I'd ditto Chris on that...the older VW paint is fantastic for responding to
polish. Our 1982 was a little chalky when we bought it, and a couple of
days with McGuire's and some terry cloth brought it to "like new" shine.
Our 1976's have done the same.

If you have any doubt about the efficacy of this method, buy a bottle of
"Old #7" and rub a spot in the most horrible oxidization. You will be
amazed.

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   JordanVw@AOL.COM [SMTP:JordanVw@AOL.COM]
Sent:   Wednesday, August 11, 1999 12:47 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Painting my 83.5 Westy

In a message dated 8/11/99 12:09:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jliasse@TOAST.NET writes:

<<   With the paint resembling a heavy dusting of talcum powder looks like
its time to bite the bullet and have it painted. F >>

buff it out.  being an '83, your van isnt metallic, or clearcoat.  if paint
is still good, just oxidized, then a good professional, or do it yourself
compounding / waxing/ buffing will bring the paint back up to a high shine.
cant beat the original paint. no respray will be as good as the orig., so
you
want to keep it if you can.  i buffed out my '79 bus, which hadn't been
washed/waxed in years, and was all chalky and oxidized, and after i was
done,
it looked like it was new paint...

try it.  you'll be surprised.
chris