Hi Everyone
Need advice on cleaning old factory paint. 1974 is the year. I don't believe this truck has ever been repainted and I really would like to clean it up and get a real good wax job on it. It would kind of remind you of having water spot stains on it . What to use ? I have some Mequiar's Mirror Glaze Med cut #1 and Heavy cut #4. I have used on clear coat before BUT I know there is no clear coat on this truck, so will it trash the paint ?? OR what to use?? THIS IS THE TRUCK IN THE PIC.

Thanks and have a great day
ARMSTRONGFORDTRUCKS

 

buffing it would probably take off the oxidation and get some of the gloss back, but with single stage that old that has oxidized it is usually short lived till it starts to fade back out again. I think your mequires should work fine. I'd try the medium cut first and follow up that with a glaze. Keep it waxed and garaged and it may hold up longer. If it is a metallic color, then you probably should just leave it be, as buffing could cause the metallic to be damaged giving a blotchy appearance. And there always could be a chance you buff through somewhere, not knowing how much paint and if its was sanded and buffed or something in the past. Maybe try in a not real noticeable area first and see how its going. I have heard some say they had buffing change the color on some singlestages, or something like that? Thats the problem with old single stage enamel or lacquer finishes, they don't hold up like the urethanes, and urethane clears have uv inhibitors in them to keep pigment from fading out of the color. If you notice, cars today typically hold up for a long time without fading and oxidizing if they are done right. There have been a lot of instances of clearcoat delimination from the factory though the years, but that really isn't the fault of the paint. It is a fault in some part of their process, most likely due to trying to cut costs. I'd give buffing a shot, and save up for a good urethane base/clear paint job in the future, unless for some reason you wanted it to look original like what would be used in the 70's when the truck came off the assembly line.

 

thanks kenseth17

armstrongfordtrucks

 

I would use 3M finess-it along with a sponge pad on a DA polisher.
You'll want to be real nice to that old paint, a fine cut with a sponge pad is the way.
And as k17 said keep a good wax on it or it will fade out soon.
The DA polisher (dual action) with a foam pad is made to remove swirl marks
left behind from a regular buffer.
You should beable to find a pad at any paint store to fit a DA sander
Gene