I'm rebuilding a 91FC and one of the problems is that the paint clearcoat on the hood is peeling off. The paint underneath needs some work, but looks like it has still plenty of life left. I'm wondering if there is a way to remove only the clearcoat without too much harm to the unerlying paint. I've asked around informally at shops and nobody I've asked seems to know. The standard answer is sand it off (duh!), but I'd like to save the paint if possible. Anybody got an answer?

 

I've never heard of only removing the clearcoat. There is nothing that I know of, which will chemically only attack the clearcoat and not the underlying "paint".

It would be easier just to sand it all off and then paint anyway.

 

Say,
Is there something that would remove clearcoat from a set of "diamond cut" finnish forged wheels, without etching the alluminum?

 

you can't remove just the clear. You can sand it with 1000 or higher grit and put new coat of clear on it. But if pait has faded unevenly yu will see it.
options:
use rubbung compound and then buff. As time goes on you will have to do this more frequently.

repaint. You should find a place that will do that for about $100 if you prep it.

 

Laquer thinner and elbow grease.

 

There is a paint remover used on aircraft that will not attack the aluminum if you're careful. You can get it in small cans. My friend is doing his RX-8 18" wheels (they had 3 layers on them, a yellow thick plastic base, color (silver) and clearcoat. It took all of it off. I'll post the name as soon as I find out.

As for just the clearcoat, usually the paint will soften along with the clearcoat. You'll have to try different solvents. Epoxy paint thinner might work. It is best just to clean it down to metal and start over. Probably less expensive than trying to save the paint.

 

On smaller models I've sanded the clearcoat off when I fubared the job. If you are careful you can wetsand the clearcoat off without taking alot of paint. If you are doing this yourself you might even be able to rattle can the original color on in spots where you sand through, and sand it even with the original paint again.
Personally in the painting process, the color is easy, its the clearcoat that is a bitoch to paint. Id take it to a shop at that point and have them clearcoat.