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  #1  
Old 12-28-2006, 03:33 AM
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SubaRyu SubaRyu is offline
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Location: Redondo Beach, CA
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Clear-coat the front grill!

How many of your SVX has foggy waterfall grill? Mine was one of them and I sanded, polished all the way before. It shined but didn't last.
The great boss who runs K-staff in Japan recenly told me how they refresh their SVX's front grill. Sanding, polishing, and adding "clear coat". So I did it last weekend. I had sanded and polished already so this time I just cleaned the surface and applied 2 coats of clear coat. The result is instant and amazing....I don't know how long it will last but so far it just look like a brand new grill to me. It has rich glass-like clearness now. I was going to spend some $$ to buy brand new grill or something, but I'm very happy with this result now.

Attached are the photos after clear coated.



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Links:
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1992 Subaru SVX LSL Pearl White (2001~2005)
1994 Mercury Sable GS (1999~2001)


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  #2  
Old 12-28-2006, 03:45 AM
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I sanded/buffed mine, and they're crystal clear.

Yours looks great too
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  #3  
Old 12-28-2006, 03:53 AM
RSVX RSVX is offline
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wow, thats very nice... I cant believe that no one here has done that yet...
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  #4  
Old 12-28-2006, 04:00 AM
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It's actually really easy.

Rather than sand/buff your headlights, you can wetsand them for a couple hours with 1500 grit sandpaper to get the yellow off, and then rattlecan clearcoat a few thin layers on to fill in the lines created from the sandpaper. Looks professional, and it comes out looking like his.
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  #5  
Old 12-28-2006, 07:37 AM
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sicksubie sicksubie is offline
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wow, looks great...
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  #6  
Old 12-30-2006, 08:18 AM
dallasvx dallasvx is offline
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The grill looks brand new, that's exactly what I need to do to mine. I accidently got some engine cleaner on mine and it got all hazy and discolored. Not sure that stains will come out but it's definitely worth trying.

After sanding with the 1500 grit, what did you use to buff with? Any special polish?

subaRyu, I like your clear lights. Was it difficult to fabricate them. I just purchased an extra set of lights to attempt this mod. Any words of advise.

thanks, jose
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  #7  
Old 12-30-2006, 01:56 PM
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SubaRyu SubaRyu is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dallasvx
The grill looks brand new, that's exactly what I need to do to mine. I accidently got some engine cleaner on mine and it got all hazy and discolored. Not sure that stains will come out but it's definitely worth trying.

After sanding with the 1500 grit, what did you use to buff with? Any special polish?

subaRyu, I like your clear lights. Was it difficult to fabricate them. I just purchased an extra set of lights to attempt this mod. Any words of advise.

thanks, jose
Hey there,

I think I even sanded up to #2000 or higher. Then I polished with this rubbing compound that I've been using(unfortunately this is from Japan, but there should be tons of substitutes around here) that takes care from coarse to fine surface. Then I used MEGUIAR'S show car or new car glazes to finish buffing. Then clear coat.
But as Sr240sx mentioned, maybe you don't need to polish the surface if you went through the sanding really well. I had done my buffing while ago, so this time I only had to clean up the surface and shoot the clear coat.

Thanks for the headlights. I need them for HID light!
The clear headlights took me whole weekend since I didn't have proper work station.. I had to stop and go to home depot to buy some dremel.
This link might help.
http://www.smallcar.com/svx/hlk.htm
The exact location/position of the clear lense cover is very vague and you have to be careful with since you wanna have the corners and grill all matched up nicely. There might be some solution for this. It was tricky to me.

I heard some guy used butyl rubber instead of the silicone that came with the clear lense set. If you accidently messed up you can easily remove. I didn't try it so I can't tell how it works.
Anyways, good luck!
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Links:
2004 Honda S2000 (2008~)
1992 Subaru SVX LSL Liquid Silver (2007~2008)
1996 SVX LSi Bordeaux Pearl (2006~)
2002 Lexus IS300 Sportcross (2005~)
1992 Subaru SVX LSL Pearl White (2001~2005)
1994 Mercury Sable GS (1999~2001)


1/43 Scale SVX Models


[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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  #8  
Old 01-01-2007, 10:36 PM
dallasvx dallasvx is offline
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Ryu,

Thanks again for all of the info. I'll have to wait till I get some extra free time to attempt installing the clear headlights and sanding the grill. I see my svx as a slow work in progress. Thanks again,

jose
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