stop by a paint shop and see what they have to say. Have a picture of it?

Dynamic Auto Detailing

**Poorboy** · 12-29-2004, 08:22 AM

When you say dimples on a single stage repaint, I thnk you have a problem with the repaint ....like said previously it should have been a basecoat/clearcloat paint job, but most discount repaint centers like Maaco or One Day Body and Paint, and my favorite Earl Sheib (he use to paint any car for $99

) are not going to last more than 2-3 years and use quick prep methods (a quick scuff of the previous paint) and then just throw a synthetic paint over it which will never look like the factory paint:dunno

**Beemerboy** · 12-29-2004, 10:41 AM

RDW

If you do ahve single stqage paing there is alot of things that you can do to bring back to finish.

Where did you have the car painted at?

Also I`m in Sonoma County and we are not that far apart, if need be we could meet half way and I could give you a much better idea as to what to do.

**kimwallace** · 12-29-2004, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

RDW

If you do ahve single stqage paing there is alot of things that you can do to bring back to finish.

Also I`m in Sonoma County and we are not that far apart, if need be we could meet half way and I could give you a much better idea as to what to do.

This is what DC is all about ... one person helping another and many times going above and beyond ...