Hood looking a bit tatty !

[rabowman]

The hood on my 08 GTC is beginning to look a bit worse for wear.
Local valet company put Renovo Dark blue on and re-proofed it, but I am still not really happy.
Other than having a new outer layer fitted (£1.8k ish) does any one know a good specialist that could bring the existing hood back to life?
Thanks
Rob

[Byteme]

rabowman said:

The hood on my 08 GTC is beginning to look a bit worse for wear.
Local valet company put Renovo Dark blue on and re-proofed it, but I am still not really happy.
Other than having a new outer layer fitted (£1.8k ish) does any one know a good specialist that could bring the existing hood back to life?
Thanks
Rob

How is it looking "worse for wear"?

£1800 is cheap, a Smart car hood costs quite a bit more.

[rabowman]

It is beginning to have the odd faded section, mainly n/s qtr by rear window plus section over n/s door.
Using Dark Blue Renovo does not seem to cure it.
£1,800 ish was my own 'guestermate'

[Byteme]

rabowman said:

It is beginning to have the odd faded section, mainly n/s qtr by rear window plus section over n/s door.
Using Dark Blue Renovo does not seem to cure it.
£1,800 ish was my own 'guestermate'

The problem you'll face with any renovation product is that your hood material is woven from synthetic materials that are nearly impossible to dye, other than when they were just pure yarn. Have you ever heard of anyone dyeing the colour of their interior woodwork simply by painting on top of the clear lacquer coating?

If the product isn't capable of actually dyeing the fabric, it's just a thin coating that sits on top of it and therefore quickly washes/wears away.

I've noticed that most of these products refer to "canvas" hoods. These were used on much older vehicles, and being made of natural materials they would "take" dye. They also needed re-proofing from time to time because they would "wick" moisture from the surface. This doesn't happen with any modern hood material.

My guess, is that this system uses two steps. The first is probably just a heavily pigmented material effectively just a paint to restore colour. Like most similar heavily pigmented coatings it probably has no durability, therefore a second "protective" coat has to be applied to protect it.

I've read about how after applying this kind of product water beads on the surface of the hood but this never happened, even when these hoods were brand new! I suspect this is just a side effect of the second coat that is mistakenly perceived as being beneficial.


Are these areas fading with the hood up, undisturbed, or are you lowering it at every opportunity? If you are, I suspect the paint is just being rubbed away due to a slight manufacturing/adjustment variation with the right side.

[enjoythemusic]

On the 07 GTC I use 303 Convertible Fabric Top Cleaning followed by 303 Fabric Guard. There is a nice thread about this at www.autogeekonline.net/forum/product-reviews/60657...

If your top is looking faded and you want perfection, then it looks like a new top is your best choice. Still, after getting the new top you should apply 303 Fabric Guard imho. Water beads off my top like the best waxed car for many, many months after application per the link above. Here's a video as an example of the results www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSHdyJIQW2k

[V12Vanquish]

A bit off topic but, I used Renovo black on my wheel arch liners and it made a lovely job of them.
They are now nice and black and look better than new.

[rabowman]

Thanks for the replies.
Renovo certainly did a first class job on the hood of my AK Cobra and also the other day on my TVR.

I spoke to Dorset Sports Cars today who do all my car detailing polishing etc. They said they have a process that will cure the problem as long as I do not mind the hood being black. (very dark blueish at mo).

Price is good and they are collecting the car 1/10 back 3/10.
Will update then

Rob

[Byteme]

What could possibly go wrong?

[rabowman]

Watch this space !!

[Byteme]

If the process is the same (you can't dye polyester) why would the finished result differ from the failed blue coating, that you had previously?

Blue coatings always have very poor covering power and before high solids paints became available, a cheap way to hide the lighter coloured primer was to apply a single coat of black that had the ability to hide in a single coat instead of wasting two coats of blue to achieve an identical result.

Before you commit to this I would suggest asking how their process differs and what guarantee they will provide. After all next summer you may have a three colour hood, black. blue and faded areas.

[rabowman]

The blue hood looked better before I tried using Renovo myself.
I think the current appearance is a lot down to me.
Will discuss as advised

[rabowman]

Done !!
Looks a definite 90% better.
You can still see slight tone variation in the material where it folds, but nothing like before.
They dyed it black and I got them to leave the dark blue stitching under the window gutters.
Happy with result
Rob

[enjoythemusic]

Excellent news! Please remember to treat the top via sponge brush with 303 Fabric Guard. Just remember you do not want any of the 303 to touch the painted areas, so be careful and/or tape off paint near areas to be treated.

[rabowman]

Thanks for that enjoythemusic.
I have arranged for the car to go in every quarter to be re proofed.
They collect and return wax polish the car and re proof for about UK £160.oo.
Has to be worth it.
Rob