Car questions-It's a Nissan

[psiu]

NO CLIFF NOTES

Either read.....or don't 🙂 :beer: :beer:

Have a few questions for the car type people here. The car in question is 1990 Nissan Maxima SE that my wife and I just....got. (We did not buy it, but it was bought for us--not what we wanted to replace the '87 Corsica with--a 14 year old import, but anyway, we have it and are stuck with it for a little bit).

It needs to have hoses and all checked out, it sat for at least 2 years in South Carolina, some in garage, some outside, apparently (this what the guy who bought the car said the previous owner said). Waiting for the mechanic we've used to send out their usual fall special (Highland Lakes Auto, in Northville, for anyone in Northwest Metro Detroit area--good place).

First question is painting. This sucker is COVERED in scratches, many of which are pretty deep looking. It looks like it was already tried to buff some out, but I don't think that's an option. I'll get some pics and put em up later this morning. So, has anyone used Maaco? There's a couple right by me, and according to this link, they have different options. (Okay, you have to click on a button to get to it--stupid site wouldn't let it go directlt to the painting page.)

The good thing about the vehicle is going to buy that when we either sell or trade it in, hopefully sometime early next year, it will be profit to us, since we didn't pay for anything besides plate/registration/insurance. So the cheap paint job would probably be good enough.

It probably needs rustproofing on the underside--it's pretty much rust free (it was an inland South Carolina car). but a Michigan winter will eat it for breakfast. Does anyone know if either Maaco does things like that too or a good chain to use for it (Zeibart)?

Another problem is these little water spots on all the glass. Have scrubbed away and not getting very much progress. Not sure what they are, other than probably a combination of hard water/tree sap/bird pooop/bug poop etc. But they really aren't coming off very easily at aLLLLLL. Urgh. Anyone suggestion on cleaning em off? And if you want to recommend caustic chemicals, go ahead since we'll be repainting anyway. 🙂

Last question, how do I pry the little headlight turny deal off the stalk to put it back on straight? It's not lined up right, damnit AND IT'S DRIVING ME CRAAAAAAAaaazy....urm, okay, I'm okay.

So yeah.

Fine, I'll put em in anyway:

Cliff Notes:

Paint car-where?
Underbody-yea, nay, where?
Clean windows-bleach, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, what?
Headlight thingy-take off with hacksaw?

Thanks.

 

[Squisher]

Zaino glass polish works pretty good if the glass hasn't been etched.

Don't have much info on the other stuff, but how good of a job they do rust proofing is important. I've opened up door panels only to see a spot of the compound shot in the center of the door.

<---Fellow Metro Detroiter

 

[cavemanmoron]

Earl Scheib for paint

http://www.earlscheib.com/

Napa makes stuff called Glass Stripper.

headlight stalk thingy? "What u talking bout willis"

{Sledge-o-matic} 😉

 

[psiu]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
Earl Scheib for paint

http://www.earlscheib.com/

Napa makes stuff called Glass Stripper.

headlight stalk thingy? "What u talking bout willis"

{Sledge-o-matic} 😉

The turn signal/high beam/has the little twisty guy on the end for lights off/parking/lights on. I want to take it off because it's not on straight (like the little part that shows where it's pointing to points at nothing when they are off, and just is silly. Oh, and be able to put it back on.

 

[psiu]

That Zaino stuff looks interesting. I might get it, but then I'd have to wait for it. Not that I'm impatie......wait, yeah I am.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I wouldn't bother painting it. The kind of paint job your going to get at Maaco and other cheap places is going to look like crap and will really look like crap in a few years as it starts flaking off. The car isn't worth enough to bother spending enough money on to get a real paint job either.