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MGB Detailing the MGB, March '05 edition

A

aerog

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It's been raining this week so I took advantage of some time off to get the MGB ready for the first show (for me) of the year in a couple of weeks.

I've tried a couple of new things this time 'round and I'm really happy with the results. I won't say right away what I used, but so far everything for the exterior and engine compartment is off the shelf from walmart. I took these this afternoon, the car is about 90% ready I think:

mgb0305-1.jpg


mgb0305-2.jpg


mgb0305-3.jpg


mgb0305-4.jpg


mgb0305-5.jpg


mgb0305-6.jpg
 
Great work - the car looks glorious! I really love the bumpers painted to match body color. You've got me thinking about mine - 76 Damask Red. What treatment did you give the bumpers before painting? Mine is a recent acquisition, and I haven't even gotten to start my resto yet! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif
Best of luck at the show!
 
wow... looks like a new car... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
 
Such a sweet car aerog. You've worked hard on her and it shows!
 
Your trunk has nicer paint than my entire car! Great job. James
 
WOW, i really like how you painted over that ugly black bumper so that it matched the car. It really improves the flow of the image of the car. Good luck on the shows!
 
OK Scott,

I just cannot stand it any longer. WHAT DID YOU USE?!?!? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif Especially want to know how you got the engine looking so spiffy.

Good luck at the show, let us know how you did, and post pix.

Safety Fast,

78MGB /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif
 
Very, Very nice. I can't wait 'til I get mine painted. I plan to detail mine to the extreme! lol!
 
Very inspiring post, Scott!

OK, everyone...now we know what to shoot for!

Thanks for sharing!

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Looking at that car makes me want to go home and kick mine...

I give up...what's the plastic bottle next to the radiator bulkhead? My first thought was overflow tank - but the overflow hose doesn't appear to be headed in that direction...
 
It's an overflow tank. The tap is at the bottom (bottom left in reference to the front of the car) and loops up to the top of the radiator.

I'll have more info on the rest of the car (and better pictures I hope) when I go back out to work on it, maybe Sunday or Monday. In the meantime, a couple more:

A different view of the fender. The tires aren't quite that "wet" looking (I'll explain that in the final pictures too):
mgb0305-7.jpg



Instrument panel, etc; took several days of occasional work to get the instruments to where I wanted them. The silver on the bezels around the glass always looked dull and like someone used a brush to paint them up, so I pulled all the instruments thinking I'd paint the bezels white or silver. Turns out they were just really dirty and old. I used "never dull" wadding all around the outsides to brighten them up, then 1000-grit sandpaper to "polish" the front edge of them (and slightly inside the bezels). Then waxed them and buffed them shiny. While I had them apart I also cleaned the glass in the instruments really well, inside and out, and blew any dust/dirt off the faces.

The speedmeter always looked dingy to me, I figured the numbers had yellowed. Turned out the "glass" was some kind of plastic and it had browned over the years so I made a new glass piece (only to find I can order a new one from VB for about $8, oh well). The new one is cut from a piece of acrylic photograph frame, cut on a band-saw to fit. I polished it up with some plastic polish then buffed it lightly with an anti-static cloth before reinstalling. The panel looks like new now:

mgb0305-8.jpg
 
Thanks, Scott. The 77 is sitting through some beautiful days with DPO fiddly things. I really needed inspiration like this.

I have seen fiberglass bumpers online, is that what you did or did you paint the polyurethane?
 
Those are the original "black" bumpers sanded and prepped. The paint is a little over 10 years old and is holding up pretty well, but I kind of expect they'll need to be redone in a few years.
 
A little more of the front, just about finished I think (details to follow). With my luck it'll rain for the show though :rolleyes

mgb0305-18.jpg


mgb0305-21.jpg


mgb0305-23.jpg


...so here's what I did this time. I actually cut some corners because the car was basically clean, even after my trips last year (I hadn't washed it since the end of October last year). All work was done by hand, no polishing machines were used, etc:
<ul type="square">[*]Washed with Meguiar's NXT car wash (including engine compartment)[*]Rinsed with a Mr Clean spot-free wash system filtered-water attachment (including engine compartment)[*]Dried larger areas with a California Water Blade then wiped down some of the other areas with a large 100% cotton towel[*]After a couple of days I went over the whole car with Meguiars NXT Paste (very thin coat with a foam applicator), let it set up about 20 minutes then wiped with a microfiber cloth - I used the NXT on the luggage rack, mirrors, wheels, windshield frame, headlights, chrome, tail-lights, trunk interior, underside of the hood, and painted areas in the engine compartment (including the radiator, etc)[*]2 days later I went over the whole process again but only on the painted exterior surfaces[*]The car sat for a week then I went over it with a quick coat of Pinnacle Souveran paste wax - goes on with a foam applicator like butter and you wipe it off "wet" - I used an MF towel again for removal. Entire car (exterior) takes about 30 minutes[*]The car sat again for several days then I decided to go over it again with another coat of Pinnacle Souveran. There is some debate as to how effective a 2nd coat is, if at all, but I thought I'd try it - the pictures here are the result[*]The seats were cleaned with vinyl seat cleaner (VinylX I think) and a small soft brush to scrub into the "grain", wiped clean with clean terry cloths.[*]After drying I went over the seats with Zaino Z10 "Leather In A Bottle" (there are a few products on the market that look, feel, and smell identical to Z10 by the way).[*]The dash, door caps, door vinyl, plastic console, and center armrest were all wiped down with Z10[*]The carpets were vacuum with a small hand-held vacuum with a beater-brush, then rolled with a "lint remover"[*]The tires were gone over with Meguiars NXT Protectant then wiped down with sponge and clean cloth to give them a slightly-wet but not drippy look[/list]

When I shot the first set of pictures I'd used just Meguiars NXT products. I'm not sure if I'll invest the $$$ into Pinnacle Souveran again. The stuff looks fantastic but it costs an arm and a leg and I'm not sure it's truly worth it for me.

That's it for now - until I get a chance to finish up the back of the car and get it out in the sun after the rain subsides this week maybe.
 
Hey Scott,

In looking at your latest pix, I think you missed a spot! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif SORRY, I just could not resist. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

Your MGB looks fantastic and I really appreciate you sharing it and how you got it to look so great with us.
 
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