My '93 GTS Turbo

[mikey2]

Well, after a couple of years i am back in the saddle! it feels good!
the car is gonna be good, its not right now, but it will be!
The paintowrk is my mission at the moment, its in a right state, god knows when it was last polished!
Its taken me nearly 3 hours to do the bonnet and one wing!
Gonna be a while me thinks before its clean!

[mikey2]

After a bit of elbow grease!










Theres plenty more to do too! anyone wanna help? lol

[mikey2]

These are a couple of before pictures!

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

What are you using on it ? It about time someone posted up about some detailing and restoration !!!

[mikey2]

well, starting with tcut, then claying it, then 3 stage meguiars.
Well, 2 stage, the 3rd being ultra deep shine.
The door hasnt come up as i hoped it would, but i am gonna go and get some colour magic and see if that helps.

Its a hell of a lot of effort too! its really in a bad way.

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

well, starting with tcut, then claying it, then 3 stage meguiars.
Well, 2 stage, the 3rd being ultra deep shine.
The door hasnt come up as i hoped it would, but i am gonna go and get some colour magic and see if that helps.

Its a hell of a lot of effort too! its really in a bad way.

Not been polished for a few years then !! Are you using a machine polisher ?

[mikey2]

i have a buffer that i was using for the tcut, but it wasnt up to the job, i can do it better by hand, annoyingly!
I dont think its been polished for a long time, i was very surprised how clean the paint was, not even any swirls in the bonnet or wings!

[TubbyTwo]

T-Cut, there's your problem. Might as well sand paper your paint.

Get over onto detailingworld and ask them to recomend some stuff to bring the car up like a mirror.

Far better products out there than n00b-cut and meguires.

easier to work as well.

[mikey2]

T-Cut, there's your problem. Might as well sand paper your paint.

Get over onto detailingworld and ask them to recomend some stuff to bring the car up like a mirror.

Far better products out there than n00b-cut and meguires.

easier to work as well.

The problem is that it hasnt been washed in god knows how long, if you see the pics, you will notice that it comes up ok.

Also i agree, there is better stuff out there, just like there are better cars than MR2's and Leons, doesnt mean i am gonna go and spend loads of cash on it! I have what i have and i am using what i have, the results are good, and they are happening.

[TubbyTwo]

Have you got a clay bar?

that would work wonders i reckon! Highly recomend pooboys black hole.

[mikey2]

Claying it is one of the steps in the ladder to success!!
I am cutting it, claying, then 3 stage polish, now i have colour magic so will be the next step.

[mikey2]

Right, been out again today, and am fed up with it now, and i am only half done!
Some more pics for you all that are interested:









Now the before and after pic!:

before


After!!



Things are going ok, you can see on the roof how bad it is/was, the roof and a few of the panels are quite bad and wont come up as nice i dont suppose, i might look at replacing them in the future!

[mikey2]

i have a turbo now, i will supply pics f th eold and new as i get there today!

[mikey2]

well, the turbo is seized, not sure whats caused it, anyone any ideas?
I didnt want to take the oil feed pipe off but i think i am going to have to so i can see if its blocked.

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

i have a buffer that i was using for the tcut, but it wasnt up to the job, i can do it better by hand, annoyingly!
I dont think its been polished for a long time, i was very surprised how clean the paint was, not even any swirls in the bonnet or wings!

Wicked ! I love buffing up some paintwork thats not been shiny for years !!!

When i bought my first hot hatch . . .Mk 2 Golf Gti about 10 years ago now.... the red paint had all bloomed to almost white in places. Knowing enough at this point about paint work i managed to get 700 quid knocked of the price because i told them it needed a respray...... I perservered and used T-cut Colourfast as soon as i got it home......the results were amazing and actually made the paint work like new !!!

Go with what you have got mate but do have a look at detailing world as it is very interesting to see what people do and how people correct stone chips etc . .. . most of the stuff on there i would never have the balls to try my self !!

I highly rate meguires stuff and have a cupboard full that i use on mine..... i have to recomend Meguires mirror glaze No 16. It about 20 quid off ebay for a big tin. it will last you a life time and when you are happy with the paint work make this the last thing you apply

Im loving the before and after pics it makes me wanna get my hands on it !!!!! Im a polishing freak . . .. if its dull i need to polish it !!!


Mike

[mikey2]

If ya really that keen, you can come help me!

This turbo is being a B*tch, i still havent got the old one off yet, and been at it nearly 5 hours! IT still has a standard cat, never touched, so all the bolts are rusty and are rounding off! But, i am at a point now where all i have to do is release the oil feed and return, undo the bolt that holds the return pipe to the block, and lift the tubo and kick the cr*p outta the cat for being such a pain!
Incidentally, i found the turbine wheel lodged in the inlet for the cat, so no wonder it was really sluggish!
I am pretty sure thats why its seized too.

[mikey2]

Tis done! finally. All went back together quicker than taking the original cat off!
It seems to be working ok, i havent taken it very far, and i am gonna be very careful with it as am paranoid about the turbo popping again!
The only thing that concerns me is the brace under the turbo, the one off mine doesnt fit the 20b, is it gonna cause huge issues??

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

Im always up for cleaning and waxing 2's . . . .shame your too far away

[mikey2]

i know mate, tis a shame! i am nearly there though, only got the bumpers, one half and half a door to do! will get there soon!

[Mike 'MR2' McHugh]

What wheels are they out of interest ?