Happy New Year,


To begin, here’s a picture of my car. It's an 1988 GT and I bought it a month ago. Click photos to enlarge.


(IMG:http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/711/img0424wl2.th.jpg)


Q1. The following photos shows my front bumper. I noticed that some celicas have a clear coat (where the bumper comes out) as others have a matte finish (like mine). What is the factory finish for the bumper? I'm considering pulling a shiny clear coat bumper at the wrecking yard. Anyone want to share their preference?


(IMG:http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3033/img0449bu5.th.jpg)


Q2. I have overspray in several places on my car (see following photo). How is spray paint removed? Is it a big job?


(IMG:http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2112/img0420ps7.th.jpg)


Q3. The following photos show my front grill. What's the best way to restore the dull fading of a grill?


(IMG:http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1934/img0442vd7.th.jpg)


Q4. As it was explained to me, black interior Celicas actually use navy blue panels that are factory-treated to be black. My panels are beginning to show areas of navy blue. Any idea how to darken it or get it black again?


Q5. Give me a moment to explain this. I saw what looked like a sheet of indentical panel material (texture, color, and design) that was placed over a worn area of a panel. The sheet was held by either glue or adhesion. Anybody know where can you get these sheets?


Please note: The remainder of these questions are in regards to convertibles. Thanks.



Q6. My weather strips are shot. Is there a chance that non convertible strips (driver and passenger windows) can be rigged and used on a convertible? If not, where can weather strips be bought for a convertible? Price?


Q7. I am missing edge bindings for my convertible. Where can these be bought? The following photo shows the one edge binding that I do have (which happens to be torn). Any ideas on how these can be sewn? By hand? Someone mentioned dental floss. Hmm.


(IMG:http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4086/img0409qa9.th.jpg)


Q8. And now the large issue of the back plastic window (shown in photos). Again, someone mentioned using dental floss. Anybody else heard that? For your review, I’ve include additional photos of the top. Should I consider a new top or can the current be salvage? Any comment appreciated.

Thanks.


(IMG:http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/765/img0392ni2.th.jpg) (IMG:http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8559/img0399kv7.th.jpg) (IMG:http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/7784/img0425ef9.th.jpg)

Factory is clear and glossy. Yours has faded and needs to be repainted and cleared again to make it shine

That depends. You can sometimes get away with a clay bar and a good cut wax but they take practice and it all depends on how intact the clearcoat was before the overspray hit it


Again a respray is in order. I would personally get a couple cans of black paint and a can of clear spraybombs, sand down the grille and bumpers and go to town.




same thing just respray them. Plastic panels will require a good sanding and usually a special paint for plastic. I find the krylon brand works well but I think you'll find the same stuff you used on your bumpers and grille will be fine as long as the panel is properly prepared



Never heard of them...it was probably cut out of another actual panel on any other random vehicle as a lot of them are very similar


your best bet for new weather stripping would be to keep an eye on ebay...you can buy it if you look around but the price usually is ridiculous