My trunk lid came from a junkyard. You know how some junkyards write on the cars with....something? I got most of the writing off, it's a lot less obvious now, but a faint ghost of it is still plainly visible. No amount of washing or scrubbing, or time (over a year now) has erased the writing entirely. Short of repainting the panel, what's a good way, or good chemical, for getting rid of it and make it look like the writing was never there? I don't want to damage the paint. The writing was originally white and is still a couple shades lighter than the deep, dark blue panel.

 

Have you tried polishing compound?

 

That was the first thing that came to mind as well.

Doing a very very very light compounding with power buffing might work, but you won't know until you try. Is any of the writing in a reasonably non-conspicuous place that you can test first? If the material used to write on it has already gotten down into the clear coat, you're kind of SOL. You could call the junkyard and ask them what they used. That will probably get you the furthest or is that farthest.

 

Thanks, I'll pick up some polishing compound next week and try it out.
If it doesn't work......I'm not going to stress over it too much. Cleaning the panel would be nice, but on a car this old I'll just be glad it's mechanically sound.

 

Do not go at it aggressively at least not at first until you determine what the polishing compound does. Finer grit will cause less wear

 

Hi guys, unfortunately it didn't seem to have any effect on the writing. Bummer.

 

Well that sucks.

We do appreciate you stopping back with the update.
Very few people bother. So thank you and stick around.

 

Rubbing compound is a heavier grit, but if you try that, be very careful with it. Too much effort could remove your clear coat.

 

All yards that I've worked @ used tire crayons to write on the body panels.


Use Simple Green cut 50/50. Then wash/wax as normal.

If it's been on there for a # of years & if Simple Green doesnt work, then gas on a rag. Use Your finger tip only on the writing only. Promptly wash/wax after. There most likely will be ghosting, buffing should fix that.

 

I tried every cleaning compound on my shelf and I tried the gas thing too. Nothing worked. I'll just have to live with it.