Advice...please

[thurstb]

Just inherited my grandmothers 1989 Cadillac Brougham, 60k mi, triple black. The car has spent most of its time over the past 15 yrs in the garage without regular washing and waxing so the paint has a LOT of crud in it...
I am going to pick the car up next week and I have already stocked my detailing cabinet with Gold Class Shampoo/Conditioner, Clay Kit, Ultimate Compound, Swirl X, and NXT 2.0. I have a 6" orbital polisher with foam and terry cloth bonnets. foam and cloth applicators and a stack of MF towels.
I was excited about the UC from watching the video, ran out and stocked up, then saw the thread where the guy messed up his paint...now I am scared...LOL

I am assuming the ol caddy does NOT have a clearcoat...?

What is the best way for me to attack this? I can post pics in a week or so. Thanks in advance for any and all input!

[yalerd]

Re: Advice...please

For now it would be best to give it a good Wash and Clay of every part of the vehicle and surface to unveil the true state of it.

You don't know until you start working if it's clear coat or single stage, best thing to do is How to test for a clear coat or single stage paint system

Once you have every surface clean, post some pictures and tell us for sure if it's single stage or clear coat and we can help you out with the plan of attach.

Read this link, this could help a lot
Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle - Updated!

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please

thanks...will do!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Advice...please

A black car from 1989 may or may not have a clear coat. Black, red and white were generally the last colors to make the full transition to clear coats (Lexus still has a single stage black) but by the mid '80s most domestic cars did have clear coat. The test yalerd linked to will let you know for sure what you've got.

In the event this is single stage paint, we highly recommend using something like M80 Speed Glaze on it. If it's been a bit neglected for the past several years then it's most likely starting to get a bit dried out and the polishing oils in M80 will do wonders for the gloss level. M80 also has some very effective diminishing abrasives that will do an excellent job of removing swirls and other light to moderate below surface defects.

Follow this with your favorite wax and that old Caddy should be looking great again!

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please

[/IMG]having trouble posting my photos, they are in my gallery. I washed, clayed, 2 applications of UC. pretty sure it is single stage paint because a lot of black on foam pad. She has a great shine, but when you get up close there are a lot of inperfections on the hood and trunk.

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please

had a detailer look at the car...the clearcoat is shot, so I will just keep a good coat of wax on her for now.

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice...please

Any chance of a pic to see how shot?

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please



meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/38299

I am having a hard time posting pics. they are saved in my gallery on MOL.

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice...please

Are those white specs dust/dirt, or are they in the paint?

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please

specks are in the clearcoat

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice...please

Yeah... begining of some clear coat failure...

Still, may be able to slow it down with some good care. Using a cleaner/wax and then wax will be a good quick detail for the moment, and get a little polishing oil on the paint.

[thurstb]

Re: Advice...please

washed, clayed, UC x2, SwirlX...NXT 2.0 this weekend. polishing oils?

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice...please

SwirlX is a cleaner/polish, so will have some.