How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!

H

hawk ii

New member
Dec 21, 1998
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I need some input from you guys out there who have rescued GMC
Motorhomes in the past -- I'm faced with the task of cleaning
off 3-4 years worth of grime, dirt, oxidized paint from my "new
to me" GMC Royale.

The GMC is the original Cameo White, I think - but it has seen
much better days -- the would like to be able to clean of all
the crap (including black mold on the roof line) and try to put
a shine back on the original paint -- at least make it look
presentable while I redo the inside.

Any and all suggestion are welcome - any special home remedies,
secret process, old or new cleaners, special polishes, or magic
spells and incantations that any of you have had success with.

===
Pete Papas-Daytona Beach--Land of Hard Beaches * Soft Women . ___________ (MY TOYS) ___________ (904)672-0571
. /_][__][] []| 1973 GMC M/H /_][__][][] | 1976 GMC M/H
. *O-------OO-/ Painted Desert *O-------OO-/ Royale R/Bath
.1976 Bi-Centennial Iron Head Harley Davidson Motor Cycle
.1979 280ZX Datsun (First Production Year - 1 of only 1000)
.Home Page> http://members.tripod.com/~mehawk_ii/index.html
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
 
>I need some input from you guys out there who have rescued GMC
>Motorhomes in the past -- I'm faced with the task of cleaning
>off 3-4 years worth of grime, dirt, oxidized paint from my "new
>to me" GMC Royale.

In the army we used Kelite SPRAYWHITE to clean vehicles and aircraft ,
but that was MANY years ago, the best thing I have found since, is called
CRUD CUTTER, found it at Home Depot. smells like its formulated close to
the Kelite. and cleans just
as good. takes a little elbow grease but the results worth the effort.
after the Crud Cutter then its time for rubbing compound.
 
Pete,
My GMC had been in storage in the REO speedwagon
shop in Lansing for many Years. It had a 1/2"
thick layer of dust on it...A black,Grimy,Sooty
dust. When it would get wet it would leave
black lines down the sides,around the trim etc.
I sprayed it with a hose then used rubbing
compound on it. Cleaned up pretty good. I have
pictures on the net somewhere, can't remember
my website right now.
I used a bunch of different brands,stuff from the
seventys left there unused.
Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of hawk.ii...Pete
> Papas
> Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 6:23 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!
>
>
> I need some input from you guys out there who have rescued GMC
> Motorhomes in the past -- I'm faced with the task of cleaning
> off 3-4 years worth of grime, dirt, oxidized paint from my "new
> to me" GMC Royale.
>
> The GMC is the original Cameo White, I think - but it has seen
> much better days -- the would like to be able to clean of all
> the crap (including black mold on the roof line) and try to put
> a shine back on the original paint -- at least make it look
> presentable while I redo the inside.
>
> Any and all suggestion are welcome - any special home remedies,
> secret process, old or new cleaners, special polishes, or magic
> spells and incantations that any of you have had success with.
>
>
> ===
> Pete Papas-Daytona Beach--Land of Hard Beaches * Soft Women .
> ___________ (MY TOYS) ___________ (904)672-0571
> . /_][__][] []| 1973 GMC M/H /_][__][][] | 1976 GMC M/H
> . *O-------OO-/ Painted Desert *O-------OO-/ Royale R/Bath
> .1976 Bi-Centennial Iron Head Harley Davidson Motor Cycle
> .1979 280ZX Datsun (First Production Year - 1 of only 1000)
> .Home Page> http://members.tripod.com/~mehawk_ii/index.html
> _________________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
 
