We had a blue plastic "bug-guard" on our company 1989 Chevy K-1500. The white paint still peeled of the hood and roof. Then the police got their panties in a bunch about the blue plastic bug deflectors, so now you can't buy them in blue anymore.

 

Don't even need to look as far as electric. Look into flex fuel and how much it takes to manufacture that alone. Not enough people reading fine print anymore.

 

I'm old school. I wouldn't touch a flex-fuel vehicle or a full-electric one, or not yet anyhow. Really bummed out that Chevrolet is discontinuing the Chevy Volt as they are very nice looking cars, much like my 15' Malibu. 42 MPG (estimated) on gasoline isn't that impressive, as I can get around that or a bit more out of my 2015 2.5 liter LCV, (est.36 MPG HWY, but mine will do 40-45 MPG at 65-70 MPH, with more weight in the car then it was tested with) but 106 MPG on electric alone is very impressive,

Hopefully, they have a replacement for the Chevy Volt in the works. Full internal combustion motors gasoline powered motors seem to be slowly phasing out over the years, it would seem.

 

They're not discontinuing the Volt. It will return to the lineup in '20 or '21 after some changes

 

The gasoline motor could be even more efficient with an electronically controlled vapor injection system. Proof of concept is viable in smaller motors such as lawn mowers. The nuclear source could be done better also. A liquid sodium plant ran in the desert for decades with little to no issues. Navy designed a water cooled system and here are with water cooled on land instead. I hear Mr. Gates is throwing money at a newer design (sodium cooled again) that uses already depleted uranium (plenty of that available) and are buried underground, 0 maintenance system. A bit off topic, I know. More on topic, my hood has finally started chipping away in tiny circles from getting sand blasted on the highway.

 

My mistake, then. I really like the looks of the Chevy Volt. Don't know where I heard that Chevrolet was discontinuing the Volt, but I am very glad to hear that Chevrolet is keeping it in the lineup for their new cars.

 

Someone told me the other day the Camaro is getting shelved again.

 

Midwest 1999 & 2006 both peeling hoods & 99 started peeling on door

 

I have a 2002 Express 3500 8.1L with 28K miles. In short, yes.. but mine wasn't media blasted.

In 2012, I had one rear passenger door removed, sanded to the bare metal and repainted. This was due to heavy rainfalls in 2011... a water bubble formed under the base coat and popped like a balloon -- leaving just the ePrimer exposed. When moisture gets under the base coat it starts to bubble and peel in sheets.

As I digress for a moment... we can debate with GM how moisture leeches under the clear coat and base coat, via rock chips, etc. -- bottom line, GM is spraying very thin layers on the white commercial vans due to expected high mileage over a relatively short period of time. Not to mention, white fleet service vehicles typically get wrapped and branded with company logos. I read the MB Sprinter had similar issues.

Back to my 2002 Express ordeal...

In 2015 the remaining factory paint started peeling from the top down. Then surface rust started to appear on the roof.. it's my understanding the sheet metal on the roof is different than the side panels. I read somewhere the roof isn't galvanized. The body shop said it doesn't matter.

In 2018, we had more record rainfalls in California and on the rear driver side door, I saw another water bubble form under the base coat.. again, it popped like a balloon leaving exposed factory ePrimer. After the water bubble burst, the peeling grew, affecting a larger surface area. You can see what happens over time -- compare the driver and passenger side rear doors.

The passenger side rear door was repainted in 2012.

I currently have it in the shop for a complete paint job. Everything is being sanded to the bare metal, treated, re-primed with self-etching primer, and sprayed with base coat and clear coat.

Here's what it looked like before signing the repair order...

.

 

Here are photos taken in 2015... compare with photos above and see the progressive deterioration over four years.

I really struggled whether or not I should spend the money to have this van repainted -- one reason I procrastinated. I ordered this new as a company vehicle with the optional 8.1L Vortech and 4L85E transmission. I also ordered a 3.73 posi rear diff.. with HD trailering package. Its fullly loaded with all options and was upfitted by Commercial Van Interiors with eTrack -- as you can see in the photos.

The company sold the van to me for $3600 in 2008. It had 10K miles and was in perfect condition. I use it sparingly for hauling and short trips -- it runs perfect. If this 3500 Express didn't have the 8.1L Vortech coupled to the 4L85E trans and had more than 28K miles and there was significant body work to be performed, I would have cut my losses.

The 8.1L with HD driveline can't be ordered now and would cost $40K for a new 2019 Express that would sit parked most of the time -- so there's my financial justification to spend the money and save this 2002 Chevrolet Express.

.