The Big Clean!

[Dragonheart]

Removing tar spots - 3 and 1/2 hours
Wash - 1 and 1/4 hours
Wax (2 coats) - 2 hours
Gloss (1 coat) - 1 and 1/4 hours (including the 40 min wait before final buffing)

The result?

PRICELESS (Well, at least I think so!)

Was up at 8 on Sunday morning to start early, and as I thought finsh early! No such luck, I seriously underestimated the amount of time it took to get the tar spots off. Looked like very little from a couple of steps back but when I got close they were loads of 'em! Used a rubbing compound to get them off, and at the expense of a seriously sore thumb and wrist on my left hand (no comments Bernard or gfalls please, or anyone else for that matter!) I inally got them off as good as I could. There ust be an easier way! Spent so much time crouching down all day getting everything done, that I feel as if I've been throug the most excruciating ar$e muscle exercises ever, (again, no comments!!!). But damn did the car look hot after it! Am now preparing the soap and water at this minute for the engine bay, boot, and door reveals. Hope the street light outside holds out!

[CJ]

Used a rubbing compound to get them off, and at the expense of a seriously sore thumb and wrist on my left hand (no comments Bernard or gfalls please, or anyone else for that matter!) I inally got them off as good as I could. There ust be an easier way!

Yep, there is - petrol or diesel on a rag will remove tar lickity split, wax as usual afterwards. A claybar works wonders on removing deep down paint grime and tar, I'd seriously recommend this process for your next 'Big Clean'.

CJ

[paul2508]

Removing tar spots - 3 and 1/2 hours
Wash - 1 and 1/4 hours
Wax (2 coats) - 2 hours
Gloss (1 coat) - 1 and 1/4 hours (including the 40 min wait before final buffing)

The result?

PRICELESS (Well, at least I think so!)

Was up at 8 on Sunday morning to start early, and as I thought finsh early! No such luck, I seriously underestimated the amount of time it took to get the tar spots off. Looked like very little from a couple of steps back but when I got close they were loads of 'em! Used a rubbing compound to get them off, and at the expense of a seriously sore thumb and wrist on my left hand (no comments Bernard or gfalls please, or anyone else for that matter!) I inally got them off as good as I could. There ust be an easier way! Spent so much time crouching down all day getting everything done, that I feel as if I've been throug the most excruciating ar$e muscle exercises ever, (again, no comments!!!). But damn did the car look hot after it! Am now preparing the soap and water at this minute for the engine bay, boot, and door reveals. Hope the street light outside holds out!

wat will you use to clean the engine bay. thinking of doing it myself

[Bernard]

Removing tar spots - 3 and 1/2 hours

I seriously underestimated the amount of time it took to get the tar spots off.

That's the advantage of a black car, although dust really shows up...
I've spent the best part of a day cleaning the car myself, it's a great feeling of satisfaction standing back and admiring the gleaming beast afterwards... almost makes up for the backache.


See, no smutty comments....

[Bernard]

How about some pics.... go on, show her off.

[power]

i cleaned my engine bay the other week with some gunk oil remover, worked okay but didn't get that gleam i was lookin 4! so went at it again with some high temp. engine paint! looks brand new! just dont get carried away with the can of spray!make sure all the plastics,wiring etc. are well masked

[Dragonheart]

it's a great feeling of satisfaction standing back and admiring the gleaming beast afterwards... almost makes up for the backache.

I was going to make a comment there myself about that but seeing as you were so kind not to I wont.
I'll try and get a pic of it up, before the dust clouds come and make a mess of all my lovely work.

Was thinking of using petrol all right, but was afraid that a too high solution of petrol would damage the paintwork. I was also told parafin oil, but again didnt want to use for the same reason. But if its ok then I'll be using it next time.

[Dragonheart]

wat will you use to clean the engine bay. thinking of doing it myself

Just used some hot water and 'mild green fairy liquid!'. But to my disappointment, it didnt turn out too great to be honest, it'll do though, I wasnt really in the mood for it tonight, I have a headache, (now where have I heard that before....?), but the engine bay isnt really my priority. But when I see the likes of cj's and I think its mcgon1979 who has a spotless clean bay too, mine looks filthy. So I'll just keep the lid closed I think.

