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The pads and cleaning tool for the polisher arrived Friday. Still waiting on the backing plate from Griots.
While I'm waiting, this will be the next project, if I have time to tinker with it. My next 10 days are pretty much already consumed with a series of badly needed repairs. I hate to say it, but I may not get back to this stuff until after the 1th of July.
I picked this plate frame up at our club's Spring Dust-Off car show swapmeet. Rinke (pronounced Rink-ee) was a Pontiac/GMC dealer just a mile or two south on Van Dyke from the GM Tech Center in Warren, MI. My cars first owner, a GM engineer, took delivery of his ordered T/A through Rinke. So I've been keeping an eye out for a Rinke Pontiac plate frame. This one is a little weathered, but should clean up pretty well (I hope). Only took five years to find one.
Griot's backing plate arrived today, along with some microfiber and pad cleaner. Immediately chucked the plate it in the machine, and it's as true and smooth as it could be.
I most whole-heartedly agree with the advice from YouTube...if you buy and HF orbital polisher, open the box, grab the included backing plate, and throw it right in the garbage. The difference is so dramatic...I wish I could post video of them.
Made show #3 at our club's sponsoring dealer. Starting a new job next week, so this might be the last one of these I can get to for a while. There are two more, but they usually start at 4pm (with retirees showing up at 2:30 - 3pm to get the best spots), with registration closing at 6pm. Hard to get there from work with those sorts of start times.
Actually, it's been a very good "get the car out and use it" stretch...out 3 times in 4 days. Golling's Charity Cruise on Thursday, Woodward on Friday night, then out for the Widetracker's Summer Picnic today.
Yeah, it's a great property, and he's built for this sort of thing. All the folding tables and chairs are his, lots of fans, A/C in another room, outbuilding that has nicely finished his and hers bathrooms, pagoda with a bunch of picnic tables...it's a sweet place.
Just started a new job Monday...first new employer in 30 years. It's keeping me pretty busy. With 3 weeks left until the Nationals, I don't know if I'll have time to do anything with the paint or not. Going to be very disappointed if I don't.
Started a new job...very happy about that, but limited vacation to start, and just one thing after another I want to or need to do.
We're in a week long build up to the Woodward Dream Cruise. Was out several times last week, and will be again this week. Saturday we made it down to the Roadkill Nights event on Woodward.
A few pics from the bleachers inside the M1 Concourse facility, overlooking the racing action on Woodward. That's Cristy Lee on the big screen, interviewing an FCA official.
There's no racing action at the moment...a pause while they did some additional filming for a Roadkill segment. Someone who shall remain anonymous (I won't spoil it for those who won't otherwise see or hear about it prior to the episode airing) put another car into the wall, ala Richard Rawlings.
A view from the top of the stands, looking back over the other activities. TV cameras, lots of vendors, Kindig-It-Design, lots of food and drink, BMX-like bike jumps, Motor Trend hospitality tent, car show, Dodge Thrill Rides and Drift Rides all going on back there.
Tonight, working on the van for a roadtrip this weekend, then next weekend is the Nationals! No touching up chips, no paint correction...gonna look just like she did last time I was there. Very bummed about that. But, getting out and enjoying the car, so it's not all bad.
Won't bore you with the details, but it's been a couple of weeks of setbacks at just about every turn. Still fighting them today...worked in the rain after work tonight pulling an aluminum enclosed snowmobile trailer from under a broken tree limb. Came within an inch or two of collapsing far enough to damage the trailer and the sled, but miraculously both escaped unharmed.
But while fighting these battles, no car prep. Ended up on foot for the Nationals. Still glad we drove down though. Now an 8 day blitz to get the T/A, van, car hauler and travel trailer all ready for the next big show!
Until then, a few pics from the Nationals.
All the factory wheels (I'm partial to PW7s), honeycombs, snowflakes...it there a factory wheel that DOESN'T look good on a third gen? I don't think so.
50th anniv. of the Firebird, 35th anniv. of this show, 30th anniv. of the TTA. So the TTA folks showed up in force. Pretty cool to see so many in one place.
These were under the hood of a 4th gen. I thought they were pretty nice. Wish I could get them for a TBI 3rd gen! Never did catch up with the owner to ask about them.
06-27-2019, 08:59 PM
