MODELS: 1985 MODELS
THE REPAIR SYSTEM CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN ARE RECOMMENDED AS A
GUIDE WHEN REPAIRING THE BASECOAT/CLEARCOAT EXTERIOR FINISHES ON THE
ABOVE STYLES.
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES OUTLINE A METHOD FOR MAKING SPOT/PARTIAL AND
FULL PANEL REPAIRS ON FLEXIBLE PARTS.
NONFLEXIBLE PANEL REPAIR SYSTEM
BASECOAT - LACQUER OR ENAMEL
1. WASH WITH A MILD DETERGENT AND WATER TO REMOVE ANY WATER SOLUABLE
CONTAMINATES, THEN CLEAN WITH A WAX AND GREASE REMOVING SOLVENT TO
REMOVE ANY TAR, SILICONE OR OTHER ROAD FILM NOT REMOVED WITH THE
DETERGENT WASH.
2. REPAIR AND FEATHEREDGE DAMAGED AREA(S) AS REQUIRED.
3. IF SUBSTRATE IS METAL, TREAT SURFACE WITH A METAL CONDITIONER AND
CONVERSION COATING ACCORDING TO LABEL DIRECTIONS. ALLOW TO DRY
THOROUGHLY AND APPLY PRIMER-SURFACER TO REPAIR AREA. ALLOW TO DRY
20-30 MINUTES BEFORE SANDING.
4. USING WET OR DRY #400 GRIT SANDPAPER OR FINER, SAND ENTIRE AREA(S)
TO BE REFINISHED WITH THE BASECOAT COLOR. AREAS TO BE CLEARCOATED
ONLY, SHOULD BE WET SANDED WITH #600 OR FINER SANDPAPER OR HAND
COMPOUND (FOLLOW MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS).
5. RECLEAN PANEL(S) WITH WAX AND GREASE REMOVING SOLVENT AND THEN
TACK WIPE.
6. APPLY ONE OR TWO COATS OF ADHESION PROMOTER WITHIN MOLDINGS
AND/OR BREAKLINES OF THE PANEL SECTION(S) TO BE REFINISHED. WHEN
MAKING PAINT REPAIRS TO AREAS SUCH AS QUARTER PANELS WHERE THE
REPAIR IS NOT CONFINED WITHIN MOLDINGS OR BREAKLINES, APPLY
ADHESION PROMOTOR A MINIMUM OF 4-6" ONTO ADJACENT PANEL. ADHESION
PROMOTER MUST EXTEND BEYOND THE AREA TO BE COVERED BY THE CLEAR
COAT WHEN NOT CONFINED BY MOLDINGS (FIGURE 1). ALLOW TO FLASH A
MINIMUM OF 30 MINUTES BEFORE APPLYING BASE COLOR COAT. SOME
ENAMEL BASECOAT MAY NOT REQUIRE ADHESION PROMOTER. FOLLOW
MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS.
7A. POLYURETHANE ENAMEL BASECOAT
CAUTION: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PAINT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR
SERVICE USE: HOWEVER, MANY REQUIRE ADDITIVES CONTAINING
ISOCYANATES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS
AND WARNINGS LISTED ON THE CONTAINER LABEL FOR
MATERIALS SELECTED BE FOLLOWED.
IT IS MANDATORY THAT ADEQUATE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
BE WORN. EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROTECTION ARE: 3-M MODELS
#6984 AND #6986 DISPOSABLE RESPIRATORS.
SUCH PROTECTION SHOULD BE WORN DURING THE ENTIRE
PAINTING PROCESS. PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, OR
THOSE ALLERGIC TO ISOCYANTES MUST NOT BE EXPOSED TO
ISOCYANATE VAPORS OR SPRAY MIST.
A. FOLLOWING PAINT MANUFACTURER'S LABEL DIRECTIONS, ACTIVITATE
THE POLYURETHANE ENAMEL MATERIAL. MIX MATERIAL THOROUGHLY.
POT LIFE OF ACTIVATED MIXTURE IS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT (8) HOURS.