[paul2508]

wat will you use to clean the engine bay. thinking of doing it myself

Just used some hot water and 'mild green fairy liquid!'. But to my disappointment, it didnt turn out too great to be honest, it'll do though, I wasnt really in the mood for it tonight, I have a headache, (now where have I heard that before....?), but the engine bay isnt really my priority. But when I see the likes of cj's and I think its mcgon1979 who has a spotless clean bay too, mine looks filthy. So I'll just keep the lid closed I think.

im the same. i dont be bothered with the engine bay but when you see others you think, jesus i have to busy under the hood.

[MY-JAP-MISTRESS]

for the engine bay i just used a power washer with the temp up full then took her a 20mile drive to dry her out fully. then got to work with some autogleam polish and autosol on the alloy bits... the best results to get dirt and contaminents out of your exterior paintwork is deffo claybar. you can get a meguires set with a good micro fiber cloath and carnuba wax for £20 or so. results are amazing

[Dragonheart]

How about some pics.... go on, show her off.

There you go. The pics dont look great, taken in the work car park at 8 in the morning, and quickly so no-one would see me. Plus the writing on the tyres isnt totally done yet so its not up to my full standard yet.

[Bernard]

She's looking fab. Good job!

[CJ]

She's looking fab. Good job!

Agreed, very clean machine. The only change I would to the car is to remove the black strips on the door edges - would make for a more streamlined look.

CJ

[Dragonheart]

Cheers lads.
Was considering taking the edges off cause they do look pretty obvious on the car, dont know if they're vital for protecting the edges though or not so didnt want to do it yet.

[colm_mcm]

those strips are only useful if the person opening the door doesn't care about the car.

you've just gotta be more picky about who you let in the car!

[Dragonheart]

Well I have had people closing the door using the glass when they get out, or using the glass as a support when pulling themselves out of the seats! They dont seem to realise its bloody glass and can break! Some people are just naturally disrespectful and careless and slamming doors would be nothing to them so maybe the strips shuld stay on a while till they learn manners.

[Myfeckin FTO]

Nice FTO DH - looks in great nick - really like those rims.
I took the door strips off my last FTO as soon as I got it. You won't regret it - it really cleans up the look. Also took off the wind deflectors around the top of door, delocked boot etc - its amazing the look you can acheive by just cleaning up the lines on the FTO.

BTW - I wouldn't bother with the tyre wall stenciling - its a bit dukes of hazzard.

[Dragonheart]

Thanks MF. Is it hard to delock the boot? Seeing as theres the pull handle inside anyway I rarely use the key for it, presume a spray job is needed for the full boot panel after filling though is it? Was thinking of removing the deflectors too but was worried about water getting in cause of the frameless doors, they do tend to fade to a dark grey colour instead of the black they're meant to be.

[Myfeckin FTO]

Thanks MF. Is it hard to delock the boot? ....

Well its best left to the next time you have the FTO in the bodyshop but its not a big job - remove the lock and weld a coin sized piece of metal inside the lock on the lid - fill the small hole and blend in the colour to match on the bootlid - shouldn't need to spray the entire lid.


End result -
http://www.fto-ireland.com/forum/phpBB2 ... pic_id=494

[Dragonheart]

Sweet.
The fact the car is white makes the lock stick out a bit on the back all right. Its def one for my future works I think.

[Dragonheart]

Actually, that reminds me, whats the best way to polish up a stainless steel exhaust, cause it turns out my exhaust isnt so stainless after all! Tried it for the Limerick meet and got a lot of crap off it with the help of a screwdriver but didnt want to go too much cause it would only put marks on the metal but cant seem to budge it. Is petrol my pal here too?

[colm_mcm]

petrol on an exhaust doesn't sound too clever.

[Myfeckin FTO]

Actually, that reminds me, whats the best way to polish up a stainless steel exhaust, cause it turns out my exhaust isnt so stainless after all! Tried it for the Limerick meet and got a lot of crap off it with the help of a screwdriver but didnt want to go too much cause it would only put marks on the metal but cant seem to budge it. Is petrol my pal here too?

I use AutoGlym and TCut metal polish - great for a stainless steel exhaust and as a peely headlight fix. Don't use it on your paintwork or laquered alloys though.

[ftolam13]

Good job!

[colm_mcm]

I use AutoGlym and TCut metal polish - great for a stainless steel exhaust and as a peely headlight fix. Don't use it on your paintwork or laquered alloys though.

Used this on my backbox today, what a difference! along with my now quieter exhaust, a fill of petrol and a hoovering, it's been a good day for a certain blue FTO!