C1 (1960) Paint Issue

[Donald H.]

Another newbie question. The 1960 I purchased had gone through partion "retoration". I was tolded it was painted sometime in the past 6 or so years. Not finished or driven since. Due to the poor quality of the paint job, I decided that it needed to be repainted. I am in the process of removing the existing paint. Since I've never done this before, I've done a lot of research on this forum and others. I've started on the trunk lid simply because it is small enough for me to work on in my basement shop. Below is a picture of the removal in process. From what I can tell the layers are outer is red, then below that there is a white layer, then another red layer, then the gray primer over the glass.

As you can see in the attached picture, I am able to get a edge under the top three layers with a razor blade scraper, then insert a larger very thin blade scraper and remove the paint in fairly large flakes.

My questions are, Is this normally the way the paint would come off? And if you look closely at the picture attached, you can see what looks like brush marks where the lower red was applied to the gray primer. What's the deal with this?

Thanks,

Don Harris
Member # 51003

[Chuck S.]

Re: C1 (1960) Paint Issue

If the car has been repainted, you would need to ask the former owner about the repaint. I'm not C1 knowledgeable, but I doubt that was done at the factory. I suppose it's possible to brush on a heavy primer-surfacer if you're going to sand it smooth anyway, but I would be concerned about uniformity of the film thickness.

I have heard of people successfully stripping the paint off Corvettes with razor blades, but I've always wondered how they were able to accomplish this without leaving the fiberglass surface covered with nicks and gouges from the stripping process. I prefer chemical stripping...it's been done for decades, and if done properly, there are no ill effects to fiberglass or subsequent paint.

[Steven B.]

Re: C1 (1960) Paint Issue

I agree with Chuck. Use the chemical stripper. I have done it both ways and ended up repairing too many "nicks" using the blade method and found a couple of small ones after the last coat was applied.

Steve

[Ray C.]

Re: C1 (1960) Paint Issue

I stripped a 1965 using the same method that you are using. I used a fiberglass safe chemical stripper to complete the paint removal. If using chemical stripper, is is very, very important to remove all chemical residue. I cleaned the fiberglass with lacquer thinner and then warm soapy water and a bristle brush. I washed the body again with lacquer thinner and a Scotch-Brite pad. If there is body filler from previous repairs the chemical stripper may cause the filler to soften. If the original primer is still on the body, the paint stripper may not remove it. You can wet sand the original primer until you are satisfied that you have a good base for you primer/sealer coat.

Hope this helps!

Ray

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 (1960) Paint Issue

I do plan to use combination of chemical stripper and sanding. However, given the state of the top three layers, the blade method I have been using is working very quickly. As I mentioned, I am not scraping the surface much at all. Just get an edge up and then flake the paint off. the final primer layer and residual paint will be sanded and/or stripped. I will be turning the car over to a professional restorer/painter and will check with him to see what state he want, either down to the fiberglass or to the primer layer.

Thanks to all.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C1 (1960) Paint Issue

That pattern is common with urethane finishes. I dont know why it looks like that, but it does.