mgm2003
New member
This past weekend I detailed a 1991 Acura NSX. The build number stated #500 on the drivers side kick plate –pretty cool! 78K miles on the clock, and it was in ok shape for a car that’s 14+ years old, and had been used as a daily driver for the past 4 years. Used 91’s retail for 38-41K in our area, and he picked this one up for 25K (so that gives you an idea of what kind of shape it was in). My neighbor runs the local Acura service center and looked it over –mechanically, it was in tip top shape. Service records showed that the timing belt was replaced at 70K ($2500 –Ouch!!). I had a chance to see the car earlier in the week, which started the bonding process! Man, I’d love a sports car like this!
The paint was single stage, swirled, dull, had a few deep scratches, but nothing to crazy. The hard work on this car was going to be the engine bays, and interior.
The fit & finish on this car was top notch. No rattles or squeaks in the old dog, which was impressive. Zero orange peel in the paint. It has me thinking about looking for a used one!!! It’s not quick out of the hole, but from 4000RPM to 8000RPM it’s a thrill! The real virtue of this car is the speed/grip you get in the corners.
I started at 7:30am Saturday and finished at 3am Sunday. You do the math. I took a 1.5 hour break for a mid-afternoon lunch/supper and to have our Tahoe re-pin striped by a local painter that does it free hand –really amazing to see (but that is for another post).
Here’s what I used to clean up the NSX:
Interior:
Poorboys APC cut 6:1
Natural Look
Poorboys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Leather Master Heavy Cleaner Folex, Woolite/Water, Steam Cleaner Shop vac
Had to pre soak the seats in NL for 15 min., then sprayed on APC to wipe off 15 years of crud in the Leather. This got about 70% of the grime/stain. I used Leather Master Heavy Cleaner and a few cotton towels to get the rest. The drivers seat had been re-painted, and I stripped it clean
In short, the leather wasn’t perfect looking, but it was a huge improvement.
The carpet was equally as back. Several large coffee stains, tar, and general grime/dirt buildup over the years. It looked like the owner had vac’d the carpet, but I’m sure it’s never been deep cleaned/extracted. I was able to get about 80% of the crud out of the carpet, but again it wasn’t perfect looking. The owner was very pleased with the results of the interior work.
Engine:
Poorboys APC cut 3:1 x 2
Various brushes and old MF's
Poorboys Bold and Bright
Lots of elbow grease
Pro Polish on the metal/painted parts
Wheels:
Sterling Wheel Brightner x 2 (they were nasty!)
Trim Restore
BnB x 2
Pro Polish
Poorboys Wheel Sealer x 2
Exhaust and rear housing:
#000 wool and pro polish
Poorboys wheel sealer
Trim restore
BnB
Wells:
Poorboys APC, cut 3:1 x 2 and brush
Hi-Temp wheel and rubber dressing
Door jams:
APC cut 6:1
Trim Restore and BnB on the kick plate
Pro Polish
OCW
Poorboys leather cleaner/conditioner on the seals.
Glass:
AIO and S&G
Paint:
SS&S
Clay (about a half bar)
Optimum and a wool pad & 1000-1400 RPM
Optimum and and an orange pad (via PC @ 5.5)
Optimum and a white polish pad (via Cyclo)
Finish Kare Glaze/Sealer & finish pad (via Cyclo)
Wolfgang Sealer x 1
Souvern x 1
Finish Kare Pink Wax x 2.
Finish Kare #425 wipe down.
Other odds and ends:
My neighbor removed and re-sprayed the wiper blades.
We had to touch up/wet sand a few scratches & chips
The first few shots are sometime after 3am when I finished.
The next set of shots are from the morning after.
And the last shot is with my helper. Michael Miller (i.e. The mgm in my user id = his initials).
The paint was single stage, swirled, dull, had a few deep scratches, but nothing to crazy. The hard work on this car was going to be the engine bays, and interior.
The fit & finish on this car was top notch. No rattles or squeaks in the old dog, which was impressive. Zero orange peel in the paint. It has me thinking about looking for a used one!!! It’s not quick out of the hole, but from 4000RPM to 8000RPM it’s a thrill! The real virtue of this car is the speed/grip you get in the corners.
I started at 7:30am Saturday and finished at 3am Sunday. You do the math. I took a 1.5 hour break for a mid-afternoon lunch/supper and to have our Tahoe re-pin striped by a local painter that does it free hand –really amazing to see (but that is for another post).
Here’s what I used to clean up the NSX:
Interior:
Poorboys APC cut 6:1
Natural Look
Poorboys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Leather Master Heavy Cleaner Folex, Woolite/Water, Steam Cleaner Shop vac
Had to pre soak the seats in NL for 15 min., then sprayed on APC to wipe off 15 years of crud in the Leather. This got about 70% of the grime/stain. I used Leather Master Heavy Cleaner and a few cotton towels to get the rest. The drivers seat had been re-painted, and I stripped it clean
In short, the leather wasn’t perfect looking, but it was a huge improvement. The carpet was equally as back. Several large coffee stains, tar, and general grime/dirt buildup over the years. It looked like the owner had vac’d the carpet, but I’m sure it’s never been deep cleaned/extracted. I was able to get about 80% of the crud out of the carpet, but again it wasn’t perfect looking. The owner was very pleased with the results of the interior work.
Engine:
Poorboys APC cut 3:1 x 2
Various brushes and old MF's
Poorboys Bold and Bright
Lots of elbow grease
Pro Polish on the metal/painted parts
Wheels:
Sterling Wheel Brightner x 2 (they were nasty!)
Trim Restore
BnB x 2
Pro Polish
Poorboys Wheel Sealer x 2
Exhaust and rear housing:
#000 wool and pro polish
Poorboys wheel sealer
Trim restore
BnB
Wells:
Poorboys APC, cut 3:1 x 2 and brush
Hi-Temp wheel and rubber dressing
Door jams:
APC cut 6:1
Trim Restore and BnB on the kick plate
Pro Polish
OCW
Poorboys leather cleaner/conditioner on the seals.
Glass:
AIO and S&G
Paint:
SS&S
Clay (about a half bar)
Optimum and a wool pad & 1000-1400 RPM
Optimum and and an orange pad (via PC @ 5.5)
Optimum and a white polish pad (via Cyclo)
Finish Kare Glaze/Sealer & finish pad (via Cyclo)
Wolfgang Sealer x 1
Souvern x 1
Finish Kare Pink Wax x 2.
Finish Kare #425 wipe down.
Other odds and ends:
My neighbor removed and re-sprayed the wiper blades.
We had to touch up/wet sand a few scratches & chips
The first few shots are sometime after 3am when I finished.
The next set of shots are from the morning after.
And the last shot is with my helper. Michael Miller (i.e. The mgm in my user id = his initials).
