How common is clear coat pealing?

[68camaro]

How many here have clearcoat peeling on Chinnok, esp. on front above windshield? At how many miles did it start? Been looking at 98 - 2002 and a couple had it bad I would think, both had miles at 90k/110k.

It's such a nice vehicle but was wondering how difficult to cure? Did I read correctly you can peel it pack carefully, and buff it out so it doesn't look bad and spray over it?

[Blue~Go]

Almost every Concourse with the "racing stripe" livery that I have seen has clearcoat peeling. It's not really age, but rather UV exposure. Why do I say this? Mine is a 1999 and it had zero clearcoat peeling. BUT, it was stored indoors all its life. I fully expect it to peel at some point because I use it (which of course involves being outdoors).

So, if you can find one that has been stored indoors, and then if you continue to store it indoors, then it probably won't peel. (But then it's hard to USE it indoors.) Being in cloudy places and at low altitude would also help.

The Premiers have vinyl stickers, so although they fade and crack, it's easier/cheaper to replace them. Also I have not seen any of the Millenium (swoopy, later) paint jobs have the peeling. That's probably mostly down to advances in clearcoat, but also of course they are slightly newer. The newest Premiers had the Millenium paint as well.

To fix the peeling "correctly" you have to do a complete re-paint of the stripes (the white areas are just plain gelcoat, so that can be buffed if it is dull). Of course that gives you the chance to do something nifty, or even if you have the racing stripe livery re-done, it likely won't peel again in the life of the vehicle (newer clearcoat is more advanced, plus these vehicles won't last forever).

There is a DIY way which you can find info about here on the forum. It involves very carefully reducing the "dead skin" areas as much as possible without disturbing the colored paint underneath, and then spraying an aerosol type clearcoat over the areas.

I was first looking for a Premier for this reason, but then the right "racing stripe" livery Concourse came along at the right time, and in my favorite color so I figured I'll enjoy it while it's not peeled, and then when the time comes I'll worry about it then (likely having a re-paint).

[chin_k]

I wonder for those that still have clear coat intact, if they can apply a layer of UV-resistance coating on top to postpone peeling? I know they often apply some kind of coating to headlights after removing the yellow layer, but do not if this can be also done to the clear coat. I would also be interested to know of these UV coating can be applied to the porch lamp cover too.

[Blue~Go]

That's a good question. I use a good quality paste wax with UV inhibitors (Collinite 885 Fleetwax), but I'd be interested to know if there is anything more "permanent."

[Astrodokk]

My 2000 with 93,000 miles has peeling up front and just above the rear trunk. It doesn't really bother me much, as I consider it battle scars.
Nonetheless, the part in the rear where it's very accessible, I plan to try my hand at performing the rattle can clearcoat when it gets warmer.
Too late for the cloudy, low elevation prevention I guess!

[chin_k]

But if you patch the peeled sections, will the untouched area continue to peel?

[Astrodokk]

Apparently if you bevel it correctly, the adjacent areas will not lift. But if you're asking if other sections will peel like the current one did, that's always a possibility, although hopefully not for a long time. And now, indeed the rig is at low elevation and gloomy, er I mean overcast skies, so it may take awhile to peel here. If I thought it would occur quickly, I wouldn't even bother.