Author Topic: Restoring Faded Hood  (Read 6588 times)

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dr1979-340

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Restoring Faded Hood
« on: July 27, 2015, 01:07:58 PM »
Since decals are not available, I thought I would try to restore a faded 340 Drifter hood without resorting to repainting.

Any suggestions on products and or techniques??  Thanks in advance for the replies!!
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

Tory944

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2015, 06:03:01 PM »
  Clean well...   you will need to get any wax/residue off...   then clearcoat.  The hood will look like new!  I've done this before with excellent results! ;)

   Automotive sprayer works best so you can get a wide spray pattern.   35-40 psi at the nozzle.   Make sure you let things tack up before you recoat.  It is easy to over apply and you will get runs.  Patience will prevail!     Tory
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Tory944

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2015, 06:07:41 PM »
  Any petroleum products will just fade over time.  I know you are trying to avoid "spraying" but the results are well worth the effort.  Just pull your vents and hood hold downs...  mask your headlight and let it fly!  Lol.
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dr1979-340

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2015, 03:33:19 PM »
Thanks Tory!!
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

jimvw57

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2015, 08:14:32 AM »
If you have a local printing shop, they can make some stickers to match the ones on your sled. get some good pictures of them and the dimensions, most of the time they can match up a font and cut them out with a stencil cutting machine. I did this with my 4/6 and was pleased with the results. cost was not too bad, cheaper then buying them online, plus you keep it local supporting a local business

I scrubbed down a metalflake hood from a Scorpion (magenta no less) and clear coated it afterwards. turned out better than new. I used soft scrub cleanser on it and it worked great. Buffing compound would probably be better.

dr1979-340

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2015, 02:51:38 PM »
This hood was primed and painted after repair.  It turned out nice.  It looks better in person.
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

Snojet440sst

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2015, 08:28:14 AM »
I have a 1977 Snojet 440 sst and the hood looks terrible with the actual fiberglass showing in some places ( on the hood of course) and lichen growing in places, how can i repair the whole thing without loosing where the color changes are? 

dr1979-340

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2015, 08:27:59 AM »
I had the help of a friend with my hood.  He has over 25 years of bodywork experience.  In my opinion, if you want to preserve the original patterns, decals etc., start by taking a lot of pictures, measurements, tracings.  Whatever it takes to replicate it after you do the bodywork and paint.  I'm sure you can get more support from Sno-Jet guys out there.  You should be able to get replica paint and probably decals for your snowmobile.

Here are a couple more pictures of the process I went through on this hood.
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

rminier

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2015, 11:06:47 AM »
 Cool pics, dr1979-340.
 Snojetsst440, it's tough to tell what you're dealing with, without pictures.
  You might try some automotive polishing compound....different from        " rubbing compound" ,which migh be a bit too aggressive to preserve the finish.
 Not knowing how much time and money you want to devote to this...exposed fiberglass....lichen growing...doesn't sound too promising.
 Perhaps the best option is looking at re-finishing the hood.
 vintagesledpaint.com sells bulk paint (quarts) or spray cans of SnoJet blue....18.95 a can, plus shipping. Not cheap, but high quality stuff. Your hood may have faded over the years....so, the new paint may not match precisely, but it is a dead ringer for the original color.
 Your best option might be to remove the lichen, fill in the bad spots with some "Bondo" auto filler, wet sand the entire hood, use a good primer, and re- paint the whole thing.
 You could use about any decent quality gloss white paint for those areas.
 I'm betting replacement decals are available.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2015, 08:14:41 PM by rminier »
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.

dr1979-340

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2015, 05:06:50 PM »
Thanks rminier.  I used Vintage Paints product for mine and love it!!
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

dr1979-340

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #10 on: November 18, 2015, 10:31:14 AM »
Got it back from my decal guy.  He did a great job!!
Two 1979 340 Drifters
1979 440 Drifter
1980 440 Drifter

gixxer6

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2015, 10:48:38 AM »
WOW.  Beautiful! 

5kaws

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2015, 11:50:37 AM »
Looks nice dale!!!

Truder78

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2015, 12:23:29 PM »
Very nice!!!
Kawasaki Snowmobiles
Riding the thrill of a life time

rminier

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Re: Restoring Faded Hood
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2015, 02:10:48 PM »
That is looking great!! 8) 8)
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.