Advice on Corvette clearcoat

N

ncsu602

New member
Been a while since I've posted, been kinda busy at work.



I've got a 99 Corvette hardtop coming up, black of course, and I know they're a pain. It's not in too bad shape, but it is swirled. What's a good recommendation on polish?



Here's what I have....



Meg's Medium Cut cleaner (#?)

Meg's Fine Cut Cleaner (#2, new formula)

Meg's #83

Meg's #80

SSR 2.5

SSR 1

OP

Zaino ZPC

Sonus Swirlbuster



*I* seem to have the best luck with SSR2.5. I'm thinking maybe that and then the Sonus or RMG.



I've never polished a Vette, the hardest clear I've come across is my Camaro. Any advice? What should I charge? Thanks!
 
PC or rotary?



Expect the clear to be very hard. I have never detailed a F body so I can't compare.



I usually use HTEC/OP mix and a yellow pad on a rotary to get results on a 97 and newer vette.
 
Thanks for the replys....



I'm not brave enough for a rotary yet. I've got a cheap HF rotary, but I'm scared to use it on my own. I'm definitely not gonna use it on a customer's vette. I know the clear on my camaro (95 model) is hard, but I don't think it's close to a corvette.
 
On my F-body (93 Firebird) the paint was pretty soft. Corvette clear is very very hard. I agree with the HT-EC/OP recommendation. Even cleaning up minor swirling was a multi step process on the one I did.
 
Meg's medium cut with cutting pad followed by Z-PC with polishing pad via PC should do the job.



My 01 (Torch Red) and 04 Z06 (Millenium yellow Z-PC only needed) responsed well to this regimen. Rotary was used for portions of these vehicles.



My 95 black F-body required only Meg's light Cut or IP and finishing polish (FP).



rtfenderandhoodafterpolishing.jpg




MVC-025S.jpg
 
Corvettes are really hard paint due to the hardners they use for the gel coat body material so it resists cracks. A rotory is needed and maybe a wool pad. They do stink, but when done right they do glow unbelievable!



I have one to do (98 Black vette) maybe this weekend for a good friend that he had just bought. The previous owner had just spent $600 at a body shop to take out the scratches, marring and severe spider webbing. The spider webbing is still there and the body shop told the previous owner they will not come out, so my friend is having me remove these that the body shop could not remove. He is the hardest person to make happy though and extremely finicky. I have done a couple before and I know what I am in for, but I am crazy and love doing them.

My friend knows the body shop really good and asked them what they used. They wetsanded with 2000 grit and used 3m compound with foam cutting pad and then used foam finish pad with 3m filler glaze to fill the swirls in all with a rotory. I can't believe that they charged $600 to do that. My friend had bought it and it looked great until he washed it. Body shop said it was normal for vettes to be like this and that's why they make filler glaze!



I now realize that I am way too cheap at $300 for this, but he is my friend and I told him only $200 before I knew all of this!



This is what I do for outstanding results:

may need wetsanding (2000 grit up to 4000)

use rotory with a wool pad and the right compound for high solids

finish with pc white lc pad with 106ff or zpc or both

z5 pro x3 or favorite lsp



Good luck! Any questions please ask?
 
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