Need some advice

[CELL]

So, since im pretty much a newb to detailing, I decided to buy a car to use as a practice project.
Im including some exterior pics to show you guys what i'm up against. I think I bit off more then I can chew. I dont even know where to start. Any advice you would have would be appreciated.

[Mike Phillips]

I don't think there's much any car wash, paint cleaner, polish or wax can do to undo the damage you're showing us in the photos. Probably the most you can hope for is to wash the car, dress the tires and if you want apply a cleaner/wax to the paint that's left and call it good.

[Pete-FWA]

Cutlass Ciera LS...wow

Very typical example of how they all seem to rust just as yours has.

Are you talking about in and out detailing or just working on the paint? If you're doing any washing/engine degreasing, be very careful about water in the distributor cap. Espeically on the 2.5 Tech 4 engine, I'd swear they had a funnel to direct the water in there.

Are you practicing on the paint with a rotary? Do you care about getting results, or is this literally just for practice and then scrapping the car when you're done?

I'm afraid that Mike is correct in that much of the vehicle's paint is beyond help.

The driver side mirror silver top coat is GONE on that one.

Many of the top surface shots on that paint show that it's almost powdery or gritty and brittle. Is that the case?

Once a paint is that far gone, it usually just absorbs wax and polish, usually leaving this horribly streaked white looking pattern that won't rub off.

If you're running a foam pad around those rust scabs, you'll have flakes of rust, paint, and metal flying around. Those will cut the daylights out of a foam pad. Avoid that.

As for the paint peeling away from the edges of the body line on the fender, the flaking will increase if you run a machine around it. The flaking will probably increase if you rub it with a wash mitt!

That black mark on the lower door almost looks workable. How is the paint on those lower areas? The tops are usually first to go bad, but the doors often stay better for longer due to less exposure.

That cloth interior might surprise you. Do you have an extractor or a shop vac? From what I saw, the interior could be salvageable. The driver seat may look black, but those often cleaned right up with some scrubbing and extracting.

Hey, hope this isn't too much rambling about an old Oldsmobile. If you are going to practice on a certain area, post and see what happens.

[CELL]

Ugh. Maybe I should just give it a new paint job. LOL.
Any recommendations for high quality DIY auto paint?

[Pete-FWA]

John Deere Green and a brush?

[CELL]

Well, I think i'm going to have a go at this the best I can.
For starters, the bumper needs to come off and be repainted.
Anyone have any advice on paint removal on a plastic bumper and then what kind of paint should I use to repaint it?