Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
The Excel work continues. The waist trim, rear spoiler, antenna and A-pillar trim have all been removed. The car is in for a full color wet-sand paint correction and polish. Hope to get some good pictures and try again to post the pictures.
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Update 11-12-2024
The entire car's paint has been corrected and wet sanded, and the buffing has begun. Everything from the windshield back has been buffed twice, with the front left to do. Next will come the polishing followed by a full ceramic coating.
The 3rd brake light has been added to the rear spoiler, and will finally be hooked up when the rear spoiler is reapplied.
I wish I could get the photos attached, but am still having problems.
Here is what I have done so far:
1. Repaired the lower seat cushions on both front seats, redyed the front seats and refreshed the leather
2. Refinishing (in the process) the dash wood
3. Paint refinish
4. Fabricate a new bracket for the new fuel pump
Here is what is left to do:
1. Stripping the paint in the wheel arches and respraying the appropriate black rubberized paint
2. All new water hoses
3. New Belts
4. New timing belt and tensioner
5. New plugs
6. New air filter, and remove the foam filters and place original air box
7. Replace aftermarket radio with newer unit which will look period correct
8. Remove exhaust and coat, and refit with all new rubber hangers
9. Refurbish brakes with new rotors and pads
10. New power steering hoses
11. Recharge A/C system
... and lots of other little things!
The entire car's paint has been corrected and wet sanded, and the buffing has begun. Everything from the windshield back has been buffed twice, with the front left to do. Next will come the polishing followed by a full ceramic coating.
The 3rd brake light has been added to the rear spoiler, and will finally be hooked up when the rear spoiler is reapplied.
I wish I could get the photos attached, but am still having problems.

Here is what I have done so far:
1. Repaired the lower seat cushions on both front seats, redyed the front seats and refreshed the leather
2. Refinishing (in the process) the dash wood
3. Paint refinish
4. Fabricate a new bracket for the new fuel pump
Here is what is left to do:
1. Stripping the paint in the wheel arches and respraying the appropriate black rubberized paint
2. All new water hoses
3. New Belts
4. New timing belt and tensioner
5. New plugs
6. New air filter, and remove the foam filters and place original air box
7. Replace aftermarket radio with newer unit which will look period correct
8. Remove exhaust and coat, and refit with all new rubber hangers
9. Refurbish brakes with new rotors and pads
10. New power steering hoses
11. Recharge A/C system
... and lots of other little things!
- MetBlue
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1739
- Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
- Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
- Colour: Metalic Blue
- Year: 1974
- Location: Northampton
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Sounds like you are making rapid progress.
Paint improvement is always very rewarding.
Paint improvement is always very rewarding.

What goes together.... Must come apart.
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- Senior Poster
- Posts: 3950
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Good work - it would be good to see some before and after photos of the paintwork.
Pete
Pete
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Thanks for the comments. The paintwork looked good from 10 feet away, but as one got closer, you could really see the orange peel. Now, the paint reflects the LED lights just like a photo. One of the rear lights had a small crack, so during the process I removed the rear bumper (not much of a bumper - just a shell), which was done separately, as was the A pillars and rear spoiler.
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
The shop finished the color sanding paint correction this weekend. Total time was 27 hours, but the results are excellent. While there, we also cleaned and stripped out the wheel wells and refinished them with WURTH SKS Stoneguard Black.
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Here is a link to another forum with some pictures:
https://forums.thelotusforums.com/topic ... storation/
https://forums.thelotusforums.com/topic ... storation/
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- Regular Poster
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2023 17:23
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: White
- Year: 1987
Re: Color Sanding Paint Correction and Polish
Color sanding has been completed. It took 29 hours to color sand and polish plus refinish inside the wheel wells.
Still have not got pictures to work, so here is a link to another forum with pictures: https://forums.thelotusforums.com/topic ... nt-1055513
Still have not got pictures to work, so here is a link to another forum with pictures: https://forums.thelotusforums.com/topic ... nt-1055513