Reducer for Deltron Paint

[Clark]

I still have about a quart of the PPG Deltron paint used for the base coat to paint my car, but need some of the catalytic reducer to make it work. Does anyone have a lead on this material? A piece of truck tire smacked my right rear wing a few weeks ago and I'm in the process of doing a fairly minor repair. Otherwise it's on to the new and uncertain world of water-based paints.

Thank-you,

[Doug Liedblad]

Have you tried an automotive paint store?

It may or may not be available anymore and or not in California.

Doug

[Clark]

You cannot get the reducer in California stores. However I found some through an outlet in Minnesota! A little less than $30 a quart. It looks like I can squeeze this repair out of the remaining red metallic used to paint my car back in 2001.

[escondidoron]

You cannot get the reducer in California stores.

Is the issue that the reducer is illegal for sale in CA or that is no longer available?

I ran into a similar situation last fall when refinishing the front spoiler on one of the Esprits.

I had ~1/2 gallon of the appropriate color-matched DBC basecoat on the shelf but no reducer and insufficient clearcoat to complete the repair. Our local PPG dealer had the materials in stock but they weren't legal for commercial sale in CA. However they had a form available for me to fill out that allowed them to sell me "no longer legal" materials for the job. The form stated that I was purchasing the chemicals (DCX61 hardener, DT885 reducer - medium temperature (80F), and Concept DCU2021 clearcoat in my case) for private restoration / non-commercial use.

[Doug Liedblad]

You cannot get the reducer in California stores. However I found some through an outlet in Minnesota! ....

Can they ship it to California?

[robolt7]

Statewide or county restriction?
Last year I was able to get some paint materials in Amador County vs El Dorado County due to restrictions.

[Clark]

I appreciate the help and suggestions. Yesterday, I ordered a quart of the reducer from the shop in Minnesota and hope to receive it sometime next week. Then I'll turn our Seven into a formula racer, at least on the right side, and get the repair done. I believe the glass in the wing can be repaired, so hopefully I won't need a new right rear wing.

On another note, I'm on my second set of windscreen wipers (in 15 years!), and they are SHOT!! Does anyone know a source for them? Blades for pre-'65 VWs with flat windscreens or current flat screened Jeeps don't fit our tiny little windscreen wiper arms. Someone suggested throwing away the wipers and just using Rainex. Is that a reasonable alternative?

[escondidoron]

On another note, I'm on my second set of windscreen wipers (in 15 years!), and they are SHOT!! Does anyone know a source for them? Blades for pre-'65 VWs with flat windscreens or current flat screened Jeeps don't fit our tiny little windscreen wiper arms.

I just Googled 1962 Lotus Seven Wiper Blade and got this hit from RockAuto of all places.

I checked in the ANCO online catalog for the 91-10 p/n specialty wiper blade, and sure enough it is the application specific listing for Lotus Seven, 1957 - 1975. At $4.69 each it might be worth a shot to give it a try.

Someone suggested throwing away the wipers and just using Rainex. Is that a reasonable alternative?

I use RainX on all of my other cars (the ones that I plan to drive in the rain that is) and it works quite well, but still not a replacement for wipers. However those cars all have much more aerodynamic shapes which allows the water to be "blown away". While I suspect that RainX will help, I'd be surprised if the flat slab (and quite upright!) form of the windshield will allow the water to be swept away very effectively.

[Doug Liedblad]

My experience with RainX is that it worked good in the rain but not a total wiper replacement.

The big drawback for me was it left a film I found irritating driving East or West when the Sun was low on the horizon.

[Clark]

Thanks for the help. I'll try the RockAuto source. Superformance says they will eventually get them, but price is a little high at $25 each! The originals I got with the car kit in 1999 were a fit right out of the box. The second set I got 5 or 6 years later from Caterham USA in Denver had to be cut to fit. They must have been for another application with a larger windscreen.

[rzempel]

I don't remember what I started with, but I just went to my FLAPS and bought inexpensive blades that I cut down to fit.

[Clark]

Hi,

I'm sorry, but what is FLAPS?

[Sean]

Hi,

I'm sorry, but what is FLAPS?

Just a guess - It probably stands for Fat Lady Acquiring Parts for Sevens. Or maybe Friendly Local Auto Parts Store. I've heard it both ways.

[rzempel]

Friendly Local Auto Parts Store.

[Clark]

Umm...Thanks guys for pointing out the obvious!

I've looked around all the usual sources: O'Reillys, Auto Zone, NAPA, Pep Boys, etc., and those that even list stuff for a Seven will have wipers for a curved windshield. I poked around the Dave Bean and Moss Motors websites, but again no luck. I'm hoping the blades from Rock Auto will be right. If not, well it wasn't too expensive a try. What ever happened to the BAP-GEON stores?