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The hard part is done I got it stripped wet sanded and buffed to perfection ...... it actually makes the rest of the car look bad, mostly cause its dirty but the tail lights could definitely use the same treatment, but I have something cooking for them too.
Can you please share details on how you sanded and buffed the plastic part you're working on? Details like, paper grit, and polishing compound.
Thanks,
John
When I've done it on mine I wetsand with 800 grit, 1000 grit, 1500 grit, then 2000 grit. Then I pull out my buffer and use M105 followed by M205 and then some wax. Comes out great every time.
start with rubbing alcohol to strip off the old ones not sure what they are but they arent decals its sort of painted/dyed. The alchohol will take some elbow grease but it will come off leaving a raised print...hence the sanding.
I started with 600 grit in straight lines until the raised sections are gone, up to 1200 followed by 2000. Do yourself a favor and spend more time than you think you need to with the 1200 and 2k grit. It will make the buffing process go a bit faster.
I personally use griots machine polish with a Porter cable 7424. Started with polish 1 and the polish pad made 3 rounds with it, then started up the chain. Probably could have made a few more passes with 1 but it was late and the whole car needs a pass honestly.
I actually found my info on the boards cause I wasnt sure how to remove the original lettering. Wet sanding ive done before. You will find everyone uses something different for the polishing phase like meguires, 3m, sratch x. the important part is using a machine you will not restore the finish doing it by hand....well you could it will take way too much time. I think I spent a little over an hour getting it finished and maybe only 20 on the polishing stage.
First time I hit my car with the machine and polish combo I was shocked at the amount of luster that was restored to.my taillights and filler panel. Multiple years of washing and really takes an in noticed tole on that plastic until it's restored.
Here is somewhat finished result BTW, I think it needs something where the bird used to be. Thinking an arrow head
The Pontiac arrowhead would be nice and different. I was happy when I found my third gen style phoenix in purple, just to have something relevant but unlikely to come across another with the same thing.
Because they are still Firebirds. Firebird Formula, Firebird Trans Am, Firebird Formula Firehawk, Firebird Trans Am Firehawk. They are all Firebirds, just different trim and packages. I think GM wanted to keep the Formula more "stealthy" in appearance, which is one reason many liked that trim as compared to the more flashy Trans Am. Heck, LT1 Formulas had their badge on the bumper and the panel was blank.
I was thinking the early 4th gen formulas actually said Formula on the filler panel maybe I just saw a few custom ones. Gm did a lot of things I dont understand with the 4th gen. I know originally they were all Firebirds, but there seemed be a pretty clear separation between the 2/3 models with the fourth gens.
Because they are still Firebirds. Firebird Formula, Firebird Trans Am, Firebird Formula Firehawk, Firebird Trans Am Firehawk. They are all Firebirds, just different trim and packages. I think GM wanted to keep the Formula more "stealthy" in appearance, which is one reason many liked that trim as compared to the more flashy Trans Am. Heck, LT1 Formulas had their badge on the bumper and the panel was blank.
This. The only thing that hinted that my car was more than a base Firebird was the grid taillights, the dual exhaust, and the Formula decal on the bumper and driver headlight door. Now the only thing it has are the grid taillights since I removed the rest of it, the more people that assume my car is a base 3.4 the better.
Changed the oil, installed a 160 Thermostat, Hawk Hps pads, LS6 valley cover, and new knock sensors and harness this past weekend.
Took a lot longer than necessary due to breaking the opsu (naturally), and having to un-seize the floating pins in the caliper brackets, which explains why she felt so terrible braking. Car feels 10x better now though!
06-14-2017, 08:26 PM
