Expert bodywork question, Cleaning up someone's else mess Options

[K-ESD]

Well, my celi is purple... honestly, i don't like that color. however, it used to be yellow and when the previous owner painted it, he had a cheap job done to it. They only painted over the yellow, so is there a possibilty to return it to yellow by sanding the purple coat very carefuly back to the yellow then adding a clear coat finish?


EDIT: The purple comes off quite easily, my front end is full of yellow dots from rock chips, same for the rockers.

This post has been edited by K-ESD: Nov 25, 2005 - 7:33 PM

[CelicaZR]

It's possible.
But I wouldn't do it.

[dustin15brown]

I dont think it would be feasible to do, Because it would take so long and after the shop does that, 1) the paint could look bad 2) the paint could be uneven 3) the paint wont be perfect. I would recomend jsut strip it all and start over with the yellow.... Shouldn't be overly expensive because they will not need to do the jams and all that i'm guessing if it was truly a cheap job

[snapshotgt]

i'd say to do a full repaint...

my guess is that the yellow would not be in the greatest condition anyway...

but i'd say, to be fair...

take a square of the car, and try to take it down to yeller...and see how it looks...

(if the owner repainted it...there had to be a reason besides color change?...i.e yellow was fading...or something like that...)

-snapshotgt

[K-ESD]

well i'm sure it can't be worst than it is now, the more i drive it, the more the purple chips off at random places (mostly towards the bottom). I tried picking some off with my fingernail, it's a bit hard but it does come off.
i don't know what i'm gonna do, it's starting to look terrible
I don't really have the funds to go for a full paintjob, i'm still strapped in studies.

i guess i'll have to put up with it for annother 2 years unless i win the lottery or something. I'll still take ur suggestion snapshotgt, i'll try it under a panel where the paint line is. what do you suggest for sandpaper grit, i'm thinking 600grit, would that be too ruff. I'll ask my buddy tmr, he took a course in bodywork a while ago, he might be able to find me a quick fix

thanks all for the input

[snapshotgt]

Your best bet is to run your celica by a body shop (a good one)...and see what they say in general (they could also answer the "how-to take it off" question...i'm not sure it would be sandpaper?...maybe some type of chemical?...that's if the paint job was crummy...)(sandpaper would probably work well for a trail run...)

anyway, a good body shop could tell you your options...and how to achieve them

btw, if you go by a body shop...ask 'em how much it would be for them to take the purple off...you never know...just have to see ...they might be able to buff it out...you just have to see...

good luck...keep us posted on the developements!

later,
snapshotgt

This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Nov 26, 2005 - 1:36 AM

[Predator]

maybe you could use a high pressure cleaner?

[K-ESD]

i'm wondering now, all the yellow i see is from rock chips or minor scraps. Is there some kind of sandblasting or beadblasting that would knock off all the weak purple paint. If i can just get to the yellow's clear coat and not touch the yellow, i could just get the clear redone. I'm no expert when it comes to bodywork but i think it might be feasible. I'll take both your suggestions snapshot. Hopefuly the bodyshop won't just say "no, it's not possible" and try to just sell me a full paint job.

Man i hope this is possible, having a yellow celi would be so cool !!!!

[snapshotgt]

I would suggest getting a few opinions from different body shops...

also, i would guess that whom ever did the paint work for the purple probably sanded it down...even though it was a bad job.

basically; just fish around, find your options, and post here what you do!

good luck...

btw, i would warn you that you could be opening a can of worms...you never know what the condition of your yellow will be...

that is why you need a pro to tell you whats up...even if he says something you don't want to hear...

later,
snapshotgt

[K-ESD]

UPDATE:

i sanded down a small part under the hatch panel, it looks like it would be possible but it takes ALOT of time and patience, i had to use very fine sand paper all the time just so i didn't go too deep.

I talked to someone took a course in body repair, he told me that it can be done but he also mentioned that there might be some body filler in some areas under the purple so i might be shooting myself in the foot by doing this.

In all, i think it's just too much of a risk to put that much effort into it. If i were to do it and find some blemishes under the purple, i'd have to get the car repainted anyways and all that work would have gone to waste.

He also mentioned that if i'm looking for a cheap half decent paintjob (cheap as in, no labour, just material) i can bring my car to the comunity college and apparently they do a good job but just takes a lil longer. I'd have to see some of their work first tho... there's just something that bugs me to imagine a bunch of clueless aprentice messing with my car. what do you all think?