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What products do you use for removing swirls and the polishing her up like that? Never mind! If i just read a little bit more. LOL!
Just to elaborate a bit on the polishes I like to use-- I have a lot of confidence in Optimum Hyper Compound, and its stable mate, Hyper Polish. There are some great youtube videos showing how you can use the polish right after the compound without having to clean off the compounding residue. Optimum's Intensive Polish is another great polish with a fine cut. My go-to in general is Jescar's The Last Cut Compounding Glaze. Depending on what pad you're using, The Last Cut can be used as a competent swirl killer (with a microfiber or orange pad), all the way to a finish polish (black pad).
An important tool in this process is a good pad washer! I really balked at the idea of one because of the initial price, until I bit the bullet and got one. Cleaning off the pads as you go makes a world of difference!
I use Opti-Seal as a topper sealant, and usually add P&S Bead Maker eight hours after the Opti Seal has been applied (giving it time to cure). It's a sacrificial topper that smells great and produces an amazing gloss. Bead maker lasts about a month when used on a car that sees bad weather, but if you add it to a weekly wash routine, the gloss and protection barely diminishes.
-Quality microfiber is the other vital ingredient, and I personally use only towels from The Rag Company out of Boise, Idaho. Excellent products and service.
** These are only my personal experiences, and I am not a spokesman for any company**
Hope this helps!
Just to elaborate a bit on the polishes I like to use--
This, this, and all of this. Everything Optimum makes just works SO well. And P&S is quickly becoming one of my go-to companies to buy from. Bead Maker is one of my favorite detailing products, without question. It just works on any surface, and on top of any protection product. Wax, sealant, or coating. I also recently picked up a 16oz bottle of their non-acid "Brake Buster" wheel cleaner, and was so impressed that I bought a gallon of that, too. It doesn't "bleed" red/purple like most iron decon products, but it doesn't matter. It has good cling/dwell time, and it definitely gets wheels clean. At $20 per gallon, it was a no-brainer.
I have had the car for ten days, but I've been reading posts here for over a month in prep for my new arrival. I noticed how much everyone LOVES a question like "Should I remove my body side moldings?" I used the search function on the process, the reasons, the arguments for and against; I then gathered my courage along with the tools mentioned on the already exhaustive threads on how (and why) to remove BSM's. Prior owner had a great wealth of service records, nothing mentioning any respray or touch up of the original DBGM. I took my time, practiced patience and diligence, and Voila! the moldings came off. There was much relief and rejoicing. I didn't think it would make such a BIG difference in appearance for me to remove them, but boy, did the smooth sides make the car look more youthful and aggressive! The moldings came off with no breaks or damage to them, so they are put up on a shelf for safe keeping.
While I was at it, I removed the tail light louvers and applied some very thin chrome trim edge rings around each lens. It seems to pay homage to the C2 tails and is very understated.
The car got a full decon wash and clay, then I did a two-step paint correction and polish. I just need some pleasant weather and we're ready for cruisin'! Here it is at its new home Louvers removed from lights, kept the louvered frame on the plate for now Here's the chrome trim around the lights A close up of the chrome trim, and added plastic screw caps, too Here's the BSM before-- And the new clean look AFTER I finally own a Corvette!!
Where did you get the tail light trim rings? I like that style.
The rimgs were made using chrome panel gap trim that I had bought from Autozone or Advance Auto (I know it was one of those) I'm sure that you can find it on Amazon, too. Remove and clean each tail light lens, then measure the outer diameter of the lens. Next put double sided 3m tape against the tab of the chrome trim, and press it down and around firmly against the lens to hold it there. Then reinstall the lens! A great little DIY that isn't your average louvered taillight mod! I think a roll of this trim is about $15 for 15ft
Hope this helps!
Oh wow, I figured you bought them pre-made! Good job!
I found some similar ones for the C6, but not the C5.
BTW, I removed my BSM's also. Prefer that look.
Thanks
Well, I started with a heat gun from Harbor Freight and gently warmed them up. That was followed by WD-40 sprayed onto the adhesive and sliding some 30lb fishing line behind it to saw away. As I went along, I inserted a plastic trim pry tool (wide blade) and gently pried apart the molding from the car body. That let me spray the WD-40 onto the glue, and lubricated the fishing line a little bit at a time. The combo of spraying WD-40, then sawing and prying gently as I went down the side of the car, rendered the best results. After the moldings were off, I soaked a shop towel in Goof Off and applied the heat again at a good distance, essentially "rolling up" the glue. My forefinger and thumb are still sore, and it's indeed a task you want to devote some time to accomplish.
*By the way--I did not mean to insinuate that those with body side moldings have less attractive Corvettes, I just think that the removal of them looked best for my particular color and personal taste.
My attempt to be unique and add some '60's retro flair isn't for everyone, and that is, happily, why we can each make our Vette "our own". It's hard to find things that haven't already been done, and of course imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! So, if I copy some mods that I see here, know that I do it out of respect!!
Now, where did I put those side pipes and fuzzy dice?
Patience is rewarded with this process. Car looks great. I like the BSM removed on red, yellow and now green cars. Did same on my pewter but it doesn’t pop as well on more muted colors. That being said, clean look is more appealing all around. Great car and color choice.
I have to disagree with just about everyone here. I prefer the body side moulding look. To me a car without them looks like a stripped down "cheap' model. Most comments are " the car looks cleaner without them". I think to make the car look" clean" one should remove the goddy stick-on rear bumper 'corvette' letters that look like a billboard advertisement. Anyway everyone has an opinion, that's mine!.
The rimgs were made using chrome panel gap trim that I had bought from Autozone or Advance Auto (I know it was one of those) I'm sure that you can find it on Amazon, too. Remove and clean each tail light lens, then measure the outer diameter of the lens. Next put double sided 3m tape against the tab of the chrome trim, and press it down and around firmly against the lens to hold it there. Then reinstall the lens! A great little DIY that isn't your average louvered taillight mod! I think a roll of this trim is about $15 for 15ft
Hope this helps!
I found this molding available on Ebay item # 354153514426. Also there in colors. I am gonna try the red chrome, should be interesting.
Everything Optimum makes just works SO well. And P&S is quickly becoming one of my go-to companies to buy from. Bead Maker is one of my favorite detailing products, without question. It just works on any surface, and on top of any protection product. Wax, sealant, or coating. I also recently picked up a 16oz bottle of their non-acid "Brake Buster" wheel cleaner, and was so impressed that I bought a gallon of that, too. It doesn't "bleed" red/purple like most iron decon products, but it doesn't matter. It has good cling/dwell time, and it definitely gets wheels clean. At $20 per gallon, it was a no-brainer.
