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Paint Quality

1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Fresh Air inspector 
#1 ·
Hello All,

I recently purchased a 1996 SS with 86K km (53K mi). The car is quite tidy but has been used for at least 2 winters (my guess), as there is surface rust (paint bubbling), on the inner fenders (edges all the frame rails and any mounting holes). During the repair work I noticed that there is no primer under the paint (black).

Can anyone shed light on what GM was up to in '96 with its paint processes? Is it the same situation for the body paint (fortunately in excellent condition)?

Appreciate any and all feedback.
 
#3 ·
Hello TGO,

Thanks for the quick reply.

I should have been clearer in my original post. The paint on the car is original and it has never been painted. The inner fenders inside the wheel wells as well as the engine compartment only have a single coat of black paint, no primer what so ever. Rub a piece of 220 Aluminum Oxide sandpaper back and forth half a dozen times on any inner fender surface and you will be down to bare metal. Normally, feathering the edge of a bare spot would show at least two layers of paint; primer and top coat. With the Impala it is only a single layer of paint.

I find the lack of primer quite surprising and the primary reason that surface rust/paint bubbling happens so easily along any edge.

I don't have any pictures at the moment as I've just finished repainting the drivers inner fender. By the end of next week I will be working on the passenger inner fender and will be able to share some pictures.
 
#4 ·
Yea, I'm not sand papering my car.

But, I've never owned an (american) car where the inside fender wells were primed and painted to the quality that the outside body was. I'm not sure what you're getting at here. If anything there should be undercoating on that side. If it's not there anymore then your car has spent more than two winters on the road.
 
#5 ·
I have this problem as well on one of my '95's. I'm quite certain they just sprayed on a single stage paint over the metal. Probably something like a matte/satin finish primer. I did find some paint that does a real close match. The Eastwood Company has a black underhood paint that's about the right thickness and gloss as what GM used. It's a rattle can. Like you I have a hard time understanding why they would get so cheap on the paint that's exposed most to the elements. Makes no sense to me but I'm not an engineer.
 
#6 ·
May not be paint at all,but simply some electrostatic coating of some sort. No reason that one couldn't remove,and paint them as many of us have...
 
#7 ·
Hello TGO, 1963SS, 1slow96,

Gentlemen, appreciate the feedback.

1966SS - many thanks for confirming my suspicions and the Eastwood tip. I've started prepping the inner fenders for repainting. It isn't easy due to all the items attached to them but they are starting to look better. I actually considered completely removing both inner fenders to simplify the repairs but decided against it when I saw how much work was involved.

I do plan to strip the wheel well portion, spray them with Etch Primer followed by Rocker Guard. Hopefully that will extend the life of the metal.
 
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