Stored vehicle cleanup

Raymond_B

Raymond_B

Hobbyist
Hi guys, I asked this question a while back, but since this vehicle now runs I wanted to make sure I got the latest recommendations :) Seems like a lot of ya'll use different products now.

Anyway this poor truck has been sitting for 19 years. I've rinsed it off with Dawn and water a few times, but now I'd like to get it clean. It has tons of fine scratches in it and I am unsure on how to get the dirt out of the paint without creating more scratches.

When it first saw the light of day :)

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After the initial rinse. I did try to clean one section with Dawn and water like I mentioned above and then use a soft cloth, but the cloth came back just full of dirt and I felt like I was grinding it back in to the paint.

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I'd probably start with an extra heavy concentration of sudsy car wash mix for getting the heaviest dirt to lift off. Could next use spray foaming glass cleaner such as sprayway or zep commercial & microfiber cloths to lift any remaining dirt if needed. Most detailers like to clay bar things before doing any buffing. Some then start by coating old paint with meguiars #7 glaze & letting soak overnite before buffing.
 
Washed the whole thing with Dawn and rinsed it well. Odd I did get a couple of drops of Dawn (right from the container) on the paint and they made it look cloudy. Anyway washed and rinsed well, then tried a spot with a clay bar, that seemed to work well in getting off the rough feeling crap.

I do not have a buffer or polisher so I ordered this little Chemical Guy's kit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BKT63XM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1), hopefully there's enough product to do the truck, but the bottles seem small. It says to start with the Orange pad and v36. I also bought some Meguires "pure carnuba" paste wax to finish it up. I hope to post pics this weekend.
 
What is a recommended cover? I know breathable is probably a must. Wondering if anyone has experience with something that is decent. I have been wanting to get one for awhile now but haven't pulled the trigger.
 
I got a number of them from California and not the cheapest, but one is 24 years old, and they make to fit.
Key is whatever you buy to make sure it is not waterproof! But rated water-resistant, this means it breaths.
 

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I've been using the $30 grey Budge (rainx now?) covers. Outdoors they last almost 1 yr.
Their expensive $80 10 yr covers also last approx 1 yr here in south FL, and maybe 18 months in NY.
Ray- you're right, when i moved here 16yrs ago i didn't know about covers & cost me base + 2 gallons of clear lol.
I know now. Indoors the cheap ones should last.
 
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