Red Mustang Vert

[A=F/M]

Hi everyone!



I have a 2000 Red Mustang Convertible that I want to restore to showroom quality. I have been reading this website for the last week. I need to know how much work I have before me and what techniques/ products would work best. I`ve never detailed a car before (honestly, I`ve never even washed one).



So, here are some pics of my car.

[Eliot Ness]

.........I have a 2000 Red Mustang Convertible that I want to restore to showroom quality. I have been reading this website for the last week. I need to know how much work I have before me and what techniques/ products would work best. I`ve never detailed a car before (honestly, I`ve never even washed one).........

:welcome to Autopia A=F/M!



Unfortunately to answer your question is impossible w/o typing almost a books worth of information. What you need to do is take small steps and gradually get your feet wet as you learn. You`re not going to be able to to a restoration in one weekend anyway. You need to start reading the forums and then ask more specific questions. Below is a link to some how-to guides to get you started. The first and easiest thing to do is give your car a good wash so that`s where I`d start reading:



Guide to Detailing - Autopia.org

[A=F/M]

:welcome to Autopia A=F/M!



Unfortunately to answer your question is impossible w/o typing almost a books worth of information. What you need to do is take small steps and gradually get your feet wet as you learn. You`re not going to be able to to a restoration in one weekend anyway. You need to start reading the forums and then ask more specific questions. Below is a link to some how-to guides to get you started. The first and easiest thing to do is give your car a good wash so that`s where I`d start reading:



Guide to Detailing - Autopia.org

Hi!



I read most of those articles and, honestly, they seem to be overly promoting Sonus. I`m not sure if that is because it is "the best" or the author/ website has an interest in promoting the brand. Maybe it`s both.



What, I want to know is from the experience of detailers, what would you use on this car that will cost the least and give the best result.



I`m sure that restoring the car to showroom condition will take time. I do, however, want to complete the restoration by around next weekend. I could always just walk into an auto detailing store and just get a bunch of stuff that they recommend, but then I might be getting equipment I don`t need or paying more than I should for it.



So, some of my specific questions are:



1) What should be the order of detailing this car? Wash, Clay, Touch up Paint, Sand, Polish, Wax/Sealant? Is that the right order?



2) Should I polish this car? If so, what level of polish does it need?



3) If I do polish the car, where can I rent a PC orbital buffer? Or should I buy used?



4) What kind of wax/sealant is easiest to apply and gives the best short term "shine" for this color?



5) How much should everything I need cost me? Also, how much work is involved?



6) Should I do this myself or higher a professional?

[MarcHarris]

^ +1



too much to explain. for you to do it yourself will probably cost between 200-800 dollars as you`ll have to stock on equipment and such. the final cost will be if you get stuff thats entry level, pretty good, or top notch. remember though: more money spent doesn`t always mean better. start off by researching car washing equipment to include buckets, towels, car wash soap, grit guards, wool mitts, wheel cleaning products, metal cleaners, plastic cleaners. then start researching your sealants and waxes. also need carpet cleaning supplies, all purpose cleaners, engine bay detail supplies, leather/cloth protectants, and if you truly want show room, you`ll need a decent buffer along with various pads, compounds, and polishes. even if you already knew HOW to do everything, it would take a solid 16-40 hours of work, and you still gotta learn.



you`re on the right track being on this forum, and good luck to u! happy researching!

[Joel_MD]

...that I want to restore to showroom quality.

Do you really mean showroom quality? Or do you want as close to showroom quality as possible without a paint job?

[JollyGreenGiant]

That`s a huge amount of information and oodles of different products by different companies. And plenty of people with differentiating opinions on how to go about it.



To do it right and by yourself will be a significant investment depending on just how far you want to go with it.



Here is a nice general information file that a few friends of mine and I got together and compiled that might help. General Detailing FAQ. Most of what I`ll suggest will be expounded upon in this file.



Some of those chips and scratches will take some real know-how and probably require a body shop. The seat I`d take to an upholsterer.



I primarily use megs stuff so that`s just about all I`m qualified to talk about.



On engine cleaning I use APC+ cut 2:1, blown dry, ran to completely dry, and then hit with HyperDressing cut 4:1.



Some of those scratches and since some of them actually look like paint transfer an OTC polish called ScratchX and a DA should fix them up.



On the headlights a cheaper way to work on them would my an OTC polish called PlastX with a foam pad on a machine.



When you get into polishes you`re really getting into personal preference and you`ll just have to try a bunch and find what you like. I can tell you my favorites but we will probably have different preferences and the colors are much different so would be a little moot.



Just a lot will depend on what you like and how far you want to step into it both time wise and financially.



Hope this has helped. Feel free to PM/email

[A=F/M]

Thanks guys!



By "Showroom quality" I want the car to glow and be mostly defect free.



So really what I would like to know then is if I should just give this to a pro to do. How much will it cost me if I let the pro do it?



I can get most of the paint stuff done for free since I know a body shop which would do that for me.

[imported_Dave Holmes]

I second everyone else`s suggestions. There is plenty of good reading and tips in the "How to..." link at the top of the page.

I would say your first step should be just general cleaning. A thorough wash (inside and out), engine bay, and even door jambs. After that, you could start on paint defect removal (polishing). A PC or similar polisher will make the polishing much easier, not to mention faster, than doing it by hand. Pad and polish choices are too numerous to mention, and are also very much a personal preference. Personally, I use the Meguiars Professional line (#83 DACP for moderate swirls and #80 Speed Glaze for minor swirls/general polishing). Megs NXT is a good wax/sealant available just about anywhere.

Has the car been repainted? In the pic with the keyhole, it looks like there are tape lines and a blob around the keyhole. May just be the picture.

I noticed on a Mustang of the same era that I detailed that the headlights had a tint on them. I`m not sure if it was from the factory or not. Something to be aware of. If tinted, I would use a mild plastic polish, and do a test spot first to ensure I wasn`t damaging it.

Just remember when detailing to try the least aggresive method first. And doing a test spot (in an inconspicuous area) with your full procedure (through the end) will save you time in the long run. Doing the entire car and then realizing you didn`t use an aggressive enough polish to remove your defects is not good. A test spot will ensure the procedure your planning on using will get you the results you desire.



Most importantly, have fun.



Dave