Preservation of a 68 Camaro

[cook_dw]

Decided to take advantage of some downtime at the house and work on removing heavy spray-bomb off the firewall area.  I did not get very far in the 4 hours I spent but I think there is some noticeable improvements.  A concoction of lacquer thinner, xylene and some blue Scotchbrite pads allowed me to work the area without going too far (for the most part) without getting into the original firewall finish.  And sorry Tim if my humor missed the mark on the Montana/manifesto remarks..   


Photo 245 - The before shot of the worked area

Photos 246 - 248 - After some removal and hydration with #7

[cook_dw]

Photo 249 - Original voltage regulator before clean up.  I used lacquer cleaner  to remove overspray and then polished original finish back to a shine or to the best it could be.

[cook_dw]

Photo 250 - 252 - Finished product

[Z282NV]

What a great job you are doing. I must admit if I was doing this it would be difficult for me to hold back and refinish some of these parts.
I am assuming you are replacing some of the rubber parts and gaskets etc if they are cracked, torn or degraded.

[cook_dw]

Thank you.  Yes unfortunately there will be some items that will have to be replaced. 

[cook_dw]

Haven't updated this thread in a little while.  Frankly just been busy with life and other projects and selling parts.  I did start polishing the windshield and back glass trim.

Photo 353 - 354- Before starting the polishing process. 

[cook_dw]

Photo 354 - Mid progress of lower windshield trim.  I use an 8" (2 actually butted together) stitched cotton polishing wheels on a pedestal mounted bench grinder along with green polishing compound.

[cook_dw]

Photo 355 - 356 - 1 step of the polishing is now complete.

[cook_dw]

Photo 357 - All trim now done with step one of polishing.  Next will be evaluating any shadowing, dings and remaining scratches and moving to a final polishing compound on the buffing wheel and I will finalize it with some hand applied of Wenol paste polish.

[FRANKTHECRANK]

Great thread. I have obviously seen many "restorations" and "modifications" when talking about working on old Camaros, (or any old vehicle or item)...but now I have heard of, and am a fan of "Preservations".

[cook_dw]

Thanks.


Small update.

Photos 357 - 358 - Before comparison on the left side and the right side after applying some citrus cleaner allowing it to soak before removal.

[cook_dw]

359 - 361 - after some additional cleaning but before Meguiar's #7 application

[cook_dw]

362 - 364 -#7 applied

[cook_dw]

365 - 367 - #7 continued.  Still a lot of cleaning to go but baby steps in the process.

[cook_dw]

Slowly chipping away on the firewall as well..  This has been the worst and hardest process to deal with.  Removal of overspray without damaging the original finish.  I have been working with everything from Xylene to lacquer thinner to just citrus degreaser to wet sanding to blue and green Scotchbrite pads to rags.  I have even busted out the razor blade and had some success with that method as well.  I have ordered some plastic razor blades which should be here before Christmas so I hope to have plenty to work on while on my break and hopefully have some decent updates for the thread.

Photo 368 - Firewall as found

Photo 369 - Progress to this point. 

I am struggling with the reality of having bare metal on the firewall due to overspray removal and I might consider air brushing in some black into the bare areas but I am not going to jump into any decisions just yet.  I have time before any thing needs to be done.