Need help with Sidekick (pics)

[arc]

I've been on Autopia for a long time, mostly as a lurker, and have learned a lot here. I have used what I have learned to maintain the finishes on our newer rigs.



I recently picked up a '91 Suzuki Sidekick for a trail rig and something to drive when my soon to be 16 year old son takes over my current car when he gets his license. I feel like I am in over my head while considering what to do with it and was hoping for some guidance.



Here are some pics to show what I am up against.





Badly oxidized hood. I am assuming that it is a goner:

I think the bumper is probably a goner, too. Most of the shiny stuff is gone.

There are a lot of swirls and scratches on the sides. It also looks like maybe bad orange peel.

Another side shot:

Another side shot, showing the stripe and part of the hard top:

Here is what I have on hand, product-wise;



PC with 6" orange, white and blue pads (I think they are Lake Country, though they are stamped "Specialty Motoring Products")



4" Lake Country pads - black, orange and blue.



KAIO

SSR1

HiTemp Medium Power Cut Leveler (I don't even know where/when I got this)

Optimum Poli-Seal, Opti-Seal and CW (this is what I use on our newer cars)



Can I get away with what I have or would I be better off getting something else? Any tips on tackling the hood?



What about the stripe? Do I need to avoid it with the PC?



I think the hardtop is fiberglass. I was planning on just doing that by hand because I don't know how thick the finish is.



Is there anything tricky about Suzuki paint?



Thanks for any help. I am not expecting miracles here. I just want it as good as it can be.

 

[longdx]

Unfortunately, the hood/bumper has clear coat failure. Anything that you do be short term only as the paint has given up the ghost. You can polish it to make it better. You can polish the hardtop via a PC or by hand. You can use the PC by the stripe but be careful as residue will collect by the stripe line(if you do not tape that off). Now being that this is an inexpensive trail rig, there are several low cost option for the hood. 1)You can sand the hood and use the Dupli-Color Paint Shop(pre-mixed) paint system or 2)sand and either spraypaint/roll it on (i.e. $50 paint job on many forums) or 3) as my friend did used Rhinoliner on his Commanche which gave his trail rig a no maintenance, durable finish.



The Sidekick are really pretty indestructible little 4x4's. Best of luck with it.

 

[arc]

Thanks, longdx. I'll check out the Dupli-Color paint system. I have thought about doing bed liner on the hood and under the beltline (which would also take care of the front bumper).

 

[alloutdetailing]

It's an extremely hard job where the clear coat failed but you can level all the paint! It'll just take you a long time and I guess you need to know what your doing!



Here is a mirror that I did the other day. The whole top half of the mirror has ZERO,NOTHING,NO,NONE,NADA of clear coat on it.