I've been working on restoring my wife's '88GT. I now have the interior as immaculate as I can get it, and am ready for a good paint job. I probably should have done the outside paint first, but it didn't work out that way.

What can I polish on this thing, and what is the best method you have found? I've heard that you can polish the tailpipes...is this a myth, or can it be done? I have the diamond-grid rims...so I'm thinking about polishing the outside of those, if that can be done. I did manage to polish the plenum and the ash trays (took forever). I'm thinking about trying the spark-plug shrouds, too.

I have a dremel, I have Mother's, and I have time...I just need the knowledge. What type of sandpaper should I use, if any, on these projects? I'm ignorant when it comes to paint or fine detail such as this. Help me out?

Thanks!

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Scott & Traci
'88 GT

First, in order to polish the aluminum edge of the wheels you need to remove the clear coat. You would need to get a jelly type of chemical paint stripper since you don't want the gold to be removed. Then sand the ring down first with 220 grit, (removing the "machined" lines) then 400, then 600, than 1000. Once the sanding is done polish with the Mothers and it'll look like chrome. As for the tailpipes, I just used rubbing compund and water to clean them up then the Mothers to polish them out.

How about polishing the....uh...upper rear engine mount. I knew there was a way to say it without it sounding bad.

Why, stsmithgt, whatever do you mean? :blink: :blink:

I would like to suggest buying a product called Wenol from Summit Racing and throwing away the Mothers stuff. Wenol will make your job much easyer than the mothers. www.summitracing.com
(buy the red tube not the blue)
You can polish the throttle body, plate on top of intake, valve cover plates, heat sheilds, exhaust tips, EGR valve, and thermostat housing cap.
Yes I have done all these.

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Dave Gunsul
N.I.F.E. member
86 GT modified
85 SE daily driver