Paint Restoration (lotsa pics)

tclaremont · 07-23-2009, 04:54 PM

I started with a badly weathered 88 Wrangler that looked like this:

I started with 3M Rubbing Compound on a professional buffer. As you can see in the pictures below, it takes off the dead layer of paint. In the pictures that follow, I worked on everything BELOW the pinstripe. I left the area above the pinstripe for comparison.

After wiping off the rubbing compoiund, I followed that up with Meguirs Paint Cleaner. Then Meguirs Paint Polish. Then Good old Turtle Wax. Now, Meguirs makes a wax in the same series as teh cleaner and polish that I used, but to be honest, I like the Turtle Wax better.

Here are the pictures in succession...

This shot is before I touched anything. I just took the door off.

tclaremont · 07-23-2009, 04:55 PM

As you can see, once you own the buffer and the rubbing compound (about $30 a bottle) all it takes is your own labor to bring back a decent look. The total elapsed time between the pictures above was literally about 30 minutes.

The DOWNSIDE is that now the wheels look even worse... and the interior looks even worse....

sstaurus · 07-23-2009, 05:11 PM

Very nice, much better than re-painting. Red always seems to be the worst for sun damage, but cleans up the best.

Nice looking Laredo by the way I'm jealous

**Leans93** · 07-23-2009, 06:39 PM

WOW! That is an amazing difference! Post up some pics of the entire rig when you get it done. Nice Jeep!

tclaremont · 07-23-2009, 06:43 PM

It might be the end of the weekend for more paint pictures. I got the hairbrained idea that I would strip the interior. That took about 18 minutes. Removing seat bolts is much easier on a rust free vehicle, let me tell ya!

dagoober · 07-23-2009, 10:38 PM

I did this to my black jeep and the paint looks great. The small dents I have looks even worse though lol.

Hurley91 · 07-23-2009, 10:41 PM

Hey if you gave that a quick wetsand that would come up amazing. My dad just did it to his black TJ and its like looking in a tinted mirror.

tclaremont · 07-24-2009, 06:10 AM

I did not go so far as to wetsand because I dont know how thick the paint is on jeeps of this vintage. I must say there is more orange peel than I would have expected on a factory paint job, but the 80s were not exactly a high point for quality control.

Since most of the hood is shot, I will wetsand the good parts of the hood and see what happens. I need to repaint that part anyway, so I have nothing to lose.

tclaremont · 07-28-2009, 06:25 AM

Here is a shot after:

Hard top removed
CB removed from roll bar
CB antenna removed
Interior stripped
Seats reinstalled
Seat covers installed
Hard top removed
Doors removed
Paint rubbed out
Wheels painted
Center caps applied
Flares Painted

Not happy with the black flares against the red/brown paint

**grogie** · 07-28-2009, 07:56 AM

Nice restoration!

Piet · 07-28-2009, 10:01 AM

Nice Pictures! Thanks for the post... it shows what a little elbow grease can do!

tclaremont · 08-09-2009, 08:50 PM

After a little more cleaning up, and the installation of the soft top, it looks pretty good. The hood needs to be stripped and painted, but the rest looks pretty good for 200,000 miles. I certainly can't justify the expense of a paint job.

tclaremont · 08-13-2009, 08:56 PM

I really did not care for the wheels, so I picked up another set for cheap. I switched them out today, and turned the raised white letters to the outside. I think it looks better.

Since I had all the wheels off, I put a coat of rustoleum on the frame. The frame is in outstanding condition, so cleaning and painting it was a breeze. Still need to do the differentials.

jeep0867 · 08-14-2009, 06:48 AM

Wow...it's a amazing what a decent set of rims and tires make to the look.....Great job!