Project Restoration: 1995 F355 Berlinetta

I'm not sure why there are 'secrets' on a how-to thread that is as basic as it comes....
this is simple process that any one can do.

I stripped all the plastic parts from my interior last winter (dash,console and doors), including the switches and the rear window outer moulding.

The cleaner I used:
Easy Off Heavy Duty Oven cleaner (in the yellow spray bottle) for all the parts except the electric switches....those I used a rag and 70 % rubbing alcohol.
DONOT take apart your switches.....it is not necessary (unless you like chasing little plastic clips and then having fun trying to reinstall them).....just take the rag and rubbing alcohol and wipe the 'goo' off.

For the finish I used : Automotive grade paint called Dupli-Color Acrylic Enamel in flat black....it has just the right sheen (not quite flat black) to match the original oem finish.
All the parts came out looking brand new. And best of all.....the 'sticky' is gone for ever.

 

I took the LH header out this week I know its not like a perfect restoration but I had it re piped at meineke like the other side from last year. LOL

Also the photo may be useful for people chasing vapor lines or fuel issues of the inner quarter configuration.

I also installed a new boot over the inner cv joint as an extra layer of protection it fits great.
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And DR bob I enjoy your posts I also wanted to let you know a solution for those who have test pipes and need to keep the SDL codes away.

I have used the TC probe from the bypass pipe and tied the valve open (Y PIPE STILL CONTAINS CATS). Then I jump the signal wire from this TC to the two CAT ECUS L AND R. This keeps 1445 and 1449 cleared. 1448 is not flagged since I plug in one of the un used TC and leave it tied off to the side.

 

I keep up with checking the site...don't post much as 1) I don't have the capacity to get caught up in the frequent drama and 2) I haven't had the time/facilities to do much with my car so I feel like I don't have much to add (building an outbuilding next year which will allow me to spend more time with the car).

As a casual observer I haven't read every single post, but my assumption was that Dave was refraining from passing the details as he didn't want to inflict any any harm on those who do this for a living. Am I right? Maybe not, but who knows. All I know is that I do not know enough to assume. I spent the past four years living in southern Asia (Kuala Lumpur) and recently moved back to the US this past spring. Lots of time traveling India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Have a close friend in Vietnam that I met along the way...he works 12 hour days 7 days a week selling seafood and makes less than $100 month. He views us like we view billionaires. Every day I wake up and am amazed, and humbled, that my childhood dream is sitting in my garage. I think we probably all feel this way amd just need to rember that with every single post. When we get past our online personas, every single "meeting face to face" story is a wonderful experience that is often shared here. We need to tell more of those stories.

 

As far as the stripper , any auto parts store or auto psint supply store sells a stripper specially designed to remove paint from plastic parts without damaging the plastic , mainly used for removing paint from plastic car bumpers . That product should give good results for stripping . Its certainly no " secret "

Its not like SNM invented some solution , stripping and refinishing was done long before SNM .they cater to peolple who have bucks and couldnt be bothered to diy. Seems like this whole discussion is blown a little out of proportion
" serenity now "

 

Matt, nice reminder of what is really important. Remember that we are luckier than we realize. Bottom line we are all car enthusiast's. Enjoy the ride.

 

John, when have you seen things on here get blown out of proportion?

 

+1M

 

Well, this thread got derailed.

The stripping of the parts was the Ultra Sonic Cleaner.

Paint / texture is just trial and error to find the primer / paint combo. It would have been nice to see what the final result was for Dave...but hey. No big deal.

Seems like a lot of angst over a pretty well known process...but whatever.

 

+1

 

Another tempest in a teapot.

 

Did you ever buy the small Ultra Sonic Cleaner you posted the link for?

 

Dave. Take a flying leap!!!

 

AFAIK the strippers for bumper and other plastic parts are definitely not recommended for rigid plastics, as used for interior parts. I've looked at a few and they all say in bold print, "Do not use this product on rigid plastics". They are typically intended for use on urethane plastics.

 

What are you nuts? BEFORE Christmas? No way....after Christmas and I cry "no one got me cool stuff after all I did for them".

I'll have it here before new years eve Hopefully on sale!

 

Wow. That's about all I can say.

Second personal attack on DRBob.

Attack on the owner of the place.

All over a can of paint! Awesome.

Cat pictures soon?

 

Give it to your wife as a Christmas present and tell her it is for her to clean her jewelry, just don't let her see all your sticky interior parts in it.

 

Oh grasshopper. I buy a big ultra sonic tank like that for her...and you know the first question out her mouth will be "so where's the jewelery"

I'll wait.

We off topic enough now?

 

Never read the fine print , but just used it 2 days ago on a plastic part that clearly had " abs " molded in it , didn't harm the part in any way . Disclaimer , dont try this at home . Lol
I dont the stripping is the hard part , theres lots of them out there , gentle ones like citrastip , and so on , i think weve even had good results from simple wax and grease remover . Hardly some trade secret .

" serenity now "

 

Lol. , thats funny , ummm , almost every day


" serenity now "