Hi Pete: Been doing the same myself. I used a 1,800 psi power washer to
blast the roof area free of mold/mildew stains with just some siding cleaner
from Walmart for that purpose. Used Simple Green to wash the rest of the
paint. On the pod, roof air, antennae cases, and the somewhat Fantastic
Vent, I used Meguires(sp?) #45 Cleaner/polish. All came like new. For the
body, if its the original enamel (I think mine was original or at least it
was some form of enamel) its pretty tough stuff. I cautiously used a air
buffer/polisher @ about 1,200 - 1,500 rpm with a mixture of LIQUID EBONY and
plain old Nu Finish car wax. The liquid ebony is a mild polishing agent for
power buffers and I cut it initially 50/50 with the wax to prevent mishaps.
I do 2 square feet at a time until it dries to a powder. Move on and do
about 20 square feet total. Then I change bonnets and go over the area with
just Nu Finish. I do it again one more time to get all the residue. My
paint was about as dull as a barbecue when I started and eventually came up
to a nice shine. You can use any polishing compound but I would use it
sparingly or in conjunction with a wax to minimize its abrasive character.
Also, I used over 1 gallon of Nu Finish (9 bottles) and only a fraction of a
bottle of the polishing compound. You wouldn't mistake it for a $5,000 paint
job, but its not bad. I also tried some high tech 3M stuff, but it didnot
work any better and its incredibly expensive. In the front, as an
experiment I used the wax by itself with a terry cloth. At first nothing,
but after a tremendous amount of work, the section came up like new. I mean
it took hours (7-8) just to do the front (by hand) and it seems like all the
paint is coming off looking at the cloth, but I was shocked at how good this
worked by itself. I probably could have made things quicker by wet sanding
with 600/800 wet unidirectionally from the roof line toward the ground first
to get that really bad oxidized paint off, but I was afraid. walter bright
76GB.

- -----Original Message-----
From: hawk.ii...Pete Papas [mailto:hawk_ii_mail]
Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 6:23 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!

I need some input from you guys out there who have rescued GMC
Motorhomes in the past -- I'm faced with the task of cleaning
off 3-4 years worth of grime, dirt, oxidized paint from my "new
to me" GMC Royale.

The GMC is the original Cameo White, I think
 
snip.......

>body, if its the original enamel (I think mine was original or at
>least it
>was some form of enamel) its pretty tough stuff. I

My 1975 Palm Beach was Imron paint. I would guess 76's were also.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 Macfarlane Drive PH 4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
800-827-9989
 
Dave, isn't Imron a Dupont enamal? I thought it was. Several people
indicated this too me and that it is no longer made, although it might still
be available. Have I been mislead? walt.
76 GB.

- -----Original Message-----
From: davegreenberg1 [mailto:davegreenberg1]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 9:04 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!

snip.......

>body, if its the original enamel (I think mine was original or at
>least it
>was some form of enamel) its pretty tough stuff. I

My 1975 Palm Beach was Imron paint. I would guess 76's were also.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 Macfarlane Drive PH 4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
800-827-9989
 
Walt:

Just checked with local body shop supplier, Imron is still sold.

It's my understanding that the 73-74 coaches used an acrylic enamel, I
believe? Subsequent year's used Imron paint.

Paul Bartz

From: Bright, Walter [mailto:paa8394]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!

Dave, isn't Imron a Dupont enamal? I thought it was. Several people
indicated this too me and that it is no longer made, although it might still
be available. Have I been mislead? walt. 76 GB.
From: davegreenberg1
[mailto:davegreenberg1]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 9:04 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-help !!

body, if its the original enamel (I think mine was original or at
least it was some form of enamel) its pretty tough stuff. I

My 1975 Palm Beach was Imron paint. I would guess 76's were also.
 
Paul, so did I just now. You are correct, it is available, its in
production and Imron is a polyurethane, at least now. Not what I expected.
I'll try and look into it further. walt, 76 GB.
- -----Original Message-----
From: Bartz, Paul [mailto:s9d3452]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 2:36 PM
To: 'gmcmotorhome'
Subject: RE: GMC: How do you clean a very DIRTY GMC-- help !!

Walt:

Just checked with local body shop supplier, Imron is still sold.

It's my understanding that the 73-74 coaches used an acrylic enamel, I
believe? Subsequent year's used Imron paint.

Paul Bartz

 
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