B. REDUCE BASECOAT PER LABEL DIRECTIONS. SOME ACTIVATED
POLYURETHANE ENAMEL MATERIALS ARE READY TO SPRAY AS PACKAGED
UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. AS CONDITIONS VARY, TO ENHANCE FLOW
OUT AND LEVELING UP TO 10% MORE THAN THE SPECIFIED ENAMEL
REDUCER MAY BE ADDED TO THE ACTIVATED MIXTURE. CHECK THE
VISCOSITY OF THE ACTIVATED MIXTURE WITH A ZAHN #2 PAINT
VISCOSITY CUP OR ITS EQUIVALENT. FOLLOW THE PAINT
MANUFACTURER'S LABELED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PAINT VISCOSITY
CUP READING.
C. USING MANUFACTURES SPECIFIED AIR PRESSURE AT THE GUN, SPRAY
TWO MEDIUM-WET COATS OF ENAMEL MIXTURE TO ACHIEVE FULL HIDING.
ALLOW FIRST COAT TO SET-UP FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE APPLYING
THE SECOND FINAL COAT. UNLESS MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS OTHERWISE
ALLOW TO CURE OVERNIGHT.
7B. LACQUER BASECOAT
A. REDUCE BASE COLOR 150-200% WITH AN EXTRA-SLOW DRYING LACQUER
SOLVENT. THE VISCOSITY OF THE REDUCED BASE COLOR IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO MATCH THE OEM (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS) FINISH. THE BEST WAY OF CHECKING THE VISCOSITY OF A
REDUCED PAINT MATERIAL IS WITH A ZAHN #2 PAINT VISCOSITY CUP OR
ITS EQUIVALENT. THE TEMPERATURE INFLUENCES VISCOSITY DIRECTLY. IF
A COLD CAN OF PAINT IS BROUGHT INTO AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE ROOM
(65-70 DEGREES), IT WILL BE THICKER AND MORE VISCOUS. ADDING
SOLVENT TO MAKE THE PAINT SPRAYABLE IS NOT THE BEST ACTION.
THE PAINT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO REACH WORKABLE, OR AVERAGE ROOM
TEMPERATURES. FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED PAINT VISCOSITY
CUP READING FOR THEIR MATERIAL.
B. SPRAY BASE COLOR AT 35-45 LBS AIR PRESSURE AT GUN OR AS SPECIFIED
BY THE PAINT SUPPLIER. APPLY ONLY THE NUMBER OF COATS NEEDED TO
GET FULL HIDING. THIS WILL REQUIRE TWO OR THREE MEDIUM-WET COATS.
ALLOW EACH COAT TO FLASH APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AND SPRAY
EACH COAT SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN THE PREVIOUSLY APPLIED COAT. A
PREMIXED MIST COAT OF CLEAR ACRYLIC PAINT MATERIAL MAY BE USED
IF DESIRED TO MELT OVERSPRAY INTO THE BASE COLOR. ALLOW TO DRY
FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE APPLYING CLEAR COAT. DO NOT SAND BASE COLOR
COAT UNLESS IT IS NECESSARY.
8. IF BASECOAT MUST BE SANDED, PROCEED AS FOLLOWS:
A. ALLOW BASE COLOR TO DRY.
B. SAND WITH ULTRA-FINE WET-OR-DRY SANDPAPER TO REMOVE THE
IMPERFECTION(S).
C. RECLEAN AND TACK WIPE THE REPAIR AREA(S).
D. APPLY AN ADDITIONAL COAT OF BASE COLOR.
E. ALLOW TO DRY THOROUGHLY BEFORE APPLYING THE CLEARCOAT.
9A. POLYURETHANE ENAMEL CLEARCOAT
BECAUSE OF THE BETTER DURABILITY OF POLYURETHANE ENAMEL CLEAR
COSTS AS COMPARED TO LACQUER, IT IS PREFERRED IF SHOP CONDITIONS
ALLOW.
CAUTION: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PAINT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE
USE: HOWEVER, MANY REQUIRE ADDITIVES CONTAINING
ISOCYANATES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS AND
WARNINGS LISTED ON THE CONTAINER LABEL FOR MATERIALS
SELECTED BY FOLLOWED.
IT IS MANDATORY THAT ADEQUATE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION BE
WORN. EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROTECTION AREA: #6984 AND #6986
DISPOSABLE RESPIRATORS.
SUCH PROTECTION SHOULD BE WORN DURING THE ENTIRE PAINTING
PROCESS. PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, OR THOSE
ALLERGIC TO ISOCYANTES MUST NOT BE EXPOSED TO ISOCYANATE
VAPORS OR SPRAY MIST.
