Cleaning/Polishing

[Fast289]

Since Carmen is up on jacks right now, I thought it would be a good time to give her a really good cleaning and polishing.

Can anyone recommend a polishing product? Is hand polishing or a power buffer, polisher better? I am sure everyone has a favorite, just looking for suggestions.

Thanks

[Danr55]

AFter getting all of the muck off with soap and water, I use Jax Wax to clean the surface and then put a coat of Mothers Shine and Was over the top. It's not exactly a paste wax, but it gives a paste wax shine and a hard finish..

[Fast289]

Thanks, Danr.

I never polished fiberglass before.

[Lou1119]

Originally Posted by Fast289

Thanks, Danr.

I never polished fiberglass before.

Even though the body is fiberglass you are still polishing paint. I have used Blackfire Wet Diamond polish as a final finish on all of my cars for the last 8 years. It is easy to use, durable and gives a great shine.

If you truly are going to polish/buff the car go with a random orbital polisher and a good quality compound. To do the car by hand will give less than adequate results since most buffing compounds need heat to make the compound work.
The reason for a random orbital is it is almost impossible to burn the paint versus a normal circular polisher.

Once you have polished the paint then go with a good final finish polish.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

1. Wash with Dawn then rinse and dry.
2. Claybar with Final Touch or similar. Microfiber off remnants.
3. Wax with your favorite. Mine is Meguire's Tech or Ultimate liquid.
4. Polish off with microfiber towels.
5. Maintain.
Here's a great video source: http://www.meguiars.com/en/videos/ ignore the mirror image cobra. I think that was Mike Meguire's SPF.
AZ Bob

AZ Bob

[Karl Bebout]

Fast Dave, remember that the stuff Danr uses is what's best for ORANGE, but since your RED car is in the same color family, it'll surely be fine.

BobB, you forgot to mention the super trick polishing glove that does a nice job replacing the clay bay and is a whole lot less work.

[Fast289]

Karlos, why does your car aviator look so much like Danrs' orange car?

[scootter]

I did the dawn soap, clay bar then the Zanio products http://www.zainostore.com/. Work very well. Easy on and off.
Scott

[Karl Bebout]

"Karlos, why does your car aviator look so much like Danrs' orange car?"

What? What avatar"

[Danr55]

Boy, that was fast! Just for the record.. Karls previous car was PimpHo Caddilac Gold.. not Rangoon Red.. like mine..

[lippy]

Zaino stuff is awesome. Griot's products are excellent also. I use the Griot's orbital polished and machine products, and the Zaino sealer. Dark blue, looks great.

[Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB]

This is the Mitt that Karl referred to: https://www.eagleone.com/mitt I'll ad"mitt" that it works great and is much easier than the claybar process. Use the same liquid lubricant.

AZ Bob

[mikiec]

When I did polish I used Zaino products. Mostly used spray detailer.

[Fast289]

Well, I got the tranny back today, so that trumps polishing. I swear the tranny is heavier now than when I pulled her out. I am a week or so older, so I can see losing strength in that time. It's hell getting old. I mentally feel like I can still lift heavy objects like I did in my youth, but physically, my old muscles just plain don't work so well...

[mikiec]

When I pulled my Tranny on my MK1, I used tranny jack. Made things much easier. Only had to lift from the floor to the tranny jack.

Mike

[Fast289]

I'm cheap, I will try and rig my floor jack to lift it.

[Karl Bebout]

I changed my TH400 tranny too many times using my arms, belly, and legs, but that was
'way back. The worst part was the finned pan would really do a number on my legs. I had a long 3/8" extension, ratchet, and magnetic socket holding the first attaching bolt so once I got it on the locator pins, I was home free. Now, a 40# sack of softener salt is about all I want to tackle. The older I get, the stronger I was and the faster I was....