1993 Bravada Paint question

[Mark Hart]

Hi guys, recognize me? Mark here (vmag). Don't know what heppened to that forum, tried emailing the administrator but didn't get a response.
Anyway, all is well with my 93, no mechanical issues with the Bravada at this time (Camaro is another story-see that forum if you want to lend a hand) However, the Bravada hood is exibiting signs of the good ol GM 'orange peel' cracking of the paint. Does anyone know of a way to rub that out or at least reduce it? Obviously I don't expect much from an original paint job that is now 11 years old, but I'd like to try something. Take care, Mark

[Chris Stewart]

Hey Mark!
Old gang, new clubhouse!
You'll never guess what I just finished today.....putting new clearcoat on my Dodge cab top.
I took the old lifting clearcoat off at the car wash ...high pressure spray. I took the rest off water sanding with 1000 grit wet or dry sandpaper then wiped it all down with a pre paint cleaner solvent, masked it, then shot a coupla coats. If I didn't have the stuff to do it I'd still color sand(move when you start pulling up color) then let a paint shop shoot it.

[Mark Hart]

Hey Chris,
Interesting. So is the crackling I see the clearcoat or the paint? Just curious, to be honost it's not bad enough that I plan on doing anything with it right now. It's garaged most of the time and up here in the pacific northwest sun damage isn't much of a problem.
Mark

[Chris Stewart]

I'd say it's the clearcoat. I agree that if it isn't lifting or blistering, it's still protecting the basecoat paint. I wouldn't try to polish it out because it'll remove the clear to the point where it'll come apart faster. Same goes with cleaner/waxes. Wax like Maguire's #26 Yellow Wax, their new Tech Polymer Sealant or Mothers Pure Wax(I think) won't remove any clearcoat. The new Turtle wax I've seen advertized on TV looks good, I'll probably try some...I'm a closet wax head.

[Mark Hart]

Hey, thanks Chris.
Appreciate the info. I've never done much bodywork/detailing. Other than the occasional washing and waxing, I'm an amatuer at it.
My Bravada is the dark green. Not one of my favorite colors, but it looks pretty good when cleaned up.
Take care, Mark

[Chris Stewart]

Man, that Dark Green...they called it Forest Green on '70 Novas...looks great when cleaned & waxed good...one of the first deep car colors I really dug when I was a teenager.