Peeling Paint

[JacobSimon]

Hey all! I have a question regarding paint. So my 82 has a 9 yo paint job. It looks like the new (orange) paint was put right over the previous color (Carolina blue). The paint looks good in other places, but up by the passenger headlight the paint is coming off in large flakes (you can see this in my new members post under the heading “new member in north Carolina”). There is a spot about 3 inches by 4 inches in which the gold paint has come completely away. Attached to that spot is an area where the paint has come up from the layer underneath but is still attached on the edges....kinda bubbling. it looks like the paint is simply peeling up. Enough so that I could pull it away from the car (not that I would want to do that!) So my question is, other than a new paint job what can I do as a stopgap measure?? I want to protect the car as well as stop the paint peel progression. Any suggestions??
THANKS!!!

[Jimb]

Nothing you can do. Thats a result of poor prep. If the existing surface (paint) isn't sanded the new paint won't bond. That's what you have. Unfortunately you have contrasting colours so it will really show. The only solution is to have it completely repainted properly...which will mean taking all of the orange paint off.
Jim

[JacobSimon]

well that stinks...

[4uall]

a really nice big Fiat sticker

http://www.hippymotorsusa.com/

[narfire]

Yeup Jimb is correct. Poor prep job. I recently had the same issue on my hood. Sand to metal and start over.
For a positive spin, these cars do not require much paint. I think my whole car took a bit less than 2 liters and I had a bit left. Here I had I thought a decent 5 foot paint job for $2500.00. Down to metal, filled, smoothed , primed, painted, wet sanded, and cut waxed. Somewheres in there clear coated as well.
Perhaps the cereal boxes might still have the old STP stickers inside, I'm going back a few years of course. A sticker as mentioned might be a stop-gap for the time being
Chris

[JacobSimon]

The sticker suggestion, while unique, is sadly not an option. The spot in question is right by the headlight where the body dips in from the hood. If it were in a flat spot it might have worked! Guess I'm just gonna stay away from waxing/scrubbing that area, maybe at some point get that panel painted. At least its only peeling to the blue paint underneath, not bare metal, so some protection exists.

[azruss]

condolences on your Earl Scheib $29.95 special. Had a neighbor back in the 70 with such a paintjob on his corvair. went to the self serve car wash and pressure washed big holes in the paint. he just covered them up with flower decals....very groovy.
You are at the point where you can only go up, so get creative. I would try to find a rattle can match to the top coat. carefully work the edge of the missing paint edge to get it flat, work the old paint with a purple scotchbrite pad. clean with a degreaser, mask off the good paint, and rattle can away. Here is the caviat: odds are good that the top coat is very poor quality and the rattle can could make the paint crinkle. To solve this issue, you need to spray very thin coats with decent drying time between coats. It will pass the 25' test. you could use semi-gloss black. just need to do the same pattern on the other side so it looks intentional. could also go to a vinyl sign shop and see if they have some outdoor vinyl that is a close match or, like the black, a different color. you could do something creative with the paint edge like run it along the headlight rim and taper it to a point at the top of the fender. ...Or just go buy a bra

[Jimb]

I've always believed that when something needs attention then you never regret doing a top notch job of repairing it. If it was my car, and I had reservations about a new paint job when it became apparent that that is what it needed, then I would say that car is not for me and find one that was. Otherwise every other penny you spend on that car is throwaway.
Just my 2 cents,
Jim

[JacobSimon]

Jimb, you make a great point. Momma always said "any job large or small do it right or not at all". I would absolutely love to invest in a full new paint job. That said, idealism is expensive! Being in grad school is quite hard on my wallet, and as such I will not be able to invest in a quality paint. I mean, I could go for a budget maaco spray, but that would be in direct contradiction to the concept of "doing it right". So, for now, we tread water and keep the fuel gauge above empty!

[Jimb]

I certainly understand why your circumstance restrict you. It is indeed very unfortunate that the previous owner cut corners on the paint job. You would be much better off if you didn't have to reverse his work...which further supports my belief that you should do it right if you're going to do it at all. Good luck on your continuing ed; my daughter is also in the process of deciding which grad school to go to in September. Jim

[JacobSimon]

Good luck to her! Im sure she will choose wisely. Regarding Fiona, it seems like the PO took pretty good care of her. Kept her under a cover, had quite a bit of engine work done 9 yrs and then 3 years ago. He owned the car for 23 years and only put 25k miles on it. (ill be driving quite a bit more i think!) When I bought her he handed me a box of service records that dates back to 1985. Gotta love the packrat mentality! So, yeah, paint isn't great, but i think all in all I got a fair deal for what I paid.
Jake