Seeing is believing - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

landrovered · 09-23-2011, 11:45 AM

Well I would have easily spent $54 on stuff at Napa so I am good on the part anyway. My only qualm if I even have any is that I would have liked a bit more bite to the polish. There are a few scratches that I will have to go back and compound because the the Z-PC did not get them out. It did do a great job on the swirl marks and holograms though. The blue car has lots of little chips from stones over the years and I will have to find a better technique to fill those in than touch up paint on a brush. Anybody got any tutorials on the best way to make paint chips disappear? These are to the primer.

Perfectlap · 09-23-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landrovered

Well I would have easily spent $54 on stuff at Napa so I am good on the part anyway. My only qualm if I even have any is that I would have liked a bit more bite to the polish. There are a few scratches that I will have to go back and compound because the the Z-PC did not get them out. It did do a great job on the swirl marks and holograms though. The blue car has lots of little chips from stones over the years and I will have to find a better technique to fill those in than touch up paint on a brush. Anybody got any tutorials on the best way to make paint chips disappear? These are to the primer.

NAPA acutally has a pretty good line called DuraGloss. They sell a spray called Aquawax spray that's damn good for the money.

I've seen methods to cover up the chips, usually at the front bumper, that involves using the eraser on a No.2 pencil to blot the paint over the chip.
But first you need really fine 1000 grit type sandpaper, punch out little circles using a hole punch and stick them to the eraser. Then pushing down in a circular motion over the sandchip to create a rough texture for the paint to stick to.

swirl and scratch removal really needs to be done with torque. The Porter Cable 7424 is a must have tool. Best to buy it as part of a detailing kit where they give you the flexible backing plate (comes with rigid) and the correct pads for cutting or polishing. Lots of YoutTube videos out there on the right method to use for deswirling.

AndyA6 · 09-23-2011, 05:54 PM

For detailing go to my fav site

autopia.org

all you need to know and more!

landrovered · 09-23-2011, 06:54 PM

I did use a 10" orbital buffer on the polish phase, I was afraid to use a high speed cutting pad straight out of the gate. I intend to experiment now that I know the polish is pretty benign.

PS: thanks for the compliments on the zeintop, I bought it from Byron here on this board.

Perfectlap · 09-26-2011, 01:49 PM

the key to swirl removal with the orbital is to use the product sparingly.

Please post more pics of that Z-top. Does it squeak or rattle?
After chucking $10+K in tune up and upgrades (I'm keeping the car for a long time) I'm seriously considering trying to hunt one of these down at some point.
I guess price is the issue.

landrovered · 09-26-2011, 02:48 PM

The Zeintop does squeak and rattle a bit but not anything that bothers me too badly. Getting it to fit properly takes a bit of effort but once you have it shimmed right, it is easy to live with. It is fiberglass and you can hear that in the way that sound is reflected offo of the roof in the interior. Also the rubber seals around the windows cause a little wind noise and I don't think it is possible to make it go away but it it is not obnoxious.

I am totally thrilled with it, it has taken my car from ho-hum to bad ass and I really like that. The new look seems more fitting for the 3.6L.

Perfectlap · 09-27-2011, 01:43 PM

I had a squeaky hard top on a previous car too. I used some de-icing spray on any of metal on metal contact points. no more noise and it lasted the winter.

That's a great top. It looks a little weird in some colors but I think yellow and black work well. Too bad I was on vaca when that one guy was selling his for $2K.
some lucky dude got a steal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by landrovered

The Zeintop does squeak and rattle a bit but not anything that bothers me too badly. Getting it to fit properly takes a bit of effort but once you have it shimmed right, it is easy to live with. It is fiberglass and you can hear that in the way that sound is reflected offo of the roof in the interior. Also the rubber seals around the windows cause a little wind noise and I don't think it is possible to make it go away but it it is not obnoxious.

I am totally thrilled with it, it has taken my car from ho-hum to bad ass and I really like that. The new look seems more fitting for the 3.6L.