First shot at fixing the black Vette

[J S Machine]

Here's another shot of that side. The afternoon sun shows alot.

I started sanding the RIDS on the door, and got that done. Here are some shots of that process finished.

Bonus points for anybody who can tell me what other GM car you can find this door handle on

 

[Hoytman]

Looks similar to the handle on my Buick Regal.

Wow! That side is as bad as what I'm working on, but without the oxidation and staining.

 

[wysiwyg]

Like night and day..

I feel better about it now.

Wow! Great job!

 

[J S Machine]

Thanks. Still haven't tried the microfiber pads yet. I'm gonna try to go after that door today when I get off of work.

 

[tuscarora dave]

Here's another shot of that side. The afternoon sun shows alot.

I started sanding the RIDS on the door, and got that done. Here are some shots of that process finished.

Bonus points for anybody who can tell me what other GM car you can find this door handle on

The level of correction that you're doing on your Corvette is very impressive. I wish all owners of these Corvettes could understand what you have learned so far, about how challenging the work can be in making one look as good as what you are making yours look like. Anymore when someone with a hacked up Corvette asks me about correcting it, I simply tell them that I charge $50 an hour for correction work and that it will likely take upward of 30 hours. I tell them to price a paint job on one and get back to me.

My Buick Park Avenue Ultra has that same door handle, I just removed it, repaired it and re-installed it the other night. What a pain that was, especially with having 5 thumbs on each hand.

Great job on the Vette so far, and it's nice to see someone learning as they go and posting about the impossibility of taking short cuts on such hard paint. Anyone who has done more than a few of these Corvette paint corrections have likely learned the same lesson.

 

[slapshot]

I have to agree with Dave. I have owned two Vettes, '91 coupe and '03 Z06. Both had paint that was very challenging to fix even the most minor dings or scratches.

Like I tell people, keeping your car shiny is the easy part, it's getting it there that is time consuming and hard. It's like algebra.....you start with the basics and each step builds on the last. If one step is missed or not done correctly, the end result isn't right. PS, I guess that's why I had to take algebra twice...... lol

 

[J S Machine]

Took on the door today. Here's a shot of it taped off and ready to take a beating..

I didn't take any pictures along the way other than a few. This pic shows the necessary hand compounding that is needs to get this mirror. I did that with every step. No big deal

Here is a shot of the white pad before glaze. I'm pretty sure Blackfire pad conditioner is some sort of radioactive solution..or antifreeze

Here are finished shots

The stuff on the ground is just stuff I set up in an attempt to show reflection. Check out my microfiber magnetic ground covering. Most people know it as pine straw. By the way, I tried the microfiber pads..They definitely cut faster than foam, but they are not as soft and willing to conform to these curved panels as the foam ones are.

34 hours in now.

 

[Hoytman]

Great work John. However, I'm not amazed at your attention to detail after seeing the pics of some other hobbies via pm, and I'd expect nothing less than the level of work you're doing. This car is deserving of your time.

As a comparison, I have 25 in a roof and 5 hours in the hood (30 hrs total)in removing oxidation and swirls (with M105, wool and a rotary to boot). I have all of this time only to discover bird bomb etchings gone too far (some of which couldn't be seen because of staining and oxidation), some cracking issues and solvent pop along. My project isn't a corvette and I'm not treating it as one, rather, I'm simply trying to take this paint to its maximum potential on this Trailblazer, just as you're doing.

No paint cleaners I had, or all-in-ones would touch it to shine it up, so I had no choice but to take the route I decided to take. As a result you and I are going down similar paths, both of which will lead to much better looking paint jobs...one a corvette, the other a Trailblazer. I'm hoping to post pictures soon.

Extremely excited for you John. Nice...nice, work.

 

[J S Machine]

I appreciate the kind words, help, and support. If it were not for this forum, I may still be in the situation I was. Fortunately, this has taught me the beginning stages of a very unique skill that I will surely use for a long time to come.

I Haven't done anything to the car because I was out of town the week of Thanksgiving, and 12 hours at work and a new cold that has manifested itself has done me in for the moment. Rest assured, I will pick it back up soon. Taking a 3 day weekend this friday for my final vacation of the year. I see some polishing on the horizon..

 

[fdesalvo]

I'm late to the party here, but this is inspirational! Amazing work and a true labor of love.

 

[J S Machine]

Thanks for replying to the thread. You reminded me I need to update. I have been pretty busy / lazy over the holidays, and have not wanted to mess with this thing. Burned out isn't the word, but I have not exactly looked forward to getting back to it, lol. I realized though that it wasn't going to get done until I got my butt out there and did it.

