paint prep

[timguyli]

Hi, I need to know how to prep my 88 gt for new paint. The clear coat is failing/failed. Can i just wet sand it down and if so what grt paper do i use? Aby advice is great appreciated! Thanks

[unboundmo]

I'm no pro but the wet sandpaper starts arounnd 400 grit. I would start with 600-800 and end with 1000 or so. It's black sandpaper.

[Blue Bowtie]

What is going to be used to refinish the surface? If you are intending only to apply clearcoat, be VERY careful about sanding. The edges must be feathered, and surrounding surface must be sanded lightly to allow adhesion, but it is very easy to sand through the color coat when feathering the edges of the clear. If that happens, you'll be repainting panels.

If you intend to repaint/blend, and the factory primer is intact, you're in luck. Remove all the failing clearcoat and feather the edges very gradually into the surrounding areas of good finish. Use a catalyzed primer (such as PPG DBU) and apply a substantial coat to build to the surrounding surface. Block sand the areas with 400 wet, then no more than 1000 wet. Apply the DBU color coat, then follow instructions for the clearcoat application. Catalyzed paints (such as DBU) will adhere very well to a surface prepared to 1000 grit with excellent finish results. It will frequently/usually hide the sand marks from even 400 wetsanding, but to insure the best finish, final sand with 1000 wet.