Paint Crazing
 

Today it's a very nice day here, so I fired up the 1970 Nova. Opened a beer and started thinking about the cars history (it was a local car that I knew from new). I was searching for a Z/28 at the time, but in 1974 owner's wanted a hefty $4000 for a nice Z, and this car was cheaper. When a heard the sound from this Nova - even through the factory exhaust - unreal, had to get it.

Now, at the time of purchase the paint was what the owner called "checked". There was never a mention of a re-paint, but I had always held my own assumption that it was a quickie cheapo paint job had been applied and the result had turned out badly.

So today I asked myself if it's that's the result of a bad paint job, then why isn't it bad all over instead of just patches?

Would appreciate some expert opinions - stupid re-paint job, or is this what factory paint looks like when it's gone bad?

Thanks!

Should have mentioned... absolutely no bondo and it's a no hit body.

Looks like typical lacquer paint checking, to me.

That's how the original paint on the horizontal surfaces of my GTO looks.

K

Just based on that one picture IMO, that is typical of a repaint where they thought dumping on many coats of lacquer was a good idea :tongue:, basic mud puddle effect where the first layers did not have time to cure, but eventually did, and in time pulled the top layers with them.
I would bet that is a repaint. Some OE paint does check, but not that bad .
Lacquer has always been given a bad rap and most of the time it's from just as I mentioned above JMO.

Mike

They even used to sing about it lol
"Ten coats of lacquer man she looks real tough. When I get on her she's really got the stuff. Fastest set of wheels, there ain't no doubt. Six grand seven grand, I really tach her out." :3gears:

I agree with Mike, that looks like a repaint. Original paint will craze, but that is not typical. Reds seem to craze more, and temperature and exposure to UV has an effect.

In my opinion that looks like lacquer checking due to being applied heavy or over multiple layers. I would check the mill thickness to help verify.

Hahahha... the weight of that lacquer paint may be holding me back!

Thanks all for the input. Eventually I'll have it done (correctly) and lookin' good again.

Don,
Let's see a full picture of your Nova!!

Was that by Jan&Dean?LOL!

There is a work table and other crap blocking the left rear quarter panel right now that I'd have to move to get a full length shot. Typical rust in the rear quarter panel wheel wells.

Car is ready to move outside for a blast around the block once the brakes are done with new hoses, refurbished calipers, refurbished wheel cylinders, and new bearings.

Cool Nova. Is it an early, or late build? Wondering if it should have had the "rare"dual snorkle air cleaner. Either way probably got chucked. Interesting that there's no paint on the rubber vent window gasket. Most shops were not that careful with there masking back then to not show something. I would lean towards a repaint, but have seen bad checking if the car had a lot of UV rays. Usually smaller. Metal moves with temperature. Laquer doesn't.

The build date is the first week of April. I am the third owner, but, the air cleaner was open element when I looked at the car back in the day when the first owner had it.

Nice car Don!!

'

Factory end of line paint repair shop work?
I kind of like it and would leave it as is.
:hmmm:
~ Pete

.

I hear you Pete. Regardless of what happened with my paint, I am actually going to attempt some of the paint restoration techniques that I have seen discussed in the forums here before anything else. I know some work on my part will make the existing paint show a lot better.

From that point my internal GPS (head & gut) will have to "recalculate".

this a repaint or repair area. You can see the red oxide laquer primer in the cracked paint. I would guess they hosed on the primer. there is lots of solvents in those paints, and they need to vent out. people think that it dries fast and keep laying down layers. laquer primer should vent over night or in the sun before spraying color. laquer paint is always breathing. you might be able to make it look better for a short time. but it will need to come down to bare metal.

"but it will need to come down to bare metal"

Definitely not a repair area.

But what you say I have also heard from others. Personally, I do feel like this will be the only eventual fix. I'm definitely paying attention to the opinions and experience of all contributors on this forum as I make the car better while it's in my care.

Paint Crazing
 

Diamond_Don: Any relation to Diamond Dave (David Lee Roth) of Van Halen fame? All kidding aside, your car is NICE, especially with a bench seat 4 speed trans., how cool is that! I'm the fourth owner of a low mileage 1971 Nova SS 350 car in black also with a bench seat 4 speed trans. It was repainted in 2000 as the original paint was severely crazed from storage in a non-climate controlled garage from 1977 to 2000. From your photos, IMHO it looks as if your lacquer paint is original (the absence of overspray in the engine compartment photo, as well as along the weatherstrip and chrome on the outside of the car) but the paint was checked and crazed from the elements (cold Canadian usage?). You can have the paint thickness checked out (NO pun intended!) by a paint thickness gauge. The 1970 Camaro used factory red oxide primer before factory paint, maybe the same for the Nova. I was second owner of a 1971 Monte Carlo in Antigua Green and it had severe crazing of the original paint as it was used for daily transportation of the original owner to work for seven years in Northeast Ohio weather before my purchase. My friend's 1971 Impala 4 door was the same color and was crazed also. Possibly bad paint composition. Good luck with your car-Don Martens.

YES THE HOLE CAR TO BARE METAL .... if you sand and repaint the cracks will only get bigger in a few years

Flying Undertaker Don - Thanks for putting your thoughts into an entertaining post, gave me my chuckle for the day.

It was also interesting to hear that you had an similar experience with the paint on your black Nova.

I'm going to look for or borrow one of these paint thickness gauges and then I'll post back results on the thread.

I have the same car with the same options and color (without the side trim) and it was built the first week in April. The VINs must be very close.

Nice! My Nova was Canadian delivered so in the information pack they send I have a list of VINs built around the same time.

The VIN range is 297295 to 297533

If any chance your VIN is 297443 - jackpot - that VIN on the list shows up as a 4 speed L34 build!

Yep, Mine falls into that sequence. 2973--. But it's an American sold car, and still has it's original 375HP engine.