1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

[Thriller]

Well, it is spring here and I'm finally getting to work on my Wildcat. It's been a bit crazy so far, but I finally have a weekend I can hopefully get things done. Last fall, I had some work done at an upholstery shop...they parked the car outside for a while at one point...3 bird droppings on the hood that were dried on when I picked up the car. I think my wife rubbed them off, leaving a few spots with a finger width of fine scratches in the clear coat.

This morning I got up early and got the car washed (using Gold Class) and dried (couldn't find chamois, so used too many of my microfibres) off before the sun came over the neighbour's garage. I took a few photos, which I'll get to momentarily. I came in for breakfast and to start this post.

There are some bonded contaminants on horizontal surfaces - hood and deck lid primarily. My plan is to clay the horizontal surfaces, take a break and read up on ScratchX, then go back out and deal with these spots. There's also a rub on the driver's fender from a fender cover (car was a bit dusty), but it isn't as bad as a couple other spots. After ScratchX, I haven't decided exactly how I'll proceed. Right now, I'm leaning toward #9 Swirl Remover as there are a few other fine scratches on the car. Then polish with #7 and on to wax with #26.

Car after wash and dry:



Rubs on hood:





The good thing about doing this work to your car is you really get to know your car. I found this bit of a crack in the paint...I'm going to need to talk to my body man - the car was painted in 2006.



Working on a car this size, I really appreciate having a vinyl roof...back in the day they led to rust issues, but since the car no longer sees snow, and very little rain, it is nice not to have that extra expanse of paint to work on.

Hopefully I'll be able to update this in a few hours after ScratchX...the photos won't be exactly the same as I'll be under artificial light. Then there will be subsequent posts through the weekend as I complete this.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

What a nice car and a fun car to polish out.

[yalerd]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

Hey very nice work!

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

Thanks guys. Yalerd, I have a pile more work here....

First of all, I got through claying the hood...first time I've done that...I know lots of folks have posted this before, but considering the car looked OK, here's what the clay picked up:



On to using ScratchX.... This is also a first time product use for me. My biggest struggle with this was stopping. Once I saw what it did, I had trouble stopping working with the product.

Anyway, here's a before shot with one rub in particular well shown (just below and to the left of the light bulb reflection). It isn't terribly deep, but depending on the angle / lighting conditions, it really shows up.



I was Adrenalized to put passion into the application by Def Leppard...good assistance. I definitely produced some sweat...then again, the temperature is now up to about 70 F or so...possibly warmer in the garage...and I'm not a skinny fit fellow, so sweat comes easily.

Anyway, working from memory, I tried to get the same shot after about 3 applications of ScratchX...some spots got only one or two applications to meet expectations.



All I can say is that I am duly impressed with the product. Granted, I wasn't trying to work out big deep issues, but I'm pleased with the results. As stated earlier, the toughest thing was determining where to stop...this car has accumulated many light scratches...I'm not entirely sure how...dust is my enemy and I wonder if using my California Duster is causing at least part of the issue.

Now, I need to find more Swirl Remover before the next stage...the only bottle I have is pretty light and I don't want to run out in the middle of the job. My wife was out and I had her stop at a Canadian Tire...she couldn't find any. If I have to switch products due to inaccessibility, what would be recommended as similar abrasion level? I'm sure I saw that here somewhere...guess I'll dig around a bit after lunch.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

What a great looking car. Your doing a wonderful job so far. Look forward to your updates throughout the weekend.

[Sydster]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

What a great looking car. Your doing a wonderful job so far. Look forward to your updates throughout the weekend.

Keep it up!

[Superior Shine]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

That car is alllll me baby!!

I have been watching them on ebay as I need a daily driver now.

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

Well, we got through the M9 after putting the kids to bed...took a bit less time as The Boss helped out. She allowed me to use the machine and she did some by hand around trim and the like where the 8" orbital can't go.

