well, maybe not quite $5. but after i throw in the oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, cam seal, new motor mounts, shifter bushings, fuel filter, water pump, timing belt, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and pilot bushing this weekend, it just might be a $5k car.

check it out:

faded bumper:


dirty motor:


pink car, looks way worse in the sun:


spoiler so faded the primer is showing through:


for effect, i did half the car at a time. it's not done, but it's pretty obvious which side has been worked on.


you can tell the difference better when the pics are BIG


guess which picture has the side that has been buffed:
#1


or #2


not done, but much better:



and yes, i am available for hire


Modified by tnord at 11:02 PM 8/13/2004

 

NICE JOB!! ... i will give u 4k for it rite now aint likin the peelin paint on the bumper... mayb 5 when ur done

wat did u use to buff it ... like wat buffin machine etc. details plz

 

on the sideview picture where the car is in the garage, the side that has been buffed, you can see just behind the rear bumper the buffer. it's a black and decker heavy duty high speed electrical unit, variable speed 1000-3000 rpm.

first was 3M Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound combined with a wool buffing pad at about 2000 rpm.

next was Pro Wax Swirl Elimnator and Polish with 3M foam pad and 1750rpm

last was Pro Wax Miracle Wax with separate 3M foam pad at 2500 rpm.


i really needed to use something inbetween the rubbing compound and the swirl eliminator, as the compound put scratches in the paint that were too harsh for the swirl eliminator to get out. maybe in a couple weeks i'll hit it again with some 3M Finesse-It II or Wizard's Turbo Cut.

it will probably get a repaint in the spring just to cover up the spots that are chipping. but i really don't care that much, as the car was so cheap, and plastic doesn't rust.

 

are those products mentioned above available at Wal Mart, Pep Boys... etc.?

 

nope. the 3M buffing compound you can sometimes find at NAPA. i ordered the pro-wax off the internet. the Wizards stuff you can find at auto paint specialty stores sometimes.

they're pretty specialized products, a far cry from the average "3 step" store-bought stuff.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGB18hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">are those products mentioned above available at Wal Mart, Pep Boys... etc.?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've seen some 3M car products at the above stores.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">. really needed to use something inbetween the rubbing compound and the swirl eliminator, as the compound put scratches in the paint that were too harsh for the swirl eliminator to get out. maybe in a couple weeks i'll hit it again with some 3M Finesse-It II or Wizard's Turbo Cut </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've used Finesse It II before and it should be good enough between the compound and swirl remover. Another product you might want to try is Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner Polish (DACP). It's by far one of the most versatile products I've used.

 

tnord might wanna cover ur plates... on the 2th and 5th picture

 

nano wax worked good....tried it on my dads 89 corolla..

 

3M does sell some stuff at run-of-the-mill parts stores, but i've never found the really good professional stuff inteded for high speed buffers.

is that meguires stuff for high-speed use, or is it just a general hand polish?

i'm not worried about the plates. the car isn't even in the same state, and those plates are from the previous owner, so no biggie.

 

how did the spoiler/hatch turn out?
i desperately need mine done like this.

my hatch/spoiler roof and hood are all fading/starting to look pink

 

the spoiler couldn't be recovered. the paint was gone, there wasn't anything to work with. it looks better, but it's still all blotchy where the primer is coming through.

if you were closer to KS, i'd do the same for you. either way, get it done quick before it gets like my car, and can't be saved.

 

Nice job!

 

dang thats a world of difference

props, now do you have tennis elbow? lol

 

Good work! Should be interesting to see if it will keep it's shine. The cars that I have done (that were faded) most of them became dull within a few weeks.

 

First buff with wool pad like you did using 3m perfect it rubbing compound

Use a 3m polishing pad with whatever polish you like(I use BC-2) and this should take out all the swils the wool pad and rubbing compound leaves.

Then if you are wanting a really really fancy job or doing cars with "soft paint" use the foam pad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DxHatchback &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dang thats a world of difference

props, now do you have tennis elbow? lol </TD></TR></TABLE>

there's no rubbing involved. the buffer spins at speeds between 1-3000 rpms, and does it all for you.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The cars that I have done (that were faded) most of them became dull within a few weeks.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

have you used a high speed before? it will keep.

 

good work post pics when your done

 

does most of you no good, but if sd peeps need 3m stuff you can hit me up... i work for an authorized distributor for 3m's auto body stuff

 

good job...more work then i would do.....i like you last comment...yes i am for hire....LOL.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is that meguires stuff for high-speed use, or is it just a general hand polish?
.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's meant for machine use. I used it with my Porter Cable 7424 random orbital buffer.

 

big difference

 

did that to my gsr when it was faded, lasted about 3 months before it was pink again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did that to my gsr when it was faded, lasted about 3 months before it was pink again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

When done right it stays nice