matt99's Whip Gets Shined -- PIC Heavy

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So Matt and I switched cars so he can put my tires on for me at work, and in turn I told him I would get his ride looking right. It is the least I can do for all the things he has done for me in helping with my many car issues in the past.

This is his 99 Cobra that he has had since 2002, and has only been on the road for 9 months after sitting a little over 6 years, so it's got it's fair share of built up dirt. In addition, Matt's a tech so dirt and grease is common place.

So far I've got about 2 hrs into the interior and have yet to make a huge dent on it, but I've attached some teaser pics on what I've got on my hands...

Door Panel:


Steering Wheel:


Seat:


Fender:

[BigMack2012Gt]

Can't wait to see the finished result!

[PaxtonShelby]

Good stuff! I just did the same thing for my Dad's CRV while he was in Florida for a month. Holy cow was it a mess - it sits outside year-round and doesn't get much cosmetic lovin'... Looking forward to seeing more pics!

[AutomagicSN98]

That's gonna look great. What are you using to clean the door panels and steering wheel?

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The interior is getting cleaned with Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner diluted about 5:1 and various brushes to work the dirt loose. All the plastics will be dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant and the leather I'll probably lay a little Lexol down on.

Carpet spot cleaned with Tuff Stuff then sprayed with the APC and brushed, then vacuumed with a Bissell Green Machine. I wanted to post the pics but I left my camera at home today, so I'll put them up later.

Windows cleaned with Invisible Glass.

Paint washed with Ajax and clayed with DP Detailing Clay, then buffed with Meguair's M105 Compound and an Orange cutting pad. Probably will go back over it with SSR2 on a white pad and then Collinite 845 wax.

I am almost out of clay just from the hood, so I will probably be working on this over the course of a couple of weeks bringing the paint back to life, and a trip to Autoality will be in the plans for the weekend probably.



This is off of my phone, just a quick pass down the hood and fender and did some nice work on the hazing. I gotta get used to the M105 on a buffer since I'm drying it out too fast, but it's working out well.

[scorpio333]

Have you tried 303 on leather? From my understanding most of the leather now a days has a "plastic" coating over it so things like Lexol or Leatherique never really penetrate down to the leather. 303 is an awesome product, been using it for years on interior and exterior black trim. Never had leather til we picked up out new F150, haven't touched the leather with anything yet. The "leather" door inserts on our 08 Mustang get 303'd and it seems to do just fine.

Teaser pics look great. I've done my father-in-laws truck, he works in a foundry, and getting those door panels cleaned is a real chore.

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Have you tried 303 on leather? From my understanding most of the leather now a days has a "plastic" coating over it so things like Lexol or Leatherique never really penetrate down to the leather. 303 is an awesome product, been using it for years on interior and exterior black trim. Never had leather til we picked up out new F150, haven't touched the leather with anything yet. The "leather" door inserts on our 08 Mustang get 303'd and it seems to do just fine.

Teaser pics look great. I've done my father-in-laws truck, he works in a foundry, and getting those door panels cleaned is a real chore.

303 isn't bad, but I never really got it to work well on leather, but I like it on the plastics and vinyl when I can get it to go on evenly. I usaually spray or wipe the Lexol on and let it set for a while until it's just starting to evaporate, it's gets to almost a gummy look, then I wipe off any excess with a clean microfiber. I did this on the seats of my 03 and it really brought back some softness after the seats being baked in Texas sun for 8 years.

My girlfriend also recommended Neatsfoot Oil, which is what she treats all her saddlery with, but I am just a little leary with using it on car seats where color consistency is important, and I'm sure as hell not going to experiment on my Cobra with it.

[PaxtonShelby]

On the Lexol conditioner - I've seen people spray it on liberally and work it into the leather - then pull a big garbage bag over the seat and let it sit for a day or two. It seemed to really soften up the worn areas and the seat looked much better than it did before. It was much more effective than simply spraying/rubbing/removing the conditioner.

Keep up the good work!!

[ccoyle0103]

Any recomendations on what I should use on my Gt Vert top to bring back the color but not make it peel or crack in the sunlight??

[scorpio333]

303 definitely has a learning curve to it. It can get streaky or spotty and usually takes a second pass to smooth it out. I had a nightmare of a time when I put it on my Undercover lid, oh the rainbows!

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Any recomendations on what I should use on my Gt Vert top to bring back the color but not make it peel or crack in the sunlight??

I have seen a lot of guys recommend Amazing Roll Off for convertible tops, but I have never used it nor have I seen it in used in person.

[ccoyle0103]

I have seen a lot of guys recommend Amazing Roll Off for convertible tops, but I have never used it nor have I seen it in used in person.

Cool...Any idea on where I can get it?

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Cool...Any idea on where I can get it?

Only place I've seen it online, I asked T at Autoality but he doesn't carry it I don't think.

[John4cam]

How about the saddle leather in a king ranch? My seats look like fried cows.

[Silverhatch]

I have two responses, wow, and eww.

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How about the saddle leather in a king ranch? My seats look like fried cows.

I'm betting it would help it out, I know how those seats get really dark from the oil... but being on that color, I would test it in an inconspicuous area first, definitely.

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Forgot my camera again (and my insurance card for my car), but here's a decent shot of the hood. I will have more pics hopefully later.

This is after a pass with M105 on an orange pad and then M205 (Great stuff BTW) on a white pad, before the wax:

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OK here are some more. It was dark when I was done, so not many interior after pics. I will have to snap some before too long:





Bottom half of seat done vs. top not done yet:


Paint I am working with after claybar:


After a pass with Meguiar's M105:


Sun shot after M105 and M205 (I didn't cut the paint too much as you see here there is still small imperfections):


Back of the car with no water beading:


Front of car with gratuitous beading:


Letting the 845 get greasy on there:


Wiped:

[Cam99]

looking good!

[95V6]

Wow, you can borrow mine anytime! Haha

Looks great man.