My '64 Overlander Adventure - Page 3

GreatPumpkin · 05-30-2006, 09:05 PM

DIAMOND BRITE

Got a bottle from Lowes. ($14) It was recommended by robandzoe here: http://www.airforums.com/forum...62-post21.html

I've got to say, it takes the gray oxidation right off with little effort, however it does not appear to remove the heavy oxidation or filiform off. Looking at robandzoe's pictures and posts, I must not be using the same technique. I just tried a little right out of the bottle (by hand), following the directions. It worked as well as the met-all that I've been using with a buffer, with much less effort!

I'm going to have to get some input from rob because it appears to work wonders for him.

Anyone remember the old Tarn-X commercials? You just dipped the metal in and instant shine! Why hasn’t anyone come up with a Tarn-X carwash system? I’ve got it! Any venture capitalists out there that wants to invest in my new business? – An Airstream car-wash that sprays Tarn-X instead of water. We’ll make millions, send all your money now to get rich quick on this ground breaking opportunity!

robandzoe · 05-30-2006, 09:26 PM

On my 65, I had to remove the clearcoat first. Then use the magic elixer. I used a ICI / Devoe paints 502-t stripper. Once the clearcoat is off, take some Diamond brite and put a little on your buffer pad. Rub it in to the aluminum a little before hitting it with the electric, then buff a 6x6 area and keep buffing until all the polish is gone. Make sure the buffer is at a low (not high / fast) speed. It works fast. Keep me posted.

Rob

GreatPumpkin · 05-30-2006, 09:30 PM

Thanks, I'll try that method. I don't have a clearcoat on mine, just oxidation!

How many bottles did it take for your Caravel?

robandzoe · 05-30-2006, 09:35 PM

It'll get black, and keep going, in small areas, until the black is drawn into the buffer pad. What type of pad are you using? Polisher?

GreatPumpkin · 06-01-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robandzoe

It'll get black, and keep going, in small areas, until the black is drawn into the buffer pad. What type of pad are you using? Polisher?

Currently most of my polishing has been done using Met-All, by hand! I've also used a 10" car buffer with a terrycloth cover. The Met-All gets rid of the heavy oxidation great, but is definitely not good enough for a mirror finish. The diamond Brite cut through the initial gray oxidation with much less effort than the Met-All, but so far has left about the same finish. I'm waiting on the new bonnets to arrive so I can try it with power equipment

I've ordered a polisher/sander from Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92623 Love their prices, but they are pretty slow in the shipping department.

I do plan on purchasing a cyclo for the final polish and subsequent (yearly?) polishes.

GreatPumpkin · 06-04-2006, 03:31 PM

Help - water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.

I've got leaks - big suprise I know, but I need some advice on how to tackle my window leaks.

Rainstorm today cancelled/postponed my daughters softball tournament (she's undefeated!) so I went out to take a look at the AS and discovered it was leaky even worse than I previously thought. My front and rear window leak very badly - what's the best way to fix that? Do I need to drill out the rivets from the outside and remove it? Install new vulkem and re-install, or is that more extreme than neccesary?The front one is the worst, The drop down rock guard was "fixed" by the P.O. by screwing the top back into the body and putting silicone around the top corners.

That created bigger holes for the water to come thru. Both gutters are somewhate bent - should I remove them and vulkem, or can I fix any these leaks without removal?

Second problem - what is this drain tube and where does it come from? It's got a steady stream of water running down it - the outside, not the inside of the tube.

GreatPumpkin · 06-04-2006, 03:35 PM

Drain tube circled:

GreatPumpkin · 06-05-2006, 10:07 PM

Any ideas, suggestions?

GreatPumpkin · 06-05-2006, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robandzoe

It'll get black, and keep going, in small areas, until the black is drawn into the buffer pad. What type of pad are you using? Polisher?

On a lighter (shinier

) note......
This is using the Diamond Brite and my car buffer (still waiting on Harbor Freight's snail delivery system). I think I figured it out - small amount of polish, small area, go slowwww! I read the polishing threads, but somehow I still managed to turn on the buffer before rubbing the placing it against the AS - I've now got white speckles on me everywhere!

First picture - is that filiform, or just deep corrosion?

Third picture - anyone able to tell me what brand of awning this is/was? Framework is all there and works, but awning is completely gone. What you see is all that remains of the front edge of the awning.

GreatPumpkin · 06-05-2006, 10:23 PM

forgot to upload

47WeeWind · 06-05-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Pumpkin

Any ideas, suggestions?

I think it might be the old vent tube for the long gone battery cover, and I think that tube goes up to the slightly hooded hole in the outer skin about 3 inches or so above where the tube enters the metal. Try putting a dab of vulkem along the top edge of that hooded vent cover where it meets the body skin.

GreatPumpkin · 06-05-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

I think it might be the old vent tube for the long gone battery cover, and I think that tube goes up to the slightly hooded hole in the outer skin about 3 inches or so above where the tube enters the metal. Try putting a dab of vulkem along the top edge of that hooded vent cover where it meets the body skin.

THANK YOU!
That also answered my question as to what the heck this was?

Any ideas on the window leaks? Do I need to remove and reinstall, or just vulkem around the top of the gutter and edges?

rebel beck · 06-09-2006, 11:08 PM

Great Pumkin, looks great when you get all of it down pat and you finish yours want to come to Mississippi and do mine.

GreatPumpkin · 06-09-2006, 11:23 PM

Thanks - My compounder/polisher arrived yesterday, so I've been going at it some more, but I'm hitting some deep scratches. Can't see them very well because of the flash, but this is definitely going to take awhile!
I'm using the Diamond Brite that Rob recommended. It's taking off the surface corrosion great, but I'll definitely need some Nuvite to get rid of the deep scratches and corrosion. Also I need to find some better pads (6"-7") The ones from Harbor Freight are ok, but won't last long. I'm trying to figure out how to utilize some of the really soft $1 per yard fabric from Wal-Mart to make polishing bonnets - use and throw away! No way my wife is going to let me wash them in her machine.