A. FOLLOWING PAINT MANUFACTURER'S LABEL DIRECTIONS, ACTIVITATE THE
POLYURETHANE ENAMEL CLEARCOAT MATERIAL. MIX MATERIAL
THOROUGHLY. POT LIFE OF ACTIVATED MIXTURE IS APPROXIMATELY
EIGHT (8) HOURS.
B. REDUCE CLEARCOAT PER LABEL DIRECTIONS. SOME ACTIVATED
POLYURETHANE ENAMEL CLEARCOAT MATERIALS ARE READY TO SPRAY AS
PACKAGED WHEN USED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. AS CONDITIONS VARY,
TO ENHANCE FLOW OUT AND LEVELING, UP TO 10% MORE THAN THE
SPECIFIED ENAMEL REDUCER MAY BE ADDED TO THE ACTIVATED
CLEARCOAT MIXTURE. CHECK THE VISCOSITY OF THE ACTIVATED MIXTURE
WITH A ZAHN #2 PAINT VISCOSITY CUP OR ITS EQUIVALENT. FOLLOW
THE PAINT MANUFACTURER'S LABELED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PAINT
VISCOSITY CUP READING.
C. USING 50 LBS. AIR PRESSURE AT THE GUN, SPRAY TWO MEDIUM-WET
COATS OF ENAMEL CLEARCOAT MIXTURE. ALLOW FIRST COAT TO SET-UP
FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE APPLYING THE SECOND FINAL COAT. CLEAR
COAT SHOULD BE APPLIED OVER THE ENTIRE PANEL WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
WHEN NO BREAKLINES ARE PRESENT BLEND ALL SPRAY APPLICATIONS
WITHIN THE ADHESION PROMOTER BOUNDRY (FIGURE 1).
CLEAN SPRAY PAINTING EQUIPMENT WITH LACQUER THINNER
IMMEDIATELY AFTER USE.
CLEARCOAT
9B. LACQUER CLEARCOAT
A. REDUCE CLEARCOAT 125-150% WITH AN EXTRA-SLOW DRYING LACQUER
THINNER TO THE RECOMMENDED PAINT VISCOSITY CUP READING OF THE
MANUFACTURER WHO'S PAINT PRODUCT YOU ARE USING.
B. SPRAY TWO MEDIUM-WET COATS OF CLEAR AT 35-40 LBS AIR
PRESSURE AT THE GUN. ALLOW FIRST COAT TO FLASH COMPLETELY
BEFORE APPLYING THE SECOND COAT. AT LEAST TWO COATS MUST BE
USED. ADDITIONAL COATS MAY BE APPLIED IF DESIRED. IF ADDITIONAL
LEVELING IS DESIRED A FINAL COAT OF PREMIXED MIST-COAT MATERIAL
(CLEAR ACRYLIC AND THINNER) CAN BE SPRAYED AT 20 LBS AIR
PRESSURE AT THE GUN. WHEN NO BREAKLINES ARE PRESENT, BLEND ALL
SPRAY APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE ADHESION PROMOTER (FIGURE 1).
ALLOW THE REPAIR TO DRY OVERNIGHT, THEN RUB OUT WITH A LIGHT-
CUTTING HAND OR MACHINE POLISHING COMPOUND.
THE APPLIED "ADHESION PROMOTER WITH ALL SPRAY OPERATIONS. ALLOW
THE REPAIR TO DRY OVERNIGHT, THEN, RUB OUT WITH A LIGHT-CUTTING
HAND OR MACHINE POLISHING COMPOUND.
FLEXIBLE PANEL REPAIR SYSTEM
PROCEDURE - FULL PANEL
FULL PANEL REPAIRS MUST BE PERFORMED, SPOT REPAIRS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED
CAUTION: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FLEXIBLE PAINT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR
SERVICE USE: HOWEVER, MANY REQUIRED ADDITIVES CONTAINING
ISOCYANATES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS
AND WARNINGS LISTED ON THE CONTAINER LABEL FOR MATERIALS
SELECTED BE FOLLOWED.
IT IS MANDATORY THAT ADEQUATE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION BE
WORN. EXAMPLES OF SUCH PROTECTION AREA: 3-M MODELS #6984
AND #6986 DISPOSABLE RESPIRATORS.
