First, thanks to all who chimed in about me removing my BSM's -- I had concerns about my car being too "old" to take them off now, but you allayed those concerns. So, on Tuesday, I was able to get the left side off, and, yesterday, I tackled the right side.
I have to say that it was NOT a lot of fun. The dental floss didn't work (broke too easily), so I had to find some fishing line. The only line I could find [laying around my folks' house] was just a little stronger than the dental floss -- so, IT kept breaking every couple of inches. If I had had stronger line, it really wouldn't have been too bad.
But then the removed molding reveals TWO strips of 3M gunk. It's time consuming enough getting the door-length-worth of gunk peeled off the door, but to have to essentially do it TWICE really ain't much fun. Oh well... They're OFF!
I DO have some "ghost BSM's" right now -- but it appears as though they're going to go away quickly. The differentiation is very slight (the kind of thing that only a Corvette guy who knew I just removed 'em might notice). Also, it appears that the side I did first is already better than the other side after a day. Put it this way: after I got the first little opening-to-the-leading-door-edge piece off and notice that it looked a hair darker underneath, it was NOT enough of an issue to lead me to stop the removal and put that piece back on.
Right now the car is sitting out in the direct sun light, and I imagine that will speed up the blend-in process.
Thanks again for the help, all. Just wanted to give an update!
-Kirk
PS -- Yes, I'll have to take some pics of the "new" car!
I don't mind the BSMs at all. Mine has them and I'll leave them on. But if the car didn't have them I would just leave it that way.
I really didn't, either. And no, I sure as heck wouldn't ADD them to a car that didn't have them. But looking at a lot of pics lately, I decided that I AM after that cleaner look of the BSM-less Z's.
I went almost four years with them on... But, now they're gone, and the car looks better to me.
Glad to hear your job turned out well and is hardly noticeable. IMO, without the BSM's gives the car a cleaner look.
Thanks! Not only does it look cleaner, but it's going to be a heck of a lot easier TO clean.
I always loathed polishing the side of the car because of the BSM's. I always looked at it as having to do the "two halves," and it was always a pain. Now, I'm actually looking forward to polishing the door area. It's like a big, clean canvas now.
Also, though it may sound crazy, I think that the BSM's could limit you in choices of wheels, chin/deck spoilers, etc. The BSM's change the lines of the car, and the wheels and spoilers (though I have none) need to go with that look. I think that not having the BSM's there now clean up the side of the car so that a double-spoked wheel, for instance, would no longer compete with the bold, single-line of the BSM's. Likewise, the BSM's look more tacked-on when you add an ACI spoiler, since the spoiler creates another seam where it meets the underside of the nose. Too much of that look can junk up the car, IMO.
All of this from a guy who was willing to defend the BSM's previously! LOL I certainly don't hate BSM's -- I'm just really enjoying the new look now.
good job, to get rid of everything, get some good paint cleaner like Maguires and buff the hell out of that door with it. then buff it out with a clean terry cloth. it will look as if there was nothing there.
you may want to poilish the entire car just to get a nice even look.
good job, to get rid of everything, get some good paint cleaner like Maguires and buff the hell out of that door with it. then buff it out with a clean terry cloth. it will look as if there was nothing there.
you may want to poilish the entire car just to get a nice even look.
Do you think that the faint darkness where the BSM's used to be is due mostly to RESIDUE still on the paint? Is that what the paint cleaner is all about?
I washed and clayed the doors. Put a few coats of Zaino on it, too. But, if some kind of paint-cleaner will blend it PERFECTLY, and NOW, then I'll give it a whirl.
Use a Terry cloth pad to put the cleaner on, use microfiber cloth to buff and take the cleaner/wax off. I've used Maguires cleaner and it works good. However, if you want to really get it to shine get Adams Polishes either directly from their website or from West Coast Corvettes. I know, I know, many will chant Zaino, ZAINO ZAINO...
Anyway
I switched to Adams last year after attending Carlisle where I watched Adam and Nick turn daily drivers into show cars. It was amazing. I don't honestly know how will it would blend the "faint stripe" from BSM. But the drivers door on my wifes car was stained by an egg that she let cook on over a course of a couple week before I knew about it. I redid her door with Adams products and used the scratch out over the egged area prior to waxing and sealing. When I was done the neighbor came over and was amazed at how bright and new the car looked. The best part was the egged area was completely gone except for one very faint drip line which I am probably the only person who sees it.
__________________
Kevin D.
HallTech Intake, Hurst Shifter w/MGW Pistol Grip Shift Knob, Kewl '01 Z06 Exhaust plate, Euro Tail Lights, Corsa Ti Exhaust, '04 Shocks...
"Nothing Compares with Corvette" Jan 2004 C6 Unveiling
Mi -- Thanks for the info. I've got the process of washing and polishing down pretty well, I think, but I always listen for any new advice. Thanks!
Now, I'd still like to know if anyone knows whether or not the "ghost BSM's" I'm experiencing are a result of RESIDUE still on the paint, or just some non-faded/un-polished paint underneath.
I'll have at it with the 3M Adhesive remover if there's residue on the paiint. Otherwise, I'll just keep monitoring the wash/polish process.
Kirk,
I didn't catch how you cleaned off the mastic, but 3M adhesive remover or a little paint thinner should do the trick. If you still have shadowing after that, then the paint probably has faded around the BSM a little. If the sun treatment doesn't work, you can always take the car to a paint shop and have the area blended in.
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