No clear coat? Town Car

[nxoone]

I have a 1993 Town Car that is in really good condition. I'm going to try and do a detail job on it this weekend.

I have concerns about the paint around the lower half of the car (below the door-ding molding). The paint does not look like it has a clear coat - it's dull. Like I said the paint is in pretty good condition overall - almost no rust. I tried a little body scrub on it and alot of BLUE (paint) got on my applicator. What the heck is this stuff - and how should I treat it?

Thanks a ton.


PS - I will post a PIC later if necessary.

[Shawn T.]

Re: No clear coat? Town Car

Your car is blue?

This means that you have single stage paint. When you rub any kind of cleaner on any kind of paint, some of it will come off. But, clear coat is clear so you can't see it. However, single statge paint comes off as the color it is since there is no clear coat. All you are seeing is the single stage paint. Nothing to worry about. I would try some Ultimate Compound and/or Swirlx. Ultimate Compound is stronger so try Swirlx frist and see if it removes the oxidation (which is the dullness you are seeing).

If you really want to bring the single stage paint back to life I would get some M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish, M80 Speed Glaze and M07 Show Car Glaze. All of these products were designed for single stage paint and will do wonders to bring it back to life. Now, you can do this by hand or you can invest in a DA. Invest in the DA. Unfortunately, the Meguiars ones are on backorder due to their popularity but you can also get a Porter Cable (I would go with 2 orange pads, 3 white pads and 1 black pad.) It makes the job so much easier and the results are simply incredible. After using the M83, M80 and M07 on the entire car, wax with your favorite wax.

Process:
1) Wash with a quality wash like Gold Class
2) Clay with Smooth Surface Clay Kit
3) M80 Speed Glaze or M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish depending on how you feel after trying a test spot with each with a white pad.
4) Wax with your favorite wax-2 thin coats


OR......


Process:
1) Wash
2) Smooth Surface Clay Kit
3) Ultimate Compound or Swirlx depending on which looks best after a test spot of each.
4) Wax-2 thin coats

If doing by hand, go with foam applicators and use the Ultimate Compound and/or Swirlx route btu if by machine, go M83/M80 combo.

[nxoone]

Re: No clear coat? Town Car

Thank you very much for the reply.

Yes, my car is blue. I don't have a DA as of yet, so it's by hand for now. Three weeks ago I did a wash, body scrub, a few spots ScratchX 2.0, then Gold Class wax. It has been out much and is kind of dusty. I plan to wash, (was going to skip clay), do UC/ScratchX, and Gold Class Wax or NXT 2.0. Nobody use the body scrub stuff anymore?

You're saying I should wax twice?

Are the products you recommend availble at retail locations (M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish, M80 Speed Glaze and M07 Show Car Glaze)?

[Shawn T.]

Re: No clear coat? Town Car

M83, M80 probably need to be ordered online but you can do this by hand.

Ultimate Compound and Swirlx are available at almsot all Autozones, Advance Auto Parts, etc. The foam applicators will have to be bought online. If your local store has Deep Crystal Polish or M07 Show Car Glaze then I would buy either to use after Ultimate Compound or Swirlx (whichever you choose).

I would not skip the claying step. This really cleans the layer of paint that you will be working on by making it smooth as glass. It removes the rough feeling you get when you touch the paint.