i'm probably getting a 69 SS396 that is in the final steps of a ground up restoration. i've never owned a car like this so i have never taken the kind of care of my cars like you would want to with a 69 SS like this one. yes, i clean, polish and wax them but i don't worry about what products i use to much. i was just wondering what cleaners and stuff you use and the brands you have found to be the best. i curently use Mcguires polish (the one that comes in the red bottle and is step 2) and mcguires gold class wax.

also, what is the best to use on the weatherstripping?

i'm only 16 and i'm lucky to find a car like this for cheap and i know you guys have a lot of experience at taking care of cars like these and i only want to use the best stuff and not take any short cuts since it has a top of the line paint job, powdercoated frame, ect. this car will be in the garage under a cover and taken out only once in a while.

BTW, any tips on cleaning, polishing, waxing, ect. would be great.

thx.

 

My suggestion would be for you to get a clay bar to go over the car before it is waxed. I've tried a few brands and found that Clay Magic is the best to work with ( in my opinion ). It can be found at Auto Zone for around $10. Have you ever rubbed your car after it was waxed and felt little bumps- well that is stuff like tar, bug guts, etc. that the clay bar will take off. Just follow the directions. No I do not have stock in Clay Magic it just works.
Good luck
Dan

 

zanio = godsend

 

I agree completely with both the above guys.

clay the car. then zaino the car. I havent zainoed my car in about 3-4 months and I can still dry it with the water hose.

 

You may get more responses in the Show and Shine section, so I"ll move it there for ya.

 

Zaino!

 

The prep work is critical to getting the best results.

After 35 years of detailing my cars, Zaino is hands down the best in shine, protection and durability.

 

I'm doing process on 68 in sig.

Dawn wash

POR 15 Marine Wash

Dawn wash

POR 15 Metal Ready

Dawn wash

Zaino clayed

Dawn wash

#7 Rubbing Compound

Dawn wash

3M Perfect-IT II rubbing compound fine cut 39002

Dawn wash

Meguiars Mirror Glaze 9 Swirl remover 2.0

Dawn wash

Meguiars Deep Crystal paint cleaner step 1

Meguiars Deep Crystal polish step 2

Meguiars Deep Crystal wax step 3

Paint is original light blue and heavily oxidized

Still didn't look right so

Dawn wash

Zaino clay

Z-1 polish lok

Z-5 swirl polish

Z-1 polish lok

Z-3 polish regular paint

Z-6 gloss enhancer

need a few more coats of Z-3

Underlying paint is still shot; but the appearance from afar is much better. Getting to be a nice "10 footer".

 

Good store bought "waxes" are Meguiar's Gold Class, Mother's Gold Carnauba, Liquid Glass. Very good products are Zaino, P21S, Klasse, Pinnacle to name a few. You may want to get a copy of The Wax Test www.gurureports.org

 

jim88iroc305, try some of the Zaino car wash instead of Dawn. It's much less harsh on the products you apply before it.

 

I only Dawn before and after the claying, compound and cleaner wax. Used Meguiars car wash for Meguiar process and Zaino car wash for Zaino polish. Car is in Zaino's hands now.

 

where do you get zaino stuff?

 

www.zainostore.com

 

I'm a fan of Meguiar's Clay Bar and Gold Class wax, not to mention most of their other products, too. For the cost, look and feel, and availability on local store shelves, you can't beat it. I haven't used Zaino....yet....but I might one day. For now I'm really happy with the performance of Meguiars.

As far as a weatherstripping dressing, go to a local Chevy dealer and ask for the Silicone Lubricating Compound that is spec'd for the Corvettes. GM actually has a part number for a jar/tube of this stuff with their GM name on it. When I went to my dealer they gave me a jar of Kent K-44, part # 50015. You can use it on ALL your weatherstripping, brake piston boots, your rubber hoses under the hood, and your belts (use a very light amount on belts, you don't want them slipping off). I used it on everything on my SS before it went into storage last year and will do it again this fall. NEVER use plastic shine, like Armor All or other stuff, on your rubber parts, it will dry it out and cause them crack sooner than normal.

 

I like Meguairs stuff and use products from probably 10 different companies. However, the Meguiars Clay Bar is the single worst piece of detailing product I have ever used.

After doing 1/2 of a hood it was falling apart in my hand. I had used Mothers, Clay magic and Zaino which all were fantastic. After talking to Meguiars, they sent me another piece and some Swirl Remover (for free. The Swirl Remover they sent as they asked what they could do for my troubles with the clay). I tried the clay again and got the same results. I have even read on here some people have had clay trouble with Meguiars.