I do have a number of photos, but the battery died as I was trying to take some additional finishing shots. It's on the charger now...if it's done before I go to bed, I'll post a few more tonight. Otherwise, I'll get them up first thing in the morning before going to the garage for the Speed Glaze.

SS - you may want to check into V8Buick.com - cars come up there before heading to eBay...Go Fast With Class

Thanks for all the kind words gang. I just got into this last summer and it was pretty easy to make improvements to my '62 and '41 with tired single stage paint. This is a newer paint job in BC/CC. My goal is to get the car nice so that it can be judged at the BCA National Meet in Colorado Springs in July 2009. After that I'll worry about it a bit less and enjoy it more.

[Superior Shine]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

You have a beautiful car there. You look like you might be a Buick guy.

Heres my Buick -

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

What a sweet first generation Riviera. I have friends pressuring me to get a Riv, but with 3 children, the early 2+2 configurations don't quite fit as a family car. The Boss likes the boattails, so we may wind up with one of those. As of right now, I have 7 old Buicks...sort of looking at another one right now. I really need my own workshop. Last summer, on the old forum, I'd shown off my initial playing with Meg's products on the '41 and the '62 Special convertible.

I misspoke (mistyped) in my last message...the next stage we are going to is M7 Show Car Glaze, not Speed Glaze...guess I was tired.

I slept in this morning, and I'm a bit tired and sore. It's a good thing the only things I have planned for today are the polish / wax of the Wildcat and racking wine...I might be able to fit a nap in there somewhere.

Here's a couple of photos from last night. The first is The Boss doing some of the work by hand. Last year, I had a habit of using too much product on the pad, which resulted in splatter...a bugger to get off a vinyl roof if you don't notice it right away Hence the blanket on top of the car.



Here's a shot of the passenger quarter...it isn't a great photo as the camera wasn't happy with the lighting and all. Working in the daylight with natural light coming in the windows makes a big difference.



Well, breakfast is pretty much ready...after I get through that and my coffee, it will be back at it.

[Mr Mustang]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

that looks great!

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

Thanks Mr. Mustang...it's coming along.

We got the polishing done this morning.





It was almost time for lunch, so I got the first coat of M26 on. I was just going to give one coat, but I think I'll do a second as well.





I don't expect there'll be any updates until late this afternoon. After lunch I'll check to see how this coat of wax is doing, but I'll probably only take additional photos after we are all completely done.

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

Well, it's cool today with relatively high humidity, so the wax took longer to set up than I'd hoped. As a result, I'm going with just one coat of wax. This car gathers dust more in the garage than it has to worry about things like weather and the like. I guess I'll just give it another coat of wax this summer when I have a bit more time.

Anyway, on to the photos.





I didn't pay a pile of attention to the camera settings, so some of these shots are off...the camera didn't like that I forced no flash. But with the flash, you can't see how reflective the body is.





I like the above look with the roof trusses and the next one with the wall studs.



I really want to know who airbrushed the fat guy on my car though



Well, that's it for the photos on this one. I guess when it comes down to it, this is far from an extreme makeover, but I wasn't sure which other forum would be more appropriate. Now, if I worked on the original paint on the '56 Special in the garage, that would be pretty extreme.

I do have a question that I've been forgetting to ask. I have no problem washing my microfibre towels and using them with different products. I've done the same with the foam applicators for the polisher. However, what about the hand applicator pad I used for the ScratchX? Those are pretty scarce in these parts, so I'd like the option of using it with other product, at least until I can find someone who carries them outside of a kit since Meguiar's and ADS won't ship to Canada (last I checked anyway). Thanks.

Now for the weather to smarten up so I can enjoy the car, especially now that it has fewer scratches...of course, driving and showing it results in more scratches

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

The camera might not have liked the lighting. However it looks like a very good reflection shot. Can't wait to see all the afters.

[Thriller]

Re: 1966 Buick Wildcat Spring Detail

That last post was the afters...we've had rain / showers today, so I'm not going to take it outside (although the lighting is good) for more photos at this time. I could try to take more pictures when it is outside next.