Spring Clean Up
Maintenance
Whether you've gone through the struggle of a complete restoration or you've got a survivor-type car with original paint, you already know that once you drive your car it's a tough job keeping it looking nice. Maintenance is a big portion of any ongoing classic Ford project, and it seems like the nicer your car is, the more work is needed in keeping things in tiptop form. Let's face it, looking good at cruise night involves much more than just paint and glass. Your car's underhood realm needs to be neat as a pin too. Wheels and tires are also very important to your car's overall appearance and on the classic cars we're working with, chrome is an important consideration as well.
Very often elbow grease is a principal ingredient to success, as anyone who has waxed a whole car by hand can attest to. Even with a power buffer and polisher, it's the effort you put into your clean and detail job that will tell in the end result. Using a power buffer on paint requires some experience and caution, and it's easy to burn through your paintjob on the edges if you're not careful.
One trick we use for serious...
One trick we use for serious cleaning up underhood and underneath the car is a steam cleaner. This beast cleans off the underbody, blasting crud into oblivion and leaving everything squeaky-clean. It's a must for cleaning up after a leaky oil seal or power steering hose. You'll want to be careful because the spray is very powerful and it could lift the paint if you hold the wand too close. You can rent one of these machines for around 50 bucks.
Because these projects are very much a labor of love, many of the enthusiasts we know don't mind spending a few hours on their cars working out the small details by hand. To be certain that all traces of residual wax are removed they will go over panel gaps and doorjambs with an old toothbrush. We've seen folks who clean between their radio-selector buttons with a Q-tip. Indeed there seems to be no limit on what some folks will do to be sure that their ride is looking its best. Some people even steam clean the underbody on their car each spring in order to be certain that any residual oil, road salt, or grime has been eliminated. In fact there are many inexpensive things you can do to prolong the life of your car's paint and body and keep it looking factory fresh.
Let's look at some of the basic procedures needed to keep your classic Ford looking its best. A complete cleanup for your car's exterior has several important steps. If you live in an area where the road is salted and you had to drive your car during the wet weather then you may wish to clean the wheelhouses and underbody before beginning on to the rest of your spring clean up.
There's nothing fancy under...
There's nothing fancy under the hood on this car. Just a blast with the steam cleaner and a complete wipe down with clean rags yielded this result. We covered the distributor with a plastic bag during steam cleaning to avoid soaking the distributor mechanism. Do the same for any sensitive electronics.
Before any washing on the...
Before any washing on the body, the first thing to do is to go around your car and remove the tough stuff such as road tar, yellow line paint, and dead bugs. This No. 7 Brand kerosene-based cleaner is from Cyclo Industries and it will dissolve wax along with the road tar, but the paint will not be harmed.
Don't risk using high-powered...
Don't risk using high-powered solvents on your car's paintjob or you could be sorry. This tar and bug remover is especially made to protect the paint on your car while removing the difficult stuff. As we work our way around the car below the belt line we're amazed at how much stuck-on crud is melted away.
To keep your car clean use...
To keep your car clean use a mild soap made especially for washing cars. This Meguiar's Gold Class concentrate is a good value and only a small amount is required to produce tons of suds.
The reason it's important...
The reason it's important to use a specific car wash soap is because it won't strip the wax off your finish. Dish-washing soap from your kitchen sink will cut the wax on your Mustang just like it cuts the grease off your dishes. Here we add perhaps an ounce or two to our bucket.
With the Meguiar's Gold Class...
With the Meguiar's Gold Class car wash formulated soap we have no problem getting lots of suds. Next, we carefully went over the entire car including bumpers and glass using a clean cloth. Work from the top down and be sure the surface of your paint is cool to the touch (a shade tree or wait for the sun to go behind your house is a good idea). Many people like to use a separate bucket for rinsing the wash mitt, or use a bucket with a raised floor to prevent trapping dirt in the wash mitt.
After a wash job we like to...
After a wash job we like to dry with a real or synthetic chamois like the Absorber shown here. Old terrycloth bath towels also work well but are harder to wring out and carry with you. Some folks swear by an old-fashioned cloth diaper as the only way to go for drying their highly prized cars.
A good coat of wax is essential...
