Restoring the Cardinal Red paint, 96

[Arn24]

Going to try to restore the paint on my faded Cardinal Red SR5. This will be my first attempt at restoring a single stage paint. Here are a few pics showing the condition the paint is currently in, after a wash and a clay session:
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/2013-03-15144732_zps7095816a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/2013-03-15144732_zps7095816a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-15144732_zps7095816a.jpg"/></a>
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<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/2013-03-15144855_zps2c066cf6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/2013-03-15144855_zps2c066cf6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-15144855_zps2c066cf6.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/2013-03-15180043_zpsfa0fd975.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/2013-03-15180043_zpsfa0fd975.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-15180043_zpsfa0fd975.jpg"/></a>

Masked and pin stripes removed. I also removed the roof rack.
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/2013-03-15180129_zps8564a31d.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/2013-03-15180129_zps8564a31d.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-15180129_zps8564a31d.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/2013-03-15180107_zps555e852e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/2013-03-15180107_zps555e852e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-15180107_zps555e852e.jpg"/></a>
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I have applied the first 'saturation' coat of Meg's #7, but didn't take any pics. I'll let it soak until tomorrow, then see how many more coats I can get on this weekend. Eventually I'll polish it out, but I have to buy a DA first.

I'll post results tomorrow.

 

[Arn24]

Snapped a few pics of the first 'saturation' coat before removal.
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16074924_zpsd0bc7f10.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16074924_zpsd0bc7f10.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16074924_zpsd0bc7f10.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16075010_zps5e41969a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16075010_zps5e41969a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16075010_zps5e41969a.jpg"/></a>
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[T4R2014]

You've got the best color. :thumb: Pretty rare too. Let's see those afters.

 

[4Running Daily]

Sub'd. Well done so far!

 

[Dinabox]

I have the same color and it's quite faded as well. Can't wait to see the results! The cardinal red looks so good when it's nice and shiny.

 

[Jungoes]

looking good, i had a friend restore the red on his car, but he used a product called " California red" never thought you could make a faded colour pop after fading that much, hope yours turns out great

 

[shootmymime]

reds love wax, did same thing to an early taco

 

[Arn24]

reds love wax, did same thing to an early taco

I'm having problems with the wax thing right now. It soaked up the oils, though!

looking good, i had a friend restore the red on his car, but he used a product called " California red" never thought you could make a faded colour pop after fading that much, hope yours turns out great

I'll have to look into that.

I have the same color and it's quite faded as well. Can't wait to see the results! The cardinal red looks so good when it's nice and shiny.

Me too! It certainly can't look any worse than it did.

Sub'd. Well done so far!

Thanks!

You've got the best color. :thumb: Pretty rare too. Let's see those afters.

I usually don't like red, but it fits on the 3rd gens. 96 was the only year the 3rd gens came in Cardinal, right? My favorite, while not a very manly color, is Azure Blue Pearl.

 

[Arn24]

Still working on it. Teaser shot!
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16100609_zps1067801f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16100609_zps1067801f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16100609_zps1067801f.jpg"/></a>

I'm not happy with the way the wax is going on. I'm using Megs #26, which has always done well before, but this is my first time using it on a SS paint. It's not leaving an even finish, and it's a PITA to wipe off. I'm sure it's because there is still oxidized paint, and applying the wax moves it around. I've put 2 coats of #7 on, and I think I'll call it good at that. Once I get a DA, I'll be able to remove swirls and defects, but I need to get some wax on it until then.
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16113501_zpsc79d21c7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16113501_zpsc79d21c7.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16113501_zpsc79d21c7.jpg"/></a>

I'll post up the results when I get this wax thing figured out.

Thanks for looking.

Aaron

 

[shootmymime]

its weird when you apply the wax and rub it in and like you said it soaks in the oils and rubs off some red color. i just kept applying wax every day for 3 days and that made it look really good. i used this buffer.

but what ever you get dont use a usual grinder. make sure it rotates in 2 directions. but i think you already know what i mean.

 

[BrianSD_42]

My favorite color so far (besides my own) is Sunfire Red Pearl , how close is your red to that one?

by the way great job so far!!

 

[T4R2014]

My favorite color so far (besides my own) is Sunfire Red Pearl , how close is your red to that one?

by the way great job so far!!

Way different. Cardinal Red is more like the red you find on fire engines. Just a bright red basically.

And yes, it was only in 1996. It was a carryover color from the 2nd Gens. They replaced it with Radiant Red in 1997. I think that had a clear coat.

 

[Arn24]

Done! for now...
There is still oxidation in the paint, but I'm not gonna try to rub it all out by hand. I'm out of ibuprofen. Once I get a DA (like the Porter Cable shown above, thanks!) I'll attack it again. Overall, for $20 and a day's worth of work, I'm happy with the results.
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16160520_zpsc562b3ef.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16160520_zpsc562b3ef.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16160520_zpsc562b3ef.jpg"/></a>
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<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/4runner/2013-03-16160439_zps29863367.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/4runner/2013-03-16160439_zps29863367.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2013-03-16160439_zps29863367.jpg"/></a>
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Thanks,

Aaron

 

[T4R2014]

Looking really good. Great work.

The wheels are looking sad. They sell silver wheel paint at the auto store, it'll freshen those up.

 

[Arn24]

Looking really good. Great work.

The wheels are looking sad. They sell silver wheel paint at the auto store, it'll freshen those up.

Thanks! I'm looking into powder coating them. I was thinking gun metal gray, like the TRD wheels here:
<a href="http://s658.beta.photobucket.com/user/arn24/media/trdgunmetal_zps57c6fa05.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu310/arn24/trdgunmetal_zps57c6fa05.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo trdgunmetal_zps57c6fa05.jpg"/></a>

I'd also like to have the bumpers, flares, and lower rocker panels rhino-lined the same color.

 

[that$pit]

did the same thing with my old ford, took two days with a dewalt 7" adjustable speed buffer with a polishing compound, looked about as bad as yours turned out looking like new, if you go that route careful you can burn through the paint or get swirls real easy

 

[Arn24]

I have a 7" Makita 9227 orbital. I was afraid to use it on SS paint, and even on clear coats, I leave swirl marks. I need a practice car.

 

[shootmymime]

for your fender flares and any other black plastic i use this. i think it works the best and better than any other black magic stuff.

as a warning. the bottle sucks and the handle (pump) will break prob half way through but it will turn anything black again. when mine is dirty and faded by wax i use a small scrub brush the size of my hand and scrub this hot shine into the flares and turns it all black again. i also use it on my tires.

 

[Arn24]

Do you worry about getting it on the paint, or do you remove the flares first?

 

[shootmymime]

no because i have already waxed it. its just more oil that will wipe right off