Paint Bubbles

[RS84Syr]

Here's one for ya -

The hood of my 84 has about a dozen small
paint bubbles in a group about a third of the
way up from the nose on the passenger side.

The rest of the paint is decent for original, but I have
always wondered if there was anything I could
do about the "bubbles.

Should I "pop" em and use touch up paint or
just leave em?

Rick

[Eric]

Do you know for certain that the paint is original? The reason I ask is that there are generally two main culprits in this situation: moisture and oil. Oil would most likely only get under the paint if it were bare glass like after a car has been stripped and someone works on the motor and slaps their greasy paws on the car. Water can seep through if a car is covered and moisture gets under the cover and boils under the cover in the sun then goes through the paint.

Getting to the point, if you know it's not oil then you could use touch up if you absolutely must but it may resurface. If there's the slightest chance it's oil then you're pretty much stuck with throwing out the hood for a new one. If uncertain you can bite the bullet by slicing off a bubble and feel the surface. If it's slippery then you've got oil and my sympathies.

Good luck!

[RS84Syr]

Thanks Eric.
I'll check that out.

[Eric]

Rick,

I just realized you asked for an opinion. If it were me, I'd leave 'em until I was ready to paint the whole car unless they were just buggin the buhgeesus out of me.

- Eric

[Fiddler's Gold]

The BEEGEES out of you?

Maybe if I were thinking about STAYING ALIVE - STAYIN ALIVE -
PAINTING THE VETTE - PAINTING THE VETTE - ahh ahh ahh
PAINTING THE VETTE.

:-)

Fiddler

[84Vette]

ahh ahh ahh Stayin aliiiiiiiiiiiivvvvvveee aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

[JonM]

I am willing to bet the bubbles are located just under the AC Compressor. Its a common problem with GM. The front seals on the compressor leak after a while. Look under the hood and see if you have slight oil sling. More then likely it has seeped into the fiberglass. As mentioned a new hood is in order but you can sand,heat, and use chemicals to get it out. If you choose to do it, I can put you in contact with someone who has done it.

[RS84Syr]

Finally managed to wrangle out of the
original owner that he cracked up the car
the second year and the hood was replaced!!

The bubbles are right over the compressor also.
Sounds like a likely culprit. JonM, let me
know what to use to clean off the oil.
If oil has caused bubbles, there is still oil
in the hood though. How 'bout the compressor
seals? I don't run the A/C much, but the belt
is still engaged. Gotta fix and keep an eye out.

Some are already popped and touched up.
They seem OK so far, but it ain't gonna get
any better.

Sounds like a new hood and paint job are
in order... some day.

Thanks for your help.

Rick

[JonM]

Yep...if the oil has saturated the fiberglass, The best way is a new hood. (its an 84...big investment to have it painted and a new hood) Seals can be replaced for about 200 at a dealer. You may get a better price at an AC repair shop. Keep your chin up.

[RS84Syr]

Thanks JonM.

Fortunately, the bubbles are small and the rest
of the paint is decent, but we like our cars
perfect don't we.

I will get the seals fixed, clean
the inside of the hood, and keep an eye out.

You said you knew what to use on the hood
for the oil? I would be interested in what you
recommend.

Rick

[JonM]

What I said was I knew someone who knew Drop him a note asking what he did to get the oil out.His name is eric schifilliti and his e mail is yoslambo1@cs.com

[RS84Syr]

Thanks!