Recent content by Espada

After ten years of restoration 1971 Espada accepted for the June 15, 2014 Rodeo Drive Concours in Beverly Hills.  I have gotten many helpful restoration and detail tips from the people on this site over the years so thanks again to everyone.  Admission to the concours is free and open to all.

Garage operator giving me trouble due to oil drips under the car.  I have used metal pans but I need a single large pan or mat.  Largest I have seen is 3 x 4 feet but I need larger, say 4 x 8 feet.  Metal pan would be best but rubber absorbent mat would be okay.  Any recommendations?  Also can...

With a tall car or SUV it is convenient to place a ladder next to the car to reach the top.  But what if the ladder moves/slips/falls against the car?  Does anyone know of either a ladder with waterproof rubber bumpers or padding or rubber trim that can be used for padding?  Want to basically...

Subject car sat at a dealer for months, maybe years.  They obviously washed it many times but the water was obviously not dried properly.  This has left a tenacious, white hard water residue on shiny chrome surfaces such as the chrome grill "vents".  It does not come off with wash or distilled...

Does anyone remember "California Sun" brand pure carnauba car wax?  I believe it was made or bottled in Simi Valley, California.  It was the best.  Seemed to melt on, dried fast and the excess practically blew off.  I only found it in a few stores mainly marine.  Have not seen it for years.  Is...

This product is for cleaning interior walls but I unexpectedly found that it is perfect for cleaning scuff marks off vinyl and plastic, especially light colors, and especially on the lower part of the door interior and seats. Does not damage and leaves no residue. Even cleans penmarks and...

Not sure if this is the right forum, but does anyone know a way to repair a tear in a carpet short of replacing the entire section? It's a dark wool carpet on a 1985 Rolls Royce. The tear is a straight line but not on a "seam" if you know what I mean. The section can be removed easily and...

I missed the Lowe's sale on Porter-Cable 7336 for $80. Seems to be back to $100 at Lowes. Has anyone seen the PC 7336 for $80 still available? Thanks.

I contacted a reputable dent repair service and they said that to repair some dents, they drill a small hole in the "edge" of the door (the part that closes over the doorjamb) so they can get a tool in to pound out the dent from the inside. They then seal the hole with a rubber plug. The plug...

I use an old soft toothbrush for alloy wheels, good for getting in crevices. But something bigger and just as soft would be appreciated for larger areas of the wheel and under the hood. Can anyone recommend a large cleaning brush that is just as soft as a toothbrush? Maybe the vegetable...

I use cotton flannel for waxing and polishing. I buy it by the yard from the fabric store and select the softest one, and discard after one use. Is this an outdated approach? Is microfiber better - yet I am reluctant to use any synthetic for polishing in the belief (perhaps outdated) that...

My car has a thin, vertical dent in the clearcoat, cause unknown but probably a door ding. It is only visible (as a change in reflected light) by sighting down the length of the door. Can this be repaired by wet-sanding or does it need a body shop? Can I "build up" with 1-2 coats of clear and...

I have a 1971 Lamborghin Espada with twin gas tanks both high up on the fenders. Gas spills are a problem while refueling. Griots Garage claims to have this product fuelguard that is some kind of rubber flap, fits on the pipe and rolls out to prevent spills. Here is the link...

Sorry if this question has been answered but I'm new here and wondering what is the general opinion on waxing by hand versus a machine buffer (orbital or otherwise)? I have always used soft cotton flannel to apply and buff off the wax. Each piece lasts only maybe four square feet of car but I...

Bad news. My father left his 1981 Rolls Royce under a tree and the sap dripped on liberally. The sap was dry, hard and transparent. I managed to remove the sap with tar remover followed by clay. The problem is that the sap left faded marks. Polish and wax don't seem to help. Any...