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Attached I have pictures of my ‘78 crew cab and as you can see the paint is oxidized. I was just wondering about some methods and/or product recommendations to restore the shine. I’ve read mixed reviews about buffing and polishing, and I was also curious about things such as wipe on clear coats. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations or can tell me something that I don’t know about restoring the paint on these old pickups that would be greatly appreciated!
Also, side note, any suggestion on the best way to remove the decals on the doors?
There's no substitute for doing a job right. No wipe on product will do the job with any real or permanent success. If you're careful, with a traditional polishing machine, a wool pad and a quality rubbing compound, you can make that truck look like new.
Meguire's products and a foam pad, you will never lose the tattoo of the stickers. A little heat and a plastic razor blade may remove the vinyl. Just my take.
you will never lose the tattoo of the stickers. A little heat and a plastic razor blade may remove the vinyl. Just my take.
I say the same on the tattoo and I would try heat and something that will not dig into the paint like the plastic razor.
I think it is 3M makes a Decal Eraser that fits on a drill and rubs the decal off.
As for the shine Turtle Wax makes Color Back that is a liquid wax that dose a pretty good job but only lasts about 6 months when out in weather 24/7.
Dave ----
There's no substitute for doing a job right. No wipe on product will do the job with any real or permanent success. If you're careful, with a traditional polishing machine, a wool pad and a quality rubbing compound, you can make that truck look like new.
What compound do you suggest? My grandpa has an old black and decker polisher that looks like an angle grinder and it works but I don’t know much about it.
What compound do you suggest? My grandpa has an old black and decker polisher that looks like an angle grinder and it works but I don’t know much about it.
Forgot, make sure the paint is super clean before you start, you can wash/clay bar it and then have at it. With that much truck make sure to wash out the foam DA pads and dry every time you do maybe the hood/fenders or both doors etc. The pads will load up and not “cut” as well.
What compound do you suggest? My grandpa has an old black and decker polisher that looks like an angle grinder and it works but I don’t know much about it.
I've always used 3M products. The grinder/polisher you have will work, just be very careful with it on the edges. I've got 40 years experience so it's no problem for me, but for a novice, use patience and be mindful of your speed and movement, and which way the pad is turning as you come to an edge. You want the pad to turn away from the edge, not into it. Don't put pressure on the edges. Keep the rpms down. Don't bear down like a grinder. Let the machine do the work. I like to use wool pads and rubbing compound for the heavy stuff then finish with a foam pad with a foam pad glaze. You can get the good stuff from a body shop supply store. We all have our first time, you can do this. By the time you get done, you'll be a pro.
For the decals, use heat and if possible, dental floss. Slide the floss behind the decals once they are heated a bit. Don't know if this will work on softer decals but worth a try before you go to something more aggressive such as a blade.
I started with a yellow medium foam pad and the compound. When I did the “finish” cut and then glaze I used a foam white pad. So yellow is medium and white is ultra fine pads. I use the rupes DA pads because it’s what I had already.
it’s was a 2 days process but I also cleaned up all the trim/bumpers etc.
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