Best way to fix sun damage?

[overflow]

I've got a 1990 Wagoneer Limited that I'm trying to restore. It was originally a California car, so it's got quite a bit of sun damage. Is there any "easy" way to fix damage like this? I believe this is caused by the clear coat coming off, right?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53138057@N00/3453791275/

 

[overflow]

Ehh, Flickr seems to be down...

 

[BigMike80]

That is because the clear coat is peeling off. You need a new paint job....there is no "easy" fix for that.

 

[Darky]

Buy a new one. Mine had that real bad, so I spray painted over it. That wasn't the right way, a couple years later and the spray paint looks like that now. I'm repainting it now to tan, and sanding everything down to try to eliminate that peeling, then priming it and painting.

 

[overflow]

Was afraid you might say that. Well, a new paint job on it would be like putting a ribbon on a turd, so I think I'll try the $50 paint job when it gets warmer. Gonna be a pain in the ass to tape up all that chrome.

 

[Midnight Krawler]

One quick fix that will work. Take a paint scraper (preferably new and sharpe) and very carefully scrape the white dead paint back into the good clear. The base paint is very thin so take your time. Use 400 to 600 grit sand paper to feather the edges. Again, don't touch the base coat. Then use a medium compound and buff out the whole surface. It won't look like a new paint job, but will have a good shine and from 10 feet away you won't be able to tell the difference.

I have a 95 black heap and just did this. Let me tell you, it made a world of a difference. Plan on spending a weekend doing it.

 

[DanMan2k06]

^ this also helps prevent further lifting and spreading. With sharp edges, wind, water, sunlight, contaminates, will all peel the paint away like a wrapper. By feathering the edges you eliminate any "corner" in the clear that can easily be grabbed an pulled farther.