I did the nose sunday. Here is a pick I snapped in the parking lot at work, just because I wanted to show again just how bad these swirls are. I continue to be speechless by what I see.

And here are a few shots of the light sanding I have done on the scratches. The nose was not too bad.

I had not seen this previously, so I was a little disappointed..again. MORE burn through marks. I just can't believe how bad this got. I sure am glad I stepped in and made the decision to fix it myself.

Anyway, I didn't get any good finished shots of it because it was dark when I got done. It took five hours to do the nose. The crossed flag emblem is back on and all is good. It looks just as good as the other panels. I will try to get a shot of it up in a few days. I plan to try and finish the car within the week. Still left to do is the driver door and rear fender, and the passenger front fender. Then, of course, I will be tackling the hood last because of the questionable situation there I have discussed earlier in this thread. Thirty five hours in now.

 

[Hoytman]

Hi John,

Yeah...burn out can happen real quick when a project with this many hours is dragged out over several weeks or months because of commitments.

I got socked in by the weather and 8inches of snow with zero days to spare. I finished (oxidation removal only w/M105) one day, and it snowed the next. I'll be doing some touch-up paint work in the spring as well as some sanding, but so far I couldn't be more happy with how it turned out after approximately 60-70 hours. After 60 I quit counting. Of course, tearing down and setting up each time really adds to the amount of time when you don't have a place inside to work. You're way ahead of me on posting photo's and such though. I have over 200 photo's and countless video or my work, just too busy, among other things, to get it all posted.

Nice, nice work John.

 

[cartman57]

Following your progress since the beginning, a lot of work and hours. Very impressive what you've done with the paint and finish so far. It really is impressive.
I can only imagine how burned out you must be.

Can't give up yet.

 

[J S Machine]

Thanks for the encouragement. Here is a pic of the back left fender. One hour in sanding the small scratches with the trizact pad. 36 hours in now.

On a given panel or area, if I sand the small scratches one day and buff the next afternoon, it kind of makes it easier than doing the whole thing all in one day. I have to wash it first and dry it before sanding, just to be sure I can see the surface correctly with no obstructions . I hope to buff it today, but there may be rain. Hopefully not.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Keep up the good work John.

It's been fun watching your progress since you first joined the forum sharing the "Horror Story" that happened to your Corvette, you attempts to find someone else to fix it for you and how it resulted in you choosing to do it yourself.


One word... tenacity


No one, (except those with the Professional Mindset), will work as hard or do a nice a job as the person that actually owns the vehicle.


:dblthumb2:

 

[J S Machine]

Here are some finished pics of the nose

And if you notice..my dang nose emblem has decided to self destruct. The red insert that goes on the right hand side of the crossed flags decided to turn loose going down the road. It must have been from the stress of being taken off. I sure hate that because these nose emblems are not cheap. I guess I will make something up and put it in there for the time being.

It has a few bug guts in those pictures. I've been driving it since I did it the other day.

I went out to buff the fender yesterday afternoon, and the rain just kept trying to mess me up. I dragged everything out and just about got going and it started to sprinkle. So I dragged everything back in. About ten minutes later I walked out, and it was dry. pulled everything back out and it started to rain again. I just gave up, lol. I'll make another run at it today, but it isn't looking promising. Misting rain outside right now, and I doubt that will change.

 

[J S Machine]

Got that fender and the driver door done over the weekend.

Here is the driver back fender all taped up and prepped.

And finished-

Here is the driver door prepped. I forgot to take a picture before I started doing the first set of section passes of M105.

finished.

All there is left now is the passenger front fender, and the hood. I'm sure that the mirrors and rocker panels will need a little attention too. I don't plan to spend much time on the rockers, because they take a beating from stuff coming off of the front wheel. Never have been able to keep those things clean from day one. One of the bad points of having this particular car, in black, as a daily driver.

42 hours in now.

 

[Opiy]

Wow, this is impressive! I think I would try this on my old work truck just for the "trial and learning curve" before I done it on such a nice car. I need to do a lot of reading and learning it seems. I am anxious to see the finished product so I know you are also. Lots of work but stick with it, it will be amazing in the end.

 

[Stang Man]

Amazing watching the transformation, good work man!

 

[J S Machine]

Thanks folks. I have not done that passenger front fender or the hood yet. I plan to get to it before the weekend is over.