Expert: William Forster - 8/7/2008

Question
i have questions on blending b/c c/c. i have a spot at the bottom of sail panel, and i would like to know if there is anyway i can sand it out and blend it in without having to repaint the entire top of the quarter panel. (from lege to ledge) talikng about a 65 gto. thanks, mike

Answer
Mike, spotting in is a bad idea- especially on classic cars. You can color the area, and just clear the entire top if the quarter and sail panel. Just do a roll back with the tape on the roof line and quarter ledge- mask up the car first, leave a 3/8 inch gap at the edge of the quarter and roof line, and then run a strip of tape over it leaving the tape overhang the panel about 3/8 of an inch. Roll it back carefully, keeping it uniform. This will prevent a hard tape line. Right after you apply your last coat of clear, pull off the roll back strip of masking tape. It will allow the clear to settle, and minimize any potential rubbing of the line. The 65 GTO is about the easiest car to do  this with- I used to have a 65 Tempest, still have a 66 GTO, and I'm a huge Pontiac nut. I'm intimately familiar with this particular car. you will only have a small fuzzy spot to rub out directly over the quarter glass. This is an incredibly easy repair on this car- worth doing right. We're talking about a total of 2.5 square feet of surface area, and a repair that will be invisible forever if you paint the top of the quarter. Spot it in, and I promise you, it will be back to haunt you. Bill