348 Lower Rocker Wetsand

I had a post a while ago (can't find it) where someone mentioned that the early model 348's with the flat black rockers were actually painted the body color gloss and then painted over with the flat black. The suggestion was that if you wetsand the lower rocker, the body color gloss is below. I have noticed this on the back bumper where I have a small chip and gloss black is showing. My question is, what is the process for wet sanding. Can someone explain the process in some detail. I have checked on prices for getting the lower painted and I would like to try and do the sanding option myself and see what happens. If I'm going to pay the money late, nothing lost now I guess. Would anyone suggest spraying it yourself since it is a realtively small area? Thanks for everyone's input.

 

The body shop I brought my 348 to said it is best to fill the texture with a bonding filler, sand that, then prime and paint the lower panels. The textured finish is supposed to help hide dirt. Since the car is kept pretty much spotless at all times, I preferred the gloss finish on the lower panels. It cost me $1100 to get all the lower panels refinished including being wet sanded and getting the right side mirror post refinished.
BT

 

It's really no big deal.

First you want to get "wet sandpaper". Don't try try it with regular sand paper. You should start out with about an 800 grit paper, as it will take off the thick paint faster. The second you start to see color switch to 1000 grit. You want to take off black and not red. (The higher the number the finer the grit)

When you wetsand have a bucket of water and dunk the paper in the water OFTEN. the idea is to keep the paper clear of paint so it doesn't get clogged. You can also use a hose and have the water trickling out on the area you are sanding. This will wash the paint off as you sand. Another thing is to put a little bit of dish washing soap in the bucket of water. It helps make the sanding go a little bit easier.

Once you see more color then go to a 1500 grit paper. Just wet sand the areas that have black.

Once you have all the black off go to a 2000 grit paper to smooth out the color for buffing.

Now that you are done rinse it clean and then buff it to a shine.


If you mess it all up, no big deal, just get it painted. Or, you can have the paint shop wetsand it for you.

 

Just the info I was looking for. I'll be doing it this weekend or next weekend. Thanks for the help.