Hi All,

I posted a while back about the side of my minty 1980 244 being damaged by a city worker who hit a pile of gravel with his flail mower. The city has offered to pay for the repairs to the side of the car and I am going to pay extra and have the entire car painted.

To save a few bucks, I am removing the bumpers, bezels, doorhandles, taillights, mudflaps, chrome side trim etc. Any hints or warnings about removing trim? Especially the chrome trim around the headlight bezels. Is there anything that is best to just leave alone and let the bodyshop guys tape? Don't think I'll bother with front and rear windshield trim.

Are there any areas that the body shops are known to miss when degreasing/ dewaxing? Front or rear vent louvres? Should I dewax the car myself to be certain? What product should I use to dewax? The car was last waxed two months ago and lives outside.

Looking for any hints, regrets or suggestions to get my baby a better paint job.

Rob in Niagara

http://www3.sympatico.ca/broph/merle.html