Temporary hood fixes

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:49 pm

As previously stated, the paint on my hood is fading and the clear coat is beginning to chip in one place. I'd like to do something about it, but I can't exactly afford a paint job for it right now, but stumbled upon some cheaper, temporary fixes. Ultimately I hope to have a nice paint job done on the hood or even a new hood (maybe carbon fiber). But for now, for $50-$100, there are such fixes as 'carbon fiber vinyl wrap', and they even come in red. I'd probably do black since I think that would look better than if the shade of red was different from mine.. which it probably would be.

I'm wondering if anyone has any knowledge of this or other temporary fixes. Do they look alright, or would I be better without?

mjrpaine · Post by **mjrpaine** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:56 pm

IMHO ... I wouldn't bother. Just save the money and buy the hood you want. Why spend the extra money now when you can just save it and put it towards buying the hood in a couple months ???

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:11 pm

mjrpaine wrote:IMHO ... I wouldn't bother. Just save the money and buy the hood you want. Why spend the extra money now when you can just save it and put it towards buying the hood in a couple months ???

That's the first thing I thought of, but I also want to prevent it from getting worse in the mean time. The fading probably won't get much worse so quickly, but if the clear coat peels anything like the clear coat on my dad's Dart..

mjrpaine · Post by **mjrpaine** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:23 pm

if it peels it peels ... I mean ... honestly why spend the money to fix it if your just going to take the hood of soon anyway. Its more of a waste of money then anything.

If you want to do something cheap just to protect it ... I would say go to walmart ... buy some 1200 grit wet/dry sand paper, masking tape, masking paper, some kind of sheets of plastic, and some spray can clear coat. Sand the whole hood down, making sure you get out all the edges where its peeling. Wash and dry the hood really good. mask off the edges of the hood (usually put 1/2 the tape under the hood and let it hang out and close the hood). Take some masking paper and mask around the hood then cover the rest of the area of the car with the plastic. Spray on the clear and be done.

But I still say that's a waste. Just wait and get the new hood.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:33 pm

Meh, you would have to take all the existing clear off. It will still lift under the new clear. Just may not come off as easily. And not sanding through the color coat while taking the clear off would be pretty tricky, as the clear that is left will make for uneven sanding. It isn't like there is a lot of color thickness like old school paint.

While base coat/clear coat might look better, finding a shop that can get it right, I have found, is nearly impossible. Hell when it doesn't last from the factory, what do you expect?

It seems red is the worst, tho. But then the Amethyst PC on my XJ isn't too much better, factory or aftermarket paint, the clear is still peeling off. Not a fan.

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:12 pm

That's disheartening :/. I thought about re-doing the clear coat myself, but then I thought about how badly I could screw it up and that unless I have some experience I'd better not..

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:28 pm

It would keep it from rusting through the color coat. But that could take a while before it happens.

They would need to sand it anyways before painting. It would just add a bit to the labor hours.

mjrpaine · Post by **mjrpaine** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:03 am

It can be done ... and like I said ... you can get it all from walmart ... I never said it would look perfect. Altho ... I know in doing so, I can do a very decent job at it since Ive done body work for 20 years. But its not a solution ... its a bandaid ...

Hence why I said several times ... just save your money and buy the hood you want ...

Public Disturbance · Post by **Public Disturbance** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:12 am

Dude if your going to spend $100 on carbon fiber vinyl save your money because for like 125ish(dont quote) more there is a oem style carbon fiber hood in the for sale section just throwing that out there

ianguilly · Post by **ianguilly** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:57 am

Sand it rattle can it till you can afford something else.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:50 pm

Public Disturbance wrote:Dude

Dudette, Dude.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:16 pm

Public Disturbance wrote:Dudette if your going to spend $100 on carbon fiber vinyl save your money because for like 125ish (don't quote) more there is a oem style carbon fiber hood in the for sale section just throwing that out there

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:16 pm

Oh really

.. well, I don't have diddly squat right now

so if it's still there when I have it, hot diggity! The $100 was a kit that also had enough for trim and dash and such, in addition to the hood. But if I could just get the real thing for $125, yeah, that makes more sense

.

I'm going to approach my buddies and dad about maybe re-doing the clear coat for now, and see if any of them can help me. Our family isn't so much enlightened in the cosmetic stuff such as paint and all, so I'm going to ask around

Public Disturbance · Post by **Public Disturbance** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:40 pm

occasional demons wrote:
Public Disturbance wrote:Dude
Dudette, Dude.

Wow first LSP now heyybaker Im really striking out with the ladies on here

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:04 pm

Public Disturbance wrote:
occasional demons wrote:
Public Disturbance wrote:Dude
Dudette, Dude.
Wow first LSP now heyybaker Im really striking out with the ladies on here

It's okay, our usernames aren't obviously female

. I knew I should have signed up as "neongrrrlll92" ..

FAC3L3SS · Post by **FAC3L3SS** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:13 pm

Just let the hood do it's thing. Don't waste money on "fixes" because it's potential money for new hood. I'd only put cash into it if you want to save it. Mine has millions of hail dents, scratches, chipped paint, bent ends, etc. . . and I've just rocked the shit out of it because I know I'm replacing it. Let it die out on it's own. It'll still last longer than you think, just won't look good.