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I finally couldn't stand to look at the faded, craptastic side moldings on the zed.



So after grabbing the hair dryer, removing the strips, the tape and getting the meguirs paint cleaner out to remove old wax-tape-crap from the paint, I was left with sexy.





Drivers side looks really nice, didn't even need to use the buffer I went out and bought today. No lines, no faded paint, Huzzah!

But, the passenger side did not fair so well. This is where I need help.







See the lines? I haven't even seen them in the sunlight, only the shop lights.. and they annoy the crap out of me. When I try and clean the paint, nothing is removed. I tried a clay bar thinking it was REALLY sunk in and got nothing. My fingers want to tell me that the lines are IN the paint, like grooves that somehow formed either over 20 years, or were there from day 1 factory.

What are some others options? polish compound perhaps? take it to a professional? Ask Sun God Ra to fix it nicely?

Looks good... Can you actually feel a ridge on the edge? It may have been re-painted some time before you got it. If all else fails, wet sand and buff. You may be able to get away with just compound though.

I'd prefer to stay away from sanding of any kind. I can't feel a lip, it's just more of an indentation in the paint. Shallow but there.

The very fine end of things is something like "Scratch Out" by Kit, in the yellow bottle. Coarser options would be something in the 3m "Perfect It" line of products or similar.

This is why you remove them THEN have it painted... Thats sexy... LOL

I had the same issue with my 95 and I never did get it out. I think it was repainted with the molding in place.

The 91 was easy...I repainted it.

3X00-Modified wrote:This is why you remove them THEN have it painted... Thats sexy... LOL

Agreed. Same thing I did.

Yeah well, being unemployed puts a damper on having the car repainted. So I ask for no repaint options!

Then you have the following option:

Wetsand it, using a hard sanding block, but use a very fine grit paper, like 750 or higher. Only sand it till it is near flush. THEN polish it back. You should have enough clear around it to be safe doing this. Providing you take your time and check your work as you go. Always use long strokes going with the length of the car, and don't "spot" sand. Meaning don't just sand where the "line" is, feather it out a bit.

Yeah I'll have to try that. I told pride he gets to help me work on my car for a change, instead of me working on all his. We looked at it in the light and realized that at some point they repainted the top half of the door and the rear panel. Still looks nice, and the drivers side has no lines to speak of!

So for those that want to do it, 20 year old paint looks nice under those strips.

You know I bet it's going to be a real good way for me to be able to tell what the orignal blue was on mine by taking them off because it has been repainted by macco so the paint is horrid. If anyone knows stock 88 GT blue paint numbers let me know I've found some but don't have a sample to match it up.

Just pull the codes off the sticker on your trunk spare wheel cover. They should be there.

DTMAce wrote:Just pull the codes off the sticker on your trunk spare wheel cover. They should be there.

Everybody says that, but mine were so worn out on the red car I couldn't even see the codes.

3X00-Modified wrote:

DTMAce wrote:Just pull the codes off the sticker on your trunk spare wheel cover. They should be there.

Everybody says that, but mine were so worn out on the red car I couldn't even see the codes.

I couldn't see crap on my 95 either, but Summit paint works!

Take the VIN number to a dealer. They can tell you the paint code.