SUCH PROTECTION SHOULD BE WORN DURING THE ENTIRE
PAINT PROCESS. PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, OR
THOSE ALLERGIC TO ISOCYANATES MUST NOT BE EXPOSED TO
ISOCYANATE VAPORS OR SPRAY MIST.
1. FLEXIBLE UNDERCOAT REQUIREMENTS
IF THE PART TO BE PAINTED IS A REPLACEMENT, IT WILL BE FACTORY
PRIMED WITH AN ELASTOMERIC ENAMEL-BASED PRIMER. AS LONG AS THE
ORIGINAL PRIMER IS NOT SCRATCHED EXPOSING THE PLASTIC SUBSTRATE,
ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS TO SOLVENT CLEAN, SAND WITH #400 PAPER
OR A RED "SCOTCH-BRITE" PAD, RECLEAN AND APPLY ELASTOMERIC
COLOR.
HOWEVER, IF THE PLASTIC SUBSTRATE IS EXPOSED OR THE PART IS
REPAIRED WITH FLEXIBLE FILLER MATERIAL, A FLEXIBLE PRIMER
SURFACER MUST BE USED TO PROVIDE THE FILLING PROPERTIES
REQUIRED. THIS IS TO PREVENT A "BULL'S-EYE CONDITION OR
HIGHLIGHTING OF THE BARE SUBSTRATE OR FILLER REPAIR AFTER
COLOR IS APPLIED.
PREPARE FLEXIBLE PRIMER SURFACER AS FOLLOWS:
A. CLEAN THE ENTIRE PART WITH A WAX, GREASE AND SILICONE
REMOVING SOLVENT APPLIED WITH A WATER DAMPENED CLOTH.WIPE
DRY.
NOTE: THE STEP ABOVE BEGINS TO PREPARE THE ENTIRE PART FOR
COLOR COATS. SPOT REPAIR IS NOT RECOMMENDED BECAUSE
DRY SPRAY AT THE BLEND AREA OF APPLIED ELASTOMERIC
B. FEATHEREDGE THE SCUFF OR FILLER REPAIR WITH #320 SANDPAPER,
BLOW OFF DUST AND TACK WIPE.
C. MIX AND APPLY FOUR MEDIUM DRY COATS OF FLEXIBLE PRIMER
SURFACER. FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIFIC
MIX RATIOS AND ADDITIVES.
NOTE: USE A FAST EVAPORATING THINNER AS RECOMMENDED TO
REDUCE THE PRIMER-SURFACER AND DO NOT APPLY
EXCESSIVELY WET COATS. BARE FLEXIBLE PLASTIC SURFACE
AND/OR FLEXIBLE FILLER MATERIALS HAVE A TENDENCY TO
SWELL FROM THINNER ABSORPTION, RESULTING IN A VISIBLE
OR "HIGHLIGHTED" REPAIR.
D. ALLOW TO DRY AT LEAST ONE HOUR AND BLOCK SAND WITH #400
SANDPAPER. SAND THE ENTIRE PART WITH #400 SANDPAPER OR RED
"SCOTCH-BRITE" PAD TO REMOVE ALL GLOSS IN PREPARATION FOR
COLOR APPLICATIONS.
WHEN PAINTS ARE MODIFIED WITH A FLEX ADDITIVE, THE
POSSIBILITY OF MIXTURE "POT LIFE" EXISTS; THEREFORE, SPRAY
EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE CLEANED IMMEDIATELY AFTER USE.
2. BODY COLOR WITH FLEXIBLE ADDITIVE SYSTEMS
THERE ARE SEVERAL FLEXIBLE TOPCOAT SYSTEMS AVAILABLE FOR THE
PAINTER'S SELECTIONS; IN MOST CASES, IT IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL
PREFERENCE. BASECOAT/CLEARCOAT MATERIAL CAN BE EITHER ENAMEL OR
LACQUER-BASED.
SOME MANUFACTURERS DO NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF FLEX ADDITIVES IN
THEIR BASECOLOR MATERIAL, BUT DO RECOMMEND ITS USE FOR THEIR
LACQUER CLEAR COAT.
A. THOROUGHLY SAND THE ENTIRE PART WITH #400 SANDPAPER OR RED
"SCOTCH-BRITE" PAD TO REMOVE ALL GLOSS. RECLEAN.
