1991 Red Acura NSX Detail

[mgm2003]

This past weekend I detailed a 1991 Acura NSX. The build number stated #500 on the drivers side kick plate –pretty cool! 78K miles on the clock, and it was in ok shape for a car that’s 14+ years old, and had been used as a daily driver for the past 4 years. Used 91’s retail for 38-41K in our area, and he picked this one up for 25K (so that gives you an idea of what kind of shape it was in). My neighbor runs the local Acura service center and looked it over –mechanically, it was in tip top shape. Service records showed that the timing belt was replaced at 70K ($2500 –Ouch!!). I had a chance to see the car earlier in the week, which started the bonding process! Man, I’d love a sports car like this!



The paint was single stage, swirled, dull, had a few deep scratches, but nothing to crazy. The hard work on this car was going to be the engine bays, and interior.



The fit & finish on this car was top notch. No rattles or squeaks in the old dog, which was impressive. Zero orange peel in the paint. It has me thinking about looking for a used one!!! It’s not quick out of the hole, but from 4000RPM to 8000RPM it’s a thrill! The real virtue of this car is the speed/grip you get in the corners.



I started at 7:30am Saturday and finished at 3am Sunday. You do the math. I took a 1.5 hour break for a mid-afternoon lunch/supper and to have our Tahoe re-pin striped by a local painter that does it free hand –really amazing to see (but that is for another post).



Here’s what I used to clean up the NSX:





Interior:

Poorboys APC cut 6:1

Natural Look

Poorboys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Leather Master Heavy Cleaner Folex, Woolite/Water, Steam Cleaner Shop vac



Had to pre soak the seats in NL for 15 min., then sprayed on APC to wipe off 15 years of crud in the Leather. This got about 70% of the grime/stain. I used Leather Master Heavy Cleaner and a few cotton towels to get the rest. The drivers seat had been re-painted, and I stripped it clean :) In short, the leather wasn’t perfect looking, but it was a huge improvement.



The carpet was equally as back. Several large coffee stains, tar, and general grime/dirt buildup over the years. It looked like the owner had vac’d the carpet, but I’m sure it’s never been deep cleaned/extracted. I was able to get about 80% of the crud out of the carpet, but again it wasn’t perfect looking. The owner was very pleased with the results of the interior work.



Engine:

Poorboys APC cut 3:1 x 2

Various brushes and old MF`s

Poorboys Bold and Bright

Lots of elbow grease

Pro Polish on the metal/painted parts





Wheels:

Sterling Wheel Brightner x 2 (they were nasty!)

Trim Restore

BnB x 2

Pro Polish

Poorboys Wheel Sealer x 2



Exhaust and rear housing:

#000 wool and pro polish

Poorboys wheel sealer

Trim restore

BnB



Wells:

Poorboys APC, cut 3:1 x 2 and brush

Hi-Temp wheel and rubber dressing



Door jams:

APC cut 6:1

Trim Restore and BnB on the kick plate

Pro Polish

OCW

Poorboys leather cleaner/conditioner on the seals.



Glass:

AIO and S&G



Paint:

SS&S

Clay (about a half bar)

Optimum and a wool pad & 1000-1400 RPM

Optimum and and an orange pad (via PC @ 5.5)

Optimum and a white polish pad (via Cyclo)

Finish Kare Glaze/Sealer & finish pad (via Cyclo)

Wolfgang Sealer x 1

Souvern x 1

Finish Kare Pink Wax x 2.

Finish Kare #425 wipe down.



Other odds and ends:

My neighbor removed and re-sprayed the wiper blades.

We had to touch up/wet sand a few scratches & chips





The first few shots are sometime after 3am when I finished.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010092.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010097.jpg



The next set of shots are from the morning after.



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010108.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010107.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010106.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010104.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010103.jpg



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010101.jpg





And the last shot is with my helper. Michael Miller (i.e. The mgm in my user id = his initials).



http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010102.jpg

[LucentTeg]

The NSX is a pleasure to drive, and you did a great job detailing that one. The paint looks amazing for it`s age as well. It seems like that design never ages either still looks like a newish car even though its so old. I am excited to see what the new Acura sports car will be like, it is going to be just as innovative as the NSX was when it came out in the early 90s.

[mgm2003]

The NSX is a pleasure to drive, and you did a great job detailing that one. The paint looks amazing for it`s age as well. It seems like that design never ages either still looks like a newish car even though its so old. I am excited to see what the new Acura sports car will be like, it is going to be just as innovative as the NSX was when it came out in the early 90s.





Thanks for the kind words. Acura did their homework on this car and it shows. I think this guy got a steal for 25K, especially considering that Acura is stopping production at the end of this year (from what I`ve heard from my Acura contact).

[ZaneO]

Great work! Very wet :drool:

[pt91]

Nice work.

The red has a tinted (magenta I think) clear coat, not single stage.

[mgm2003]

I picked up a lot of red on my pads, so I thought it was single stage.

[zippymbr]

Very nice, that is still my dream car!

[imported_series1]

Great job! I love the car.

[imported_hadboosttroy]

looks awesome. the car is cleared though.

[LucentTeg]

Thanks for the kind words. Acura did their homework on this car and it shows. I think this guy got a steal for 25K, especially considering that Acura is stopping production at the end of this year (from what I`ve heard from my Acura contact).





Yes, it`s true, Acura/Honda is stopping production but for a good reason. They are going to be comming out with something even more fantastic. The NSX was so awesome to drive because much of the design was drawn from Honda`s F1 experience. The suspension design, much of the chassis design and the bodywork is mostly aluminum. Although it is sad to see the NSX become history, they have to make way for better things, and it should be astonishing if the new car is as ground breaking as the NSX.

[gav'spurplez]

another nice nsx,



:spot

[Scottwax]

:cool: The paint looks a mile deep!

[mgm2003]

Thanks for all of the kind words!

[Anthony O.]

Great looking detail there mgm :xyxthumbs



I love the NSX cars, wish I did a few more but they are a rare sight these days.



Red looks deep and wet, great job!



Anthony

[mgm2003]

Thanks Anthony, I really appreciate hearing from you!



There are a several fine detailers on the boards, but your work and advice stand out in my book. I just wish you were on the boards posting more.



To all -thanks for the kind words. I just have one last question about the single stage paint vs. clear coat on this car.



I had red paint transfer on my pads throughout the detail. My white polishing pads are still stained. Is this possible with clear coat? I`m not interested in getting into a `who`s wrong, who`s right debate`, so don`t read this the wrong way. I want to know how I can tell for sure, for future detail work

.