lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

[bxd20]

Hello.

I inherited a 1978 Olds Delta 88 that has 110,000 miles, from my uncle. It's lived 99% of its life in the garage, it only came out on sunny days. Body and even frame are rust free.

The paint isn't bad, but it's a bit dull. I've seen cars from the 1970s that are almost as glossy as today's clear coat cars, and this Olds is nowhere near that.

I have used a lot of different Meguiar's products over the years on my other 3 cars, clear coat cars, with great results.

I tried a few small sample areas on the 1978 Olds with these Meguiar's products, using one product per spot:

205
105
#7 Glaze
Cleaner Wax
Carnauba

Most of them I did hand application, but some I tried as well with my low power Ryobi 18V random orbital. Didn't like the results of any of them, the cutting compounds especially seemed to leave the paint even chalkier and duller looking than before. I was expecting at least one of these to really bring out the shine.

Where should I start product wise after a good wash and clay?? I guess I'm inexperienced outside of clear coats.

Thanks!!

[The Guz]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Check out this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS4jfCWsqT0&t=1920s

Also that Ryobi tool is not doing much for you either. It is often deemed as a wax spreader.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Thank you Guz!

I watched the video and was inspired to give the #7 another shot. Went outside and did the whole hood by hand. It does look better. Perhaps applying it thicker and rubbing it in longer is the trick.

Maybe a second round tomorrow. I was chicken to leave it on overnight.

After the 7, I’m supposed to protect it. Any reason the Meguiars Carnauba is not a good choice?

[lopezi]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Oh, wow....my first car was a '79 Olds Delta 88. It be interesting to see pics of how yours turns out after your detailing endeavors.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

The spots where I used 105 still look chalky, white, even after heavy application of #7. I know I didn’t take too much paint off because 105 was applied with light pressure. How do I get this residue off? I tried washing with car wash soap.

[Nick Winn]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Thank you Guz!

I watched the video and was inspired to give the #7 another shot. Went outside and did the whole hood by hand. It does look better. Perhaps applying it thicker and rubbing it in longer is the trick.

Maybe a second round tomorrow. I was chicken to leave it on overnight.

After the 7, I’m supposed to protect it. Any reason the Meguiars Carnauba is not a good choice?

One of our carnauba waxes are perfectly adequate for protection. If you are going for the #7 technique described in above video, I would repeat the #7 application a few times prior to waxing.

The spots where I used 105 still look chalky, white, even after heavy application of #7. I know I didn’t take too much paint off because 105 was applied with light pressure. How do I get this residue off? I tried washing with car wash soap.

A re-application of 105 or even a milder product like 205 should remove remaining residue. You could also try glass cleaner or diluted isopropl alcohol but there is some risk of staining using chemicals on the paint you are working on.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

I’m still struggling with the “damage” caused by the 105/205. It looks chalky and disgusting. I’ve washed it numerous times, used spray detailer, applied #7 a few times including a heavy application that I let sit on the hood for 48 hours (inside my garage of course).

Then I laid down some Meguiars Carnauba and it still looks like this. You can see the chalkiness near by, and at the far end of the hood is the section that never got touched by 205/105. That section looks much better!

Help, please....

Image: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0AM-...North_Royalton

[Nick Winn]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

I’m still struggling with the “damage” caused by the 105/205. It looks chalky and disgusting. I’ve washed it numerous times, used spray detailer, applied #7 a few times including a heavy application that I let sit on the hood for 48 hours (inside my garage of course).

Then I laid down some Meguiars Carnauba and it still looks like this. You can see the chalkiness near by, and at the far end of the hood is the section that never got touched by 205/105. That section looks much better!

Help, please....

Image: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0AM-...North_Royalton

Sorry to hear you are still having trouble. As I mentioned above on 6/16, I really think this will be remedied with a re-application of M105 or even just M205. Work on a clean, cool surface in the shade, and apply in a 1 square foot area at a time if you are working by hand. Best to apply with a clean soft foam applicator pad. Work the product in the small section, hand flat, moderate pressure, for about a minute or so. Wipe off while still wet, ideally a light, wet, translucent film.

Feel free to keep us posted.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

The above post with link shows where I’m at. The hood is still very nasty and chalky despite repeated washing, detailing spray, and LOTS of #7 including one heavy application I let sit on the car for 48 hours inside my garage. Then some Meguiars Carnauba on top too.

Very frustrated. And I’m a little worried about using the 205. Are you certain it won’t make things even worse? Would you recommend hand applying 205 or using my low power Ryobi 18V?

Thank you.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Sorry for the double post. I will give that a shot. Thank you!

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Sorry for slow updates. I’m disabled and getting help to work on the car isn’t always easy so it’s a slow go.

Unfortunately nothing has helped. I tried 105 and 205, separately, by hand, wiping off before dry.
I tried Meguiars Mild Ultimate clay bar.
I tried Meguiars Scratch X.
I tried Meguiars Carnauba.
I tried a warm dish soap wash.
I tried rubbing alcohol in one spot.
This was all by hand.

The hood is still chalky white, much lighter in color than the rest of the cars medium blue.

Any other ideas??? Frustrated after using Meguiars products exclusively on clear coat finishes for over 20 years.

[Nick Winn]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Sorry for slow updates. I’m disabled and getting help to work on the car isn’t always easy so it’s a slow go.

Unfortunately nothing has helped. I tried 105 and 205, separately, by hand, wiping off before dry.
I tried Meguiars Mild Ultimate clay bar.
I tried Meguiars Scratch X.
I tried Meguiars Carnauba.
I tried a warm dish soap wash.
I tried rubbing alcohol in one spot.
This was all by hand.

The hood is still chalky white, much lighter in color than the rest of the cars medium blue.

Any other ideas??? Frustrated after using Meguiars products exclusively on clear coat finishes for over 20 years.

We really need some more pictures in order to provide further assessment. Even the picture you shared back on 8/26 is no longer working so nothing to reference.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Thank you Nick for continuing to help.

The sky is full of clouds today so, hopefully these photos do the job. Trying to post 6 photos here.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0RIUDtD9g9Otc0JuF5Fi5Jjrg

[Nick Winn]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Ok so I have uploaded the pictures for you below into our in-forum gallery & posted them into your thread.

The paint on this vehicle is extremely dry, almost beyond repair. This first and foremost is the reason you are having such issues with anything you put on it. We also think it may have been repainted, due to the characteristics it is displaying. With that said, if you did want to try to improve the finish, as you have mentioned previously, #7 Show Car Glaze was working the best, this is exactly what we would recommend, keeping applying #7 Show Car Glaze, by hand, work it in, wipe it off, let it sit, whatever you would like. It is going to take a lot. Think applying lotion to severely dry skin, it takes repeated applications over time. Next, we would suggest using our M105 Ultra Cut Compound on a Dual Action Polisher Machine, applied with our D/A Microfiber Finishing Disc. I understand this is not something you have, however, applying products by hand has limited results, especially for a unique situation like this. It's going to take a machine.

[bxd20]

Re: lost on where to start with 1978 Olds Delta 88

Thanks Nick.

I’ve read some good things about silicone oils. Would those nourish my dry paint well? Are they compatible with #7? What percentage of #7 is silicone?

If I lay down silicone, can I then protect it with Meguiars Carnauba or other wax?