Plastic/Modeling restore

[OK91LX]

Ok, So I beginning the process of putting my car back together and I started looking at most of the black trim items (ie cowl). Over the years of neglect, weather and just age, they have become faded and kind of hazy looking.. Anyone know of any products that might restore them some or something I can do to get the newness look back to them? With the car painted and looking good, the trim really stands out..



Todd

[Timebomb]

Paint the trim with gloss black paint. I've made the mistake of having a car painted without having the trim painted and it didn't look good. You can get ok results with a good spray paint, but to do it correctly use a gun or have your painter do it.

My trim was painted with a single stage gloss black paint and I'm very happy with the results.

[Chad82GT]

In the past I've used 400 grit to wet sand and prep the surface for wiper arms and trim pieces. I then hit it w/ a "good" spray can primer (1 light flash coat and 1 medium coat), then hit it w/ a "good" spray can black, same coating procedure. They looked like new. Just be sure to give plenty of drying time before reinstalling the wiper arms to avoid a permenent thumb print on the base of the arm (don't ask!). I used flat black, but it's just personal preference if you fo flat, semi-glass or gloss.

Like Brent said, it'd probably last longer if you shot them with a high quality automotive paint. To me, it's so easy to hit them w/ a spray can in the driveway that even if you have to do it annually it's probably still cheaper in the long run.

[Sprayboy91]

Spray paint 4 sure- and it looks like new every year when ya do it-and if the car lives in the garage then mabye once every 2 yrs?

[Blue91]

I redid my cowl grille, wiper arms, and trim around the windshield (when installers pulled the trim off for windshield replacement) with trim coating purchased from Oreilly. It was Duplicolor brand I believe. It's a semi flat black, which is closer to the original finish from the factory. It looks good, IMO.

But yeah, since you have the cowl, wiper arms, molding all around the conv. top, the "frame" of the windshield, plus the ledge under the side windows, IF you can, have your painter shoot em.