Peach

Got the day to myself on Friday, so I'm gonna pop up and have a gander at the practice/quali. See you there :)

What a beauty! Congrats mate, enjoy this time - they grow up so quickly (can't believe my first is 4 in a couple of weeks!)

Thanks guys :) The ironic thing is my current Z is a proper turd! Sure, it's clean enough but the paintwork is completely blistered and dull beyond repair - but that's kind of why I bought it, a long term resto project (watch this space ;) )

I appear to have gained a reputation LOL! :D This is the second time I've typed this as I accidentally closed the tab after I'd finished it the first time!! :headvswal Anyhoo, here goes; Protective Films If you're looking to protect your paintwork against stonechips and scratches, then paint films are definitely worth a look. HOWEVER, from my limited knowledge the films should be applied to brand new or near perfect paint (i.e. older paint should fully machine corrected first). Also, some chemical protection should be applied first to protect the paint underneath the film. I have heard some horror stories of lacquer being ripped off of older paint that hasn't been prepared properly during removal. But, no chemical applications can give anywhere near the sort of physical protection that a layer of plastic film can offer. Professional Treatments Older, more well known 'professional' paint protection coatings have got a bit of a bad rap amongst detailers for a few reasons. They were designed for the 'average' car owner - who basically can't be arsed/doesn't have the time to look after their car themselves. The two systems I have applied in the past are Supagard and Diamond Brite both require top-up additives in the wash cycle after the initial application which, in most cases, doesn't happen (more often than not the owner will just go through an automated car wash). IF the application is made and cared for properly then they are effective. As Richard said, older paint would need to be fully corrected first - no point in protecting knackered paint! There is a new-ish company called GTechniq who specialise in long lasting protective coatings for automotive surfaces ( http://www.gtechniq.com ) and have some amazing products. Definitely worth a Google if that's the sort of thing you're looking for. DIY Chemical Protection In my opinion, after a good wash/clay/machine polish, two coats of sealant followed by two coats of natural hard wax is MORE than enough to give you a good level of day-to-day protection. My sealant of choice is, and has always been, Chemical Guys Jetseal 109. It's really easy to use, buffs up well, and forms an acrylic layer over the paint surface to repel contaminents and prevent corrosion. It bonds really well with the paint and two coats gives a good even surface to then apply a wax over to enhance the finish. A good wax for protection is Collinite 476 as it is a hard wax. Two layers of any hard wax will give a decent layer of protection and a nice warm glossy finish. Wax is a bit more of a personal choice, and is also dependant on the colour of the paint - waxes that work well on dark colours don't necessarily look as good on lighter cars. Whatever wax you choose, apply the two coats 24 hours apart, buff to a good shine, then buff again about four hours later (maybe with a quick detailer spray) to get the best shine as any remaining unseen residue will have cured thoroughly by then. I do go on don't I!! I'm such a geek :tongue_smilie: Hope this helps anyway.

Ordered :) Gonna keep hold of it till I do my resto' this winter - gonna be needing a full lock set then so no point wasting it ;)

Sounds like the start of a great Z. SWB TT manual slicktop = WIN!! Look forward to seeing some pics mate. Oh, and welcome :D

Just my opinion buddy, I prefer 2 seaters that's all :)

I have enough of carrying people in my 7 seater - the Z is just for me:devil2:

If I was doing a project car, which I am, it would have to be a shortie; Therefore, JDM rulez :tt2:

I had haggis last night with taters, swede and cabbage - feckin' gorgeous :D nomnomnomnom

Pics pics pics!!! ;) :D

Nah, it's Sven... Caption - "Rope it to the roof, up there."

Blimey - that is impressive! Can I ask who did it - I did a little valeting work for a wheel refurb company a while ago, and I'm pretty sure they would have turned that one away as unrepairable. Either way - top work:thumbup1:

VINEGAR Try using neat white household vinegar on the concrete. Concrete (or rather the cement in it) is an alkali and I have heard of detailers using vinegar (a mild acid) to neutralise the cement and make it lift off the paintwork. As it is a well protected surface anyway, it should be relatively easy. Put some in a spray bottle and soak the concrete spots, let it dwell for a moment and see if it will shift. Have the hosepipe ready to hand to give it a good rinsing. When you're all done, give it a good polish and re-wax it. Job done :) PS - if this doen't work, get some muriatic acid (used in pool cleaning) - that'll really fizz it off!! (last resort though, leave it on your paint for too long and it's bye bye colour/hello primer LOL!)

Oops - double post :blushing:

Good on ya Steve :) If you need a hand with that valet and polish, give me a shout ;)

After finally scraping the money together to get the old girl taxed, I gave the Z a quick wash and headed out in the sun with the targas off, only to get to the end of the road and.... CAN'T STOP - NO BRAKES!! Nothing whatsoever, pedal drops to the floor. Luckily, the handbrake is spot on ;) So, I have no problems with the clutch, there is good fluid in the reservoir, but the pedal drops like a tarts knickers. The car has been stood (outside, on a slight incline) since the end of January, but there's no sign of any fluids on the drive. I've sat and pumped the pedal but there's no change at all. Any ideas where to start looking? Ta :(

Gotta love the guy though. If you're gonna 'go', go with a BANG!! #WINNING!!

Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel for tyres, awesome stuff. And Meguiars Last Touch for a quick detailer, which can be diluted down quite a lot to make it last.

Why? - would be a good word. Or shite.

They're starting to look a bit tired now, but they've still not taken a break, so it might be nap time soon ( they are allowed 5mins per hour but they can bank these up for a longer break).

I like the sound of a good engine/exhaust combo. Putting a big exhaust on a puny little engine (e.g. Saxos, Puntos, Corsas etc.) sounds bloody awful, but if you've got a nice sized proper engine (like a v6 or a v8 or something) then you can't beat it. Not too loud but loud enough :D And I've just turned 35 ;) One engine I can't stand the sound of is bloody Subarus - and there's hundreds of them round here :censored:

Oooh, not nice. Fixable though, just a bit of welding ;)

Oh dear, is it bad then? :(