are recently repainted cars (w/in last 5 years) clearcoated?

[p986s]

My neighbor has a 67 chevelle which was repainted about 4-5 years ago. Do they apply clearcoat normally? Is there a way to tell? I was going to do a fender to determine if a detail would save him another paintjob. I don't want to damage his car but would like to see if the paint would look better. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. I have the Klasse twins and P21S.



Thanks!!!!

 

[DaGonz]

It all depends on the paint system used to refinish the car. There are a few single stage, ie., non clearcoat paint systems, some are two stage (basecoat/colorcoat), some are even three and four stage (base/pearl/tint/clear!)



The only way to tell is to try doing a small section...if the color of the car comes upon the toweling...it's not clearcoated!



4 to 5 year old paintwork should not need to be redone..unless it was totally abused to begin with.

 

[imported_Smoker]

Paint will usually be redone as a result of accident damage.



Modern paints are very difficult to match so they nearly always repaint the entire panel or in extreme cases the entire car.



Unless o course modern cars aint allowed to crash till theyre more than 4 years old ..........

 

[chris0626]

The only way to tell is to try doing a small section...if the color of the car comes upon the toweling...it's not clearcoated!

Hey Gonzo, what's the definition of "doing" here? I'm newly interested, now that I too have a car with single-stage paint. Do you get this color effect just after something gentle (like clay)? or only after some polishing/SMR?

 

[Accumulator]

By "doing" a section, Gonzo means to use some product that would result in color transfer if it's single-stage paint. The general idea is to use a fine abrasive, like a SMR. Unless you have a REALLY crappy paint condition, most clay won't do it. But even on my XJS when it's paint is in OK shape, a vigorous rub with a SMR will transfer a bit of color to the applicator.



p986s- Sometimes you can tell by looking if you're used to single-stage, but the SMR test is pretty foolproof. The '67 "should" have been redone with single-stage, but "classic" cars are OFTEN redone with basecoat-clearcoat these days, especially when durability (and the shop's preferences) is considered more important than originality. I have to specifically ask for single-stage on my older cars or shops won't use it.

 

[DaGonz]

Paint will usually be redone as a result of accident damage.



Modern paints are very difficult to match so they nearly always repaint the entire panel or in extreme cases the entire car.



Unless o course modern cars aint allowed to crash till theyre more than 4 years old ..........

ummmm...no duh! I took it as the paintwork was done 5 years ago and has not received the best of care!

originally posted by Accumulator



By "doing" a section, Gonzo means to use some product that would result in color transfer if it's single-stage paint. The general idea is to use a fine abrasive, like a SMR. Unless you have a REALLY crappy paint condition, most clay won't do it. But even on my XJS when it's paint is in OK shape, a vigorous rub with a SMR will transfer a bit of color to the applicator.

Well, that's part of what I meant...I should have added to do it in an inconspicous spot, such as a small area on a door jamb.... :doh !

 

[Accumulator]

Well, that's part of what I meant...I should have added to do it in an inconspicous spot, such as a small area on a door jamb.... :doh !

Hope you didn't mind my trying to read your mind BTW, I've found that some (otherwise basecoat/clearcoat) cars aren't clearcoated in out-of-the-way spots, so I've been leaving the "inconpicous spot" part of the advice off. I sure wouldn't want someone to mess up the center of their hood, though!