Stupid Question Probably!!

[BlackRam]

Please help......I recently bought a RAM in black. All of the internal surfaces of the fibeglass are black so I guess that it was black gelcoat. However, how do I tell whether the outer surface has been painted ? The finish on the bodywork is very good although covered in small scratches. I would like to polish out the scratches. I know if it is polished gel coat I can use a fine paper - but if it is painted that would be a disaster!

When you have all finished rolling around laughing, could you point me in the right direction please !!

Thanks

[kdavies3]

I'm not surprised you can't tell if it's been painted.

I've seen some cars with an awesome gelcoat polished finish.

either way I would go with a bottle of Ferecla G10 or similar and polishing mop.

[Bigblock]

Try wiping a rag with a bit of thinners in an area where it won't show, if old celly finish then paint will come off on the rag. If 2k (twin pack) try some g10 on a white rag and you may get some on the rag. I've painted a few of Adrain's Rams in the past and I can say that the fit of the panels was not good enough for a gel finish. If you have a good look around the car paint finish is usually visable somewhere.

[Paul B]

Hi John

Got your photo the other day, it looks really good and hope the engine tuning will keep you satisfied for a short while !!

With regard to the gel coat, normally if you crouch down and catch the light on the surface, with pure gel coat, you can just make out the fibres in the fibreglass. With a painted surface, the fibres are normally not visible.

I would be very cautious and treat as if it were painted until you are sure it isn't.

See you soon.

Paul B

[Grease Monkey]

You can usually see where the paint job has finished, if its painted.

People rarely spray the WHOLE bodyshell, and will mask off or ignore areas like the enginebay, inside the boot, doors, footwells etc.

There's usually a line where tape was applied, or a grading of paint where it's oversprayed to a point.

[BlackRam]

Thanks guys - Kev, that was my problem having seen Paul's car which looks superb and is just gelcoat. I will persevere as though it is painted!