What Have You Done to Your Cougar Today?

Wash and brush up, and black polished the black bits. looking good.
If rain holds off might try my first ever attempt at a claybar tonight.

MODS - is this thread worthy of a sticky ?
 
Wash and brush up, and black polished the black bits. looking good.
If rain holds off might try my first ever attempt at a claybar tonight.

MODS - is this thread worthy of a sticky ?

You will be amazed at how much crud will come off when you clay bar your car (even after washing). Just use the clay very lightly when using the application spray, no pressure needed at all.
 
Today I found out my nearside front wheel bearing is starting to fail. I though it was a dry CV joint from the noise, but on jacking it up, there is definitely some excessive movement when rocking the wheel in all directions. Have ordered a completely hub assembly off ebay rather than trying to change the bearing.
 
You will be amazed at how much crud will come off when you clay bar your car (even after washing). Just use the clay very lightly when using the application spray, no pressure needed at all.
Well the rain held off so I tried the claybar last night. The car was washed on Sunday and not moved since so it had one days dirt settle on it. Yes the claybar got dirty but it didn't make as much difference to the finish as I expected. Some pressure was needed to get the tar spots off. Anyway it's done now and finished off with a light polish of Mer.
Taking wheels for refurb today.
 
Yes the claybar got dirty but it didn't make as much difference to the finish as I expected. Some pressure was needed to get the tar spots off.

The claybar will take off all manner of rubbish, but if you've got actual tar blobs on there you need to use something else first to remove the bulk. I strongly recommend a specialist bug/tar remover. I use Megiuars Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover, but even a dab of raw kerosene will work, (hint: that's what Redex is made of...). Make sure you wipe it off quickly.

Be gentle with the clay, use the detailer spray often, and don't allow the bar to "drag". Make sure you keep the bar warm and fold it to present a clean face.

Anyway, I replaced Mako's 3rd brake light mask with a silver one today. I think it looks neater* and can't wait for her Mercury "Flying M" badge to arrive in the next few days...





* Also stops people getting up my backside trying to see what it says...
 
Cheers Steve. :edit: And Alan.

We've got a storm over us at the mo, so the camera is being a bit more literal than it should be about the colours. In normal sunlight, the mask that Alan supplied is exactly the same as the paintwork.

I was all "Hurf-durf want a silver one!" but what he supplied was far closer than I expected. Can't say fairer than that.
 
The claybar will take off all manner of rubbish, but if you've got actual tar blobs on there you need to use something else first to remove the bulk.
Be gentle with the clay, use the detailer spray often, and don't allow the bar to "drag". Make sure you keep the bar warm and fold it to present a clean face.
I learnt a lot about the clay. It was harder than I expected (the clay that is).
I started to use some white spirit to get rid of the tar, but found if I didn't remove it all the clay then spread all over the paint (there isn't an emoticon for FOOL or I'd put it in here lol). That took some getting off, the detailing spray allows it to come back off, or just wiped it off with a rag in the end. I did drag the clay a few times until I got in the habit with the spray, I also found problems round badges and door trims and washer nozzles . . . and I think I should have turned the clay over more to keep it clean.
Next time will be easier . . .

Nice brake light BTW
 
I learnt a lot about the clay. It was harder than I expected (the clay that is).
I started to use some white spirit to get rid of the tar, but found if I didn't remove it all the clay then spread all over the paint (there isn't an emoticon for FOOL or I'd put it in here lol). That took some getting off, the detailing spray allows it to come back off, or just wiped it off with a rag in the end. I did drag the clay a few times until I got in the habit with the spray, I also found problems round badges and door trims and washer nozzles . . . and I think I should have turned the clay over more to keep it clean.
Next time will be easier . . .

No worries - I did exactly the same the first time.

As for the badges, that's one of the reasons I removed "Cougar" and "V6" from mine. I just couldn't get the detailing right without spending half an hour with a cotton bud, and sod that. The washer jets are easier - just pop them out while you're working.


Nice brake light BTW

Thanks! TBH I don't know why I went with a black mask on a silver car in the first place when I had no intention of tinting the rear lights. This looks much better to my eye.
 
Changed my sidelight bulbs...again! My MOT is on Friday morning so I thought functional sidelights might be A Good Idea. The problem I seem to find is that they never seem to last more than a few weeks before dying, although these ones do look fairly better made than a lot I've had, not to mention being a good deal brighter (and 'whiter') than any of their predecessors.
 
The claybar will take off all manner of rubbish, but if you've got actual tar blobs on there you need to use something else first to remove the bulk. I strongly recommend a specialist bug/tar remover. I use Megiuars Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover, but even a dab of raw kerosene will work, (hint: that's what Redex is made of...). Make sure you wipe it off quickly.

Be gentle with the clay, use the detailer spray often, and don't allow the bar to "drag". Make sure you keep the bar warm and fold it to present a clean face.

Anyway, I replaced Mako's 3rd brake light mask with a silver one today. I think it looks neater* and can't wait for her Mercury "Flying M" badge to arrive in the next few days...





* Also stops people getting up my backside trying to see what it says...


....So what does it say?.......:devilish: :LOL:
 
Refitted my freshly painted spoiler.............guess that'll be coming off again then!! 2 inserts now U/S and not 100% on the colour!!!! Grrrrr on a plus note, tis a bloody good paint job, but i reckon he primed it therefore giving it a lighter base.......hmmmmf :-/
 
I learnt a lot about the clay. It was harder than I expected (the clay that is).
I started to use some white spirit to get rid of the tar, but found if I didn't remove it all the clay then spread all over the paint (there isn't an emoticon for FOOL or I'd put it in here lol). That took some getting off, the detailing spray allows it to come back off, or just wiped it off with a rag in the end. I did drag the clay a few times until I got in the habit with the spray, I also found problems round badges and door trims and washer nozzles . . . and I think I should have turned the clay over more to keep it clean.
Next time will be easier . . .

Nice brake light BTW


This is what my coug looked like the last time I clay barred it and gave it a polish:

Coug-CarbonBits005.jpg
 
knackered the inserts on mine tony , ended up getting a mate to bond me some bolts in , then just tightened up with a nut and washer , should hopefully make it ok to remove when necessary :)