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paint problems

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
Bronze
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Over the last few years, my 59 TR3 has shown signs of "lifting or cracking paint" in a few areas. It was a cheap paint job done before I got the car, probably about ten years ago.

A few areas look like a patch about 1x2" is actually lifting up. The paint is "solid", but can be flexed with a finger touch. Other areas show a "crack", even though the paint appears solid to the surface.

How should I attack these areas? Sand to bare metal, prime, and re-spray the area? Ignore until the areas lose the paint completely, then re-spray the area? Live with it?

Notice I'm ignoring the option of a complete blasting and repaint job.

Thanks.
Tom

A few samples below:

Cracking:
IMG_0482.jpg


Lifted "bubble" of paint:
IMG_0488.jpg
 
Tom, I don't think there is an outside answer to your question as it appears to be a personal decision. The only way to correct the cracking is sand to bare metal and start over as you have hinted. I suspect the cause was either improper preparation or possibly paint too thick. Since you said it was a 10 year old cheap paint job, I would tend to suspect the rest of it too. That said, I can tell what I would do if it were mine. I would probably go for a complete repaint. If not ready for that expense then I would probably just live with it for now. Patching will be almost impossible to match and still it would be against old, cheap paint, not a good combination.
 
Now is the time you can enjoy driving your car the most. No concerns about stone chips or door dings. If you can be blind to these imperfections, enjoy the car. When it gets really bad, fix it.
 
Heavy ~Bondo~ or other filler, it's shrinking.
 
Geriatric neophyte that I am, I didn't realize bondo/filler shrinks.

yeesh

As I drive my TR3 on roads that are "not exactly mirror-smooth", is it likely the bondo will eventually start popping out?

yeesh yeesh

Is this a "disaster waiting to happen"?

T.
 
Geez, I shoulda thought about the bondo. That's really the first suspect, especially if it was a "cheap" job.
 
Tom, it "may" not be bondo cracking. It could be an excessive amount of paint and it has just begin to crack. Whatever you do, don't add more to it without taking several layers off first. If you do, it will begin to remove itself.
 
Thanks all. I'd seen lifting/bubbling on other old cars, usually at bends in the metal; the owner usually explained it was "paint poorly applied".

But I must admit, I'd never seen paint "crack" like mine is doing (top picture).

T.
 
BTW Bondo technology has changed dramatically in the last 10 years or so - doesn't matter what car restoration show you watch anymore, they all get a final skim coat. Not a swear word like it used to be.
 
Tom I had this issue on the TF I bought. Large sections of paint would actually lift and peal off. I knew this when I bought it. There's no bondo on this car anywhere! Just a poor paint job from years ago and not prepping the surface properly. But this car is going down to bare metal, so it's not a problem for me. Matching older paint can be a frustrating experience, even with computer technology. As older paint fades, it fades differently in relation to it's position on the car in relation to the sun, so matching is quite difficult over a larger area. PJ
 
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