GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

btw, GOT PERMIT YESTERDAY!!!

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Ok, so I am finally posting pictures of the final debadging results. It turned out so bad that I really didn't want to post the pics earlier. What happened was that for some strange reason, there was a cracked outline of the emblems. REALLY BAD.

Full view..


Getting closer..


And closer on the other side..


You can see that it is a indented crack outline.


So now what do I do? I am pretty much screwed unless I get the trunk repainted rite? Would touch up paint do any good?
I can't keep it like this. I will probably rebadge if it can't get any better.

fliplyricist1

^^ that's EXACTLY what mines looks like

I've tried everything short of using a random orbital buffer on it, but I think it's actually water deposits that etched into the clearcoat and paint and caused permanent damage ...since you can actually feel the 'pitting' in the paint when you run your finger accross it

unfortunately I think it'll require either a blended spot paint repair or just repainting the whole trunk : / kinda makes me want to just put the emblems back on since it really bothers me in direct sunlight....

DFoster0

dont feel bad mine looked just like that sadly its not gonna get better without wet sanding

fliplyricist1

^^ I could be wrong, but I don't believe wetsanding will yield any improvement, since this seems like the damage is well into the color coat itself

DFoster0

i was assuming it was just into the clearcoat

fliplyricist1

oh nah its definitely into the color...same with mine...that's why it's white in the crevices...im thinking its just the culmination of 10+ years of hard water deposits being trapped/baked in the sun under the badges...and just ate right through the paint

sucks...but oh well...that's what you gotta expect with cars this age

ZeroCL

I did mine, a while ago and it looked pretty bad so I went to a professional detailer and he charged me like 10 bucks to wet sand and buff it, and you can barely see the outlines. you pretty much have to look reallllyy hard.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Meh, that's just glue left on the clearcoat. Buff it with some polish and an orbital buffer and you'll never see it

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, same thing. I like how you described it. You could DEFENATLY feel the 'pitting' and it is way into the paint. I 100% guarantee that there is NO glue crap left. I have buffed, clay bared, and rubbing compounded. Like I said. When you gently rub your nail on it, it sinks in. Defiantly into the paint.

At least the blackhousing is going well so far.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Did you heat the crap out of it first?

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

ohh yeah. Heated it up really good.

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Sorry for the huge pic but you can really see how bad it looks here.


You can even see the shadows from the 'ridges.' If a gnat would walk around there it would think it was the grand canyon.

Just delete the post if it's too big.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Looks like adhesive to me?

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Nope. All that white is what is missing paint. You can clearly see the ridges and pitting at the bottom right (where if you slide your nail across it sinks in) but then again, I'm on a 32" HDTV. You would have to see it in person. It looks like its on top but it goes in about a little more than half a millimeter. You have to see it in person. Would a little bit of touch up paint make it look better or worse? I mean, Just paint the white part with a toothpick.

fliplyricist1

it's gonna be difficult to do a DIY spot touch-up with this, because there are so many little 'pits' and crevices in the paint, which means you'll have to individually fill in each with a needle point and touch-up paint and build it up until it's slightly above the level of the current paint. Then you'll have to wetsand the area and hit it up with some intensive polish and a rotary or da. IMO too much work, and it's probably just better to see if a local shop can 'blend paint' the area vs. painting the whole trunk. It may be possible since your paint looks to be in good shape otherwise. Try a few local bodyshops.

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Ok, thanks. I'll take it to a body shop and see what they say.

waterpolo820

What ever happened? I just debadged my '96 RL and I have the same exact problem.

Mach30SiR

you need polish/compound and a buffer, at least a port cable or a rotary. You'll never know it was there.

waterpolo820

Yea, that is the first thing that I did. I am actually taking a tooth pick and some touch up paint and filling in each groove.. A very tedious task..