Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Guys, got an 94 80 series cruiser and the bonnent has some serious paint fade to where it looks greyish in color with touches of white around the outside of it.
Whats your best options on getting it fixed? Re paint, leave it as it wont hurt the truck, new bonnent, or something else?
Looking at cheapest option, but may not be the best one. It doesnt bother me too much it's just a visual thing.

Common on almost all metalic 80 series cruisers. Its a simple re-spray job. But if the bonnet is gone usually the roof is to. Have you looked up on the roof yet?

why does this happen to the 80's. it seems to be right over the engine, is it because of the heat from the engine?

rocklux wrote:why does this happen to the 80's. it seems to be right over the engine, is it because of the heat from the engine?

Yes, heat will do it, plus sunlight beaming down on the bonnet and roof wont help either

i think the clear coat they used back then didnt have a very good uv stabiliser in it, and the paint protection we have these days probably wasnt quite as good,

I just did resprayed my bonnet because of it. Make sure you rub it back enough to get rid of the roughness where it has peeled. I was abit slack the first time and had to do it again. Mine did it because of heat it was only over the engine especially exhaust side, none on the roof.

In the early 90's they put the clear in WITH the metallic paint, therefore the metallic partical's allow moisuture in as they are right at the top, not sealed off like a clear should provide.

It comes down to care a 2005 vehicle will fade the same if it's exposed to the same conditions as a 1995 vehicle has been through...

SCANAS wrote:It comes down to care a 2005 vehicle will fade the same if it's exposed to the same conditions as a 1995 vehicle has been through...

Not in the case of the 80 series. It was as stated above an issue with the clear coat. And it wasn't with all of them just certain batches. It was a problem with a lot of metalic Toyotas of the same era. You will notice a lot of similar year model metalic Camry's with the same issue.

I have had 2 Camry's in the family and both had had the same issue as mentioned. I was told the same thing by paint supplier as "mhgill" mentioned.

Respray time

We get just as many commodore's, falcons, lasers, barinas, bmw's, gq's merc's etc etc that are the same age and have faded it comes down to care the paint might have been different back then but it's no better now just different.

Whats the general coast for a bonnent respray? Im no handy man thats for sure. Could I get the paint in a spray can from auto store, prep site a little and then spray away, if the color matches? Or would that be a shocker? Would applying a paint protector/wax help at all?

once it's faded it can be buffed up provided it hasn't cracked at all, you can also use tyre shine, both buffing and silicone will last about two days or until the first hint of moisture. You could try a pressure pack from a shop but will look out of place.

For a spray painter to paint the bonnet your looking at about $400 they will try and talk you into matching the guards etc $1000 for the front end just get the bonnet done