What to do about my hood

"BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01) 02/12/2017 at 14:47 • Filed to: None

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So the hood on my 84 Merc is quite peely. The rest of the paint is in decent shape, but as you can see, most of the clear and a good amount of the color underneath has peeled away. I figure I have a couple options. Either I could do nothing (pretty likely) and just ignore it, or I’m thinking I have some paint options. I could knock down the rest of the clear with a DA, mask off the surrounding areas and reapply clear, giving the hood some neat patina. Or I could knock down the clear and then spray the hood gloss black (kinda old rally hood look, I’m imagining it looking like the roadkill raunchero and kinda cool). Or finally, and least likely, I could try to spray it the original color, but seeing as the peeling extends off the hood onto fenders in a few places, it seems like that option would be the hardest to get looking right.

Thoughts? Anyone wanna Photoshop the hood black for me to see how it would look?

AndyG_UK > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 14:51

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If the car is rust free, in mechanically sound condition and you plan on keeping it a while, I would be looking to save up for a full respray. She’s old and deserves some attention. Otherwise, matt black rally hood!

Hoccy > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 14:52

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Matte black rally hood. Do it.

The top of the fenders too.

Ssfancyfresh > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 14:54

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I would let laziness win and do nothing.

Paint serves 2 functions: protect the sheet metal and make it pretty.

You’ve got California plates. I’m going to make a wild assumption that where you live, rust is not a concern. So there’s enough paint left on the hood to keep it from turning to dust.

Short of a full respray, those other options do not, in my (anonymous internet commenter) opinion, make your benz prettier.

0.02

ranwhenparked > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 14:56

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Does that L’Oxide stuff work? Never tried it, but, nothing ventured.

ToyotaFamily > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 15:04

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German flag. Do it.

BJohnson11 > AndyG_UK 02/12/2017 at 15:14

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She is rust free and mechanically sound, but I don’t know how long I’ll have her for. I also put a lot of miles on her (300/wk) and ultimately, even great condition 300ds don’t sell for too much, so a full respray wouldn’t be worth the cost imo.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 15:20

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Hoods are for suckers

smobgirl > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 15:20

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I’d go glitter rustoleum, but you probably shouldn’t take advice from me.

But for serious, matte black rally hood.

BJohnson11 > ranwhenparked 02/12/2017 at 15:20

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Huh I’d never heard of it. The hoods pretty far gone though, I dont know if something like the oxideoff would be enough to bring it back.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 15:30

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Black hood, AMG wheels, Hella 500s with covers mounted on the bumper, inboard so they’re both between the headlights.

KFN > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 15:43

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If it were mine, I would make it mechanically perfect, then clean up the interior, and leave the body for last (or leave it alone all together).

Without a full rally treatment, a blacked out hood would be undignified. Just my personal opinion.

Laurence > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 16:13

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Best I could do - doesn’t hide the peeling, but hopefully gives you a better idea of what it might look like.

MM54 > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 16:25

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See the upper body line on the fender where the peeling pretty much stops? From one side to the other, cowl to headlight/grille - matte black vinyl.

Then when it’s time to actually mend it and repaint the car, just peel it off.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BJohnson11 02/12/2017 at 16:40

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Paint stripper fallowed by beer and salt? Oh wait, no.

BJohnson11 > Laurence 02/12/2017 at 16:58

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Thanks for the quick shop! Really helps to see how the hood would look black.

BJohnson11 > KFN 02/12/2017 at 17:01

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That’s kinda my thought on it too. Sure, a full rally look would be cool (some lights on the front bumper, etc), but its also a 30 year old turbodiesel mercedes, not really the pinnacle of performance.

That said, a full restoration wouldn’t really be worth it either. I’m not keeping the car long term, and I’m really just using it to guiltlessly put a bunch of miles on. It’s in pretty good shape mechanically, and the interior is probably a 7/10, and once it stops raining here I’ll give it a deep clean, but cosmetically it’ll probably go untouched.

crowmolly > Ssfancyfresh 02/12/2017 at 17:38

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I’m with you. Hood and fenders at least match now.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > KFN 02/12/2017 at 18:17

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stop by harbor freight for a couple throwaway foam buffing pads and hit it with a fine cut polish, then a swirl remover or something lighter than the polish and coat it with a sealant. It’ll clean off the crud and protect whatever little bit of pair is left, and make it easier to wash in the future. But otherwise, I wouldn’t waste time on the paint.