A good coat of wax is essential for optimum paint appearance and longevity. For this job we broke out our trusty can of Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell car wax. A traditional paste wax like this is a good choice and in our opinion is worth the elbow grease required for application. A paste wax is a little more work to apply than a liquid wax. If you'd like to save on some elbow grease, Turtle Wax also offers its Turtle Wax Ice liquid car wax. The liquids are easier to apply than a hard paste wax and your job will go a little faster. Waxing your car with any type of wax will take several hours, so plan accordingly. Complete one part of the car at a time and avoid putting down too much wax before you go back for your wipe down. Try not to work in direct sunlight and be careful with dark colors because they can get hot and the wax can bake on and be difficult to remove.
Nothing looks worse than dried...
Nothing looks worse than dried wax caught up in doorjambs, headlight rings and cowl vents. After polishing off the wax on your job go around the car with an old soft toothbrush to clean any residual material out. You can also find detail brush kits with various tips that work great for wax removal.
Once your wax job is complete...
Once your wax job is complete it's on to the details. You would be amazed at how well some fine steel wool works for cleaning up chrome, emblems, and bright work. We chose this Rhodes American steel wool in a very fine grade (usually listed as #0000) to avoid scratching.
After being washed and cleaned...
After being washed and cleaned up with steel wool, we hit all of our chrome with Turtle Wax paste wax. It works as well on chrome as it does on paint for both great looks and protection.
When it comes to aluminum...
When it comes to aluminum wheels, we've had great luck with this Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish. Our car gets parked near the beach and after a year or two near salt water, the wheels can take on a cloudy coating that looks awful.
We apply a thin layer of the...
We apply a thin layer of the Mothers polish evenly around the whole circumference of the wheel. Then the elbow grease part of the task begins. Work the polish into the rim using small circular motions and moderate pressure.
The instructions say that...
The instructions say that when things begin to turn black you're getting down to the business of aluminum cleaning. Use only disposable cloth here because the black residue will permanently stain the material.
For tire care we like this...
For tire care we like this Eagle One Tire Detailer Gel. We've had good results with all Eagle One stuff and the contoured applicator assures a tidy and slop free application.
Simply set the edge of the...
Simply set the edge of the applicator tip onto the edge of the tire and if the bottle is held at the correct angle the whole sidewall will be coated evenly and completely with no runs.
For our interior care we turn...
For our interior care we turn to Turtle Wax once again. It now offers ICE Total Interior Care in wipes or trigger spray bottle. ICE Total Interior Care cleans and protects almost all interior surfaces eliminating the need for multiple products.
In addition to cleaning and...
In addition to cleaning and restoring plastic and composite interior surfaces the formula will also remove grease, tar, and ink stains. The thick formula clings to interior surfaces and will not leave behind any greasy residue or slick film. A quick application makes our dashpad look like new.
We went over the dash, door...
We went over the dash, door panels, seats, and kick panels with ICE Total Interior care. As you can see, the results look awesome. All that remains now on our interior clean up is a thorough vacuuming.
As you can see, our 15-year-old...
As you can see, our 15-year-old Highland Green repaint looks pretty good after our spring cleanup. Imagine the results you'd get on a new paintjob.
If your car is like our green...
If your car is like our green '69 Sports Roof with some years on the two-stage paintjob, you may be interested in this Turtle Wax Premium Grade Scratch Repair Kit. The kit is an easy to use at-home system to repair or remove scratch damage and other finish imperfections from exterior automotive paint.
This kit features a precision...
This kit features a precision clearcoat pen that offers an easy-to-use solution to repair light scratches. For deeper scratches, the kit can be used in conjunction with touch up paints, making repairs nearly invisible. In many cases, it helps eliminate the need for more expensive professional repair.
The kit provides step-by-step...
The kit provides step-by-step instructions and contains all the essential tools for at-home repair, including a fast drying Clear Coat Pen and a paint clarifying compound to polish and remove scratches. Also included are reusable and tear-resistant restoration pads in 2,400, 3,200, 3,600 and 4,000 grit. They will remove paint surface damage and make the repair as smooth as the original paint. A spray lubricant is included to minimize abrasion and help lubricate the restoration pads. Buff and polish to produce a clear smooth finish. The kit costs only $16.99.