Mystic Cobra lightly polished and sealed(Forum member 04MC)

**Todd@RUPES** · 12-20-2006, 03:41 PM

This car had some of the worst water etching I have come across. I tried (to no avial) to hit this paint hard and level some of the etching but after 4 passes of M84 with a 7006 cutting pad and 3 passes of M83 with a 8006 pad and barely an improvement in the etching, the owner (04MC) and I decided that caution was the better part of valor in this case. The paint is expensive and neither him nor I wanted to risk burning it.

The etchings could all be caught with a finger nail so it looks like a wetsand and cut would be the only way to fix it. Being that he made a long drive over to my house, we busted out or ROB`s and did a quick polish and seal.

The paint was amazing to begin so I can`t really take all credit as Thiago (04MC) does an amazing job with his paint using #9 and it was pretty flawless to begin. He decieded to step up to #80 and with two people it took maybe 30 minutes to finish. Then we applyed a quick coat of #21 by PC and did a quick dressing of the tires and wheel wells.

I also got to go for a quick ride. The car has a pulley and turns out 15 lbs of boost, and gets sideways through first and second, no problem.

Anyways here are some afters, which I can`t take full credit for.

Swirl free, the paint was hard for me to photograph in direct sunlight as it would washout...

Again the full sun shot kinda washed out, but swirl free...

**imported_Dave KG** · 12-20-2006, 03:46 PM

Mmm, mean and moody looking car! Very nice! Looks great too guys, nice work.

**OCD Nick** · 12-20-2006, 08:53 PM

one of the best oem colors, nice work

**gmblack3** · 12-20-2006, 11:14 PM

Very nice work Todd for a quickie.

**Todd@RUPES** · 12-21-2006, 06:36 AM

Thanks...

I have never been a Mustang fan, always a Corvette fan. But after seeing the car and working on it, then going for a ride, my mind has changed. Like I said, minus the water etchings that are hard to spot, the paint was pretty much perfect.

**Scottwax** · 12-21-2006, 08:50 PM

Looks really good to me! Very nice gloss on that Mystic paint.

Too bad about the etching, I have a customer with a black Lexus LX470 and same deal, etched so deep I am not sure even wetsanding will get it all.

**Todd@RUPES** · 12-21-2006, 09:39 PM

I hear you Scott, I even suggested having the clear sanded and recleared.

Another detailer actually told the owner that it was partley his fault because he tried to buff the car using #9/PC and the buffing etched it further?:think2

**04MC** · 12-22-2006, 01:51 AM

Sup TOD - Ford (inside SVT) gave the name of Terminators to 03/04 Cobras for a reason

The marks now you really have to look for them at certain angles under fluorescent light , so not that big deal, but it improved a lot. Thanks! In the future, I might consider the wet sand/re-clear, but I need to find someone I really trust to do the re-clear. I am sure it will look a lot better :shocked

Here is another pic