[chiphead]

My '67 has a lacquer paint job from the early 1990s. It's very sun faded on the hood/trunk. The PO had done a half-ass job of buffing it out to restore some shine, but it needs more work. What's the best way to try to recover a faded lacquer paint job?

[Cammer-6]

most likely there isnt
cut and buff may work but its roll the dice
try a very small area and start with 1000grit
if you have enough color to work up to 1500 then polish.
Trick is to get thru the dead layer without running out of paint.

[MUSLCAH]

Is the paint cracked ? If so..your screwed

[chiphead]

It's cracked in some places, filler shrunk in others, but most of the paint is pretty solid. The paint on the trunk is solid, just faded. It's an old paint job that wasn't taken care of. It is what it is. The PO actually got the sides to shine fairly well, but gave up on the trunk and hood. I'd like to do what I could for the trunk. The hood will be replaced with a GTO hood.

I can practice on the flat lemans hood that's on the car now, I'll be swapping it. No harm no foul. What do you guys suggest I try first? Don't be shy.

[MUSLCAH]

All the top surfaces are the first to fail. Sun and UV rays yah know. The side always survive.....unless it’s parked in the same spot every day...where the sun sets in the west...and always beats on that side .

Wool pad on a rotary buffer and some heavy cut compound....and have at it. Just stop when you start seeing primer.

[Greg Reid]

What is considered a 'heavy cut' compound MUSLCAH? I know little to nothing about buffing compounds. Are they labeled light, medium, heavy, etc.?

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

What is considered a 'heavy cut' compound MUSLCAH? I know little to nothing about buffing compounds. Are they labeled light, medium, heavy, etc.?

Yes...sometimes it’s called ..extra cut .

I just use the “Heavy Cut / Extra cut ...with a wool pad ..and rotary buffer first.

And buff until all scratches are gone...usually 2-3 applications .

Then when that it done....I move to a foam pad on an The same rotary buffer...with a fine polish.

Then the final buff is done with a foam ( spider pad ) on an Orbital buffer with the same fine polish. Wipe down with a micro fiber towel ....and done.

Total of 3 steps.....with absolutely no swirl marks

[Greg Reid]

Thanks, I have some buffing equipment but never learned to use it really. I might try the techniques out on my '02 Toyota Tacoma. It's not really scratched up but the paint does not have any gloss to it.

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

Thanks, I have some buffing equipment but never learned to use it really. I might try the techniques out on my '02 Toyota Tacoma. It's not really scratched up but the paint does not have any gloss to it.

Make sure to put some 3/4 inch tape on the edges of the adjacent panels...and on sharp body lines with-in the panel you are buffing. I’ve been running a buffer for 48 years and still use the tape.

[Greg Reid]

Got it, thanks!