79' Mustang Restore |
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leroy73stang
Newbie Joined: March-31-2011 Location: West Lafayette Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: March-31-2011 at 5:10pm |
Hey CC fans,
New member but long time follower! I have been restoring a 79' mustang 17 and so far have... 1. checked stringers and refiberglassed cracks 2. painted engine compartment 3. all new carpet, furniture 4.rebuilt tranny 5. rebuilt mercruiser mie 198 (305)w/ weiland intake and edelbrock carb. I am in the process of finetuning the boat and it kills me seeing the gel coat in the shape it is in. It has cracks all over from the waterline down and has very little shine to it even after using 3m cleaner/wax. I intend to replace the gelcoat next year but like to get it looking as good as possible for this season. I am thinking about a very light wetsand and a good wax. Any advice or reccomendations on sandpaper grit, methods or wax product would greatly be appreciated! I will have picture soon! |
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"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin
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Keeganino
Grand Poobah Joined: October-27-2009 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2063 |
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An alarm goes off when you say spider cracks from the waterline down. That is generally a sign of structural damage from rotten stringers. You cant really check the secondaries fore of the exhaust channel. Mine were completely wasted and I did not have any spidercracks. You cant wetsand them away either. Probably not what you want to hear but a 79 is going to need new stringers sooner than later especially if it has had a hard life.
There are some pretty thorough threads on wetsanding and buffing. Use the advanced search and look for wetsanding from current to any date. You are in the right place to find the right way to restore and maintain your Correct Craft. Welcome to the site! |
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"working on these old boats may not be cost effective but as it shows its what it brings into your life that matters" -Roger
1973 Skier |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Lance,
Welcome to posting! Yes, we want pictures!! Keegan is correct that you should do some further investigating of the condition of the stringers.
Something caused the glass to crack. Tell us more on how you checked the stringers. Post a picture of the below the waterline spider cracking. |
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leroy73stang
Newbie Joined: March-31-2011 Location: West Lafayette Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Gentlemen (I use that term loosely),
I knew the previous owner of this boat well and it had not been used for quite some time. Originally there were crack in the fiberglass along some of the stringers so I peeled it back to further inspect and they seem to be in good (not great) but good condition. My understanding is that in these particular years of correct craft they advertised "thickest gelcoat in the industry" later on they found out that it isn't an advantage.... I will get some pics to show. With that said, this winter I intend to have a new gelcoat or paint done to the hull and when doing so I am going to replace the stringers. I am not looking for perfection but only to get her looking her best for the show! I did do some light wetsanding with 2000grit last night and made a considerable difference. Once again any and all advice is appreciated! |
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"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin
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OverMyHead
Grand Poobah Joined: March-14-2008 Location: MN Status: Offline Points: 4861 |
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The following is condensed from a handout at the green lake 2010 re-union. You can start with paper as low as 400 work up to 1000 grit. Use a sanding block, dip in water that contains a little dish soap. A mist bottle of the same solution can also be used. sand in an X patern, not circles. looking for an even appeareance after each step. follow using a buffer with something like 3m rubbing compound then finnes-it and finally a good hand glaze wax, cleaning between each step. carefull on the corners!
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For thousands of years men have felt the irresistible urge to go to sea, and many of them died. Things got better after they invented boats.
1987 Ski Nautique |
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leroy73stang
Newbie Joined: March-31-2011 Location: West Lafayette Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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very helpful thank you OverMyHead
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"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin
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