B. MIX THE BASE COLOR, FLEXIBLE ADDITIVE, IF RECOMMENDED, AND
THINNER. FOLLOW MANUFACTURER'S LABEL INSTRUCTIONS.
CUP READING FOR THEIR SPECIFIC MATERIAL.
C. APPLY A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COATS TO ACHIEVE COMPLETE HIDING
AND COLOR MATCH. ALLOW FLASH TIME BETWEEN COATS.
D. ALLOW THE BASE COLOR COAT TO DRY 30-60 MINUTES BEFORE APPLYING
THE CLEAR COAT. DO NOT SAND THE BASE COAT BEFORE APPLYING THE
CLEAR COAT.
NOTE: IF SANDING OF THE BASE COAT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE
IMPERFECTIONS, SUCH AS DIRT OR SAGS, SAND WITH #400
GRIT OR FINER SANDPAPER, RECLEAN THE AREA(S). APPLY ONE
ADDITIONAL COAT OF BASE MATERIAL AND LET DRY.
3. CLEAR COAT APPLICATION
A. MIX AND REDUCE CLEAR COAT (LACQUER OR ENAMEL) MATERIAL AS PER
LABEL INSTRUCTIONS.
NOTE: USE FLEX ADDITIVE IF RECOMMENDED BY PAINT SOURCE.
B. STRAIN THE MIXTURE AND APPLY 2-3 COATS WITH 35-40 LBS AIR
PRESSURE AT THE GUN.
C. ALLOW EACH COAT TO FLASH COMPLETELY BEFORE APPLYING THE NEXT
COAT. ALLOW AT LEAST 4 HOURS AIR DRY TIME OR FORCE DRY FOR 30
MINUTES WITH A HEAT LAMP AT 180 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT BEFORE
PUTTING INTO SERVICE.
NOTE: COMPOUNDING IS NOT RECOMMENDED WHEN A FLEXIBLE ADDITIVE
IS USED IN THE TOP COAT PAINT MATERIAL. THE MIXTURE WILL
DRY WITH ACCEPTABLE GLOSS.
COMPOUNDING DULLS THE GLOSS OF ELASTOMERIC FINISHES
CAUSING A FLAT APPEARANCE. THE FINISH CANNOT BE BROUGHT
BACK TO THE SAME GLOSS LEVEL WITHOUT APPLYING MORE PAINT.
TYPICAL SPOT/PARTIAL REPAIR
USED ONLY ON QUARTERS AND ROOFS
1. PRIME REPAIR AREA.
2. WET SAND AREA TO BE PRIMED AND COLOR COATED WITH 400 GRIT OR FINER.
3. WET SAND WITH 600 GRIT OR FINER OR HAND COMPOUND (FOLLOW
MANUFACTURE'S RECOMMENDATIONS).
4. APPLY ADHESION PROMOTOR OVER ENTIRE PANEL AND BLEND A MINIMUM OF
4-6" INTO ADJACENT AREA.
5. APPLY BASECOAT PER LABEL DIRECTIONS.
6. APPLY CLEARCOAT OVER ENTIRE PANEL AND BLEND INTO ADJACENT AREA
WITHIN ADHESION PROMOTER.
FIGURE 1
TYPICAL FULL PANEL REPAIR WITH LACQUER OR ENAMEL CLEARCOAT
1. PRIME REPAIR AREA.
2. WET SAND AREA TO BE PRIMED AND COLOR COATED WITH 400 GRIT OR FINER.
3. WET SAND ENTIRE AREA TO BE CLEAR COATED WITH 600 GRIT OR FINER OR
HAND COMPOUND (FOLLOW MANUFACTURERS' RECOMMENDATIONS).
4. APPLY AN ADHESION PROMOTOR OVER ENTIRE AREA TO BE COLOR COATED AND
CLEAR COATED.
5. APPLY BASE COLOR COAT OVER REPAIR AREA ONLY AS PER LABEL DIRECTIONS
6. APPLY CLEAR COAT OVER ENTIRE PANEL AS PER LABEL DIRECTIONS.
FIGURE 2
General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional
technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform
those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or
to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a
vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools,
safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely.
If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies
to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See
a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors
vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from
the information.