If you want to keep your car as a show car or collector's item, get the hood and stripe repainted fresh. And like someone else mentioned, don't go to the cheapest place in town. You get what you pay for when it comes to paint jobs. If you're getting parts of the car re-painted, keep in mind that replacing any factory Dale Earnhardt decals can/will be expensive. Especially if you have to order it from the dealer.

 

if the scratchescover the complete hood somewhat uniformly that is referred to as "checking". Another form of the same problem is called "crows footing"...named for what it looks like. any of these require stripping down past the problem, priming and repainting. other than that... like others said.. touch up paint.

 

I have been getting quite good at removing scratches. I started with the fine scratches on my car, and more and more people are asking me to help them make their cars look as good as mine. I have stocked up on a whole array of products -- Meguiar's #04 Heavy-Cut, #01 Medium-Cut, #02 Fine-Cut, #09 Swirl-Remover, #03 Machine Glaze, #07 Showcar Glaze, #20 Polymer-Sealant, #66 Quick-Detail. So far I have been using them with a Orbitor Polisher, but I'm buying a Makita 600-3000 RMP Rotary Polisher with the Edge System.

Anyways, with a orbitor, I start with #4, then #1, then #2, then #9, then #3, and finally #7. I promise you, the scratches will be gone and your paint looking its absolute best. But if the scratches are still there after you finish with #4,you will need to have it repainted. The rest of the compounds are just to eliminate the scratches of the previous compound. Polishing is nothing more than making scratches smaller and smaller, until they are so fine they look as if they have disappeared.

If you use a rotary polisher at 1800 RMP, Start with #1 first and if the scratches don't come out, then go to #4. But with a rotary, all the compounds are a lot more aggressive than they are with a Orbitor, and after the #1, lower your RMPs to 1400-1500 with #2, and 9, then again to 1200-1300 with #3 and #7

OH, how's that boys...Two months ago Iknew absolutely nothing, andnow, I have people bring me their cars. I don't do it for free either... Tomorrow I do a Hayabusa for$200, more aluminum and chromethan paint, but I did the guys muffler for free and he liked it so well, he's paying me to do the rest.

 

A shame to have to repaint a car that's only 1 year old at least .... They don't paint cars like they used to ...

 

My friend has an 04 Intimidator.

The white scratches are the primer layer.

He bought it new and is ready to repaint the whole car.

 

Setshot50,
I noticed you are in Tx.If you are ever around Grapevine , Tx. stop by Classic Chevy off of Hwy 114. They have done work for me in the past and have a very good paint dept. and will stand behind all their work for as long as you own the car or as long as they are in business. It doesn't get better than that in my book. Maybe they can help you too.