It just followed me home (version 2)!

[96Green]

Hi.

Some of you might remember my 96 Sport that met an unfortunate end:

Well, I'm back, and I just picked up this cherry b***h!

Oh, and the best part...

And as a bonus, I don't have to change my username either!

 

[colintrax]

Looks good! So what's the first mod?

 

[96Green]

The first mods will likely be cleaning the human slime out of the interior, replacing the broken taillight, cleaning even more human slime, and doing something about the very yellowed head & fog lights.

Also have to fix the power lock in the drivers door, and replace the battery in the remote.

 

[colintrax]

Search for cleaning threads by Joe Dirt, his advice has helped me many times in regards to cleaning.

As far as the headlights, I've had good luck hitting the housing with ~800 grit sandpaper, then 2,000 grit, clean it, hit it with rubbing compound, and then wax it.

Have fun, you'll be busy for a few days

 

[96Green]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[delexploder]

2wd?

 

[96Green]

Yes, 2x4, V8, XLT. Green, with the green interior (why, Ford? Why?).

Zero rust. Other than needing a properly good cleaning on the inside, it's almost too nice to be a beater.

 

[colintrax]

You'll grow to love the green interior, I did

 

[MONMIX]

Are you gonna fix the boo-boo on the top of the lift gate?

 

[96Green]

Are you gonna fix the boo-boo on the top of the lift gate?

Probably not. The hatch still opens & closes, and doesn't leak, so...

 

[J_C]

Are you gonna fix the boo-boo on the top of the lift gate?

It looks like it's just about the right size to slap one of these lights in the depression as a backup light, then it's a feature not a flaw, though hatch clearance would have to be considered:

http://www.amazon.com/30-Motorbike-Motorcycle-Excavator-Bulldozer/dp/B00E1HH7Q8

 

[chefduane]

...how many miles on her?

 

[Flash]

As far as the headlights, I've had good luck hitting the housing with ~800 grit sandpaper, then 2,000 grit, clean it, hit it with rubbing compound, and then wax it.

I'd be treating them with a UV protectant rather than waxing, something like 303. I've heard once they go yellow and you sand them off they go off again really quickly.

Otherwise a clear polyurethane spray.

Does anyone make a replacement headlight lens?
I've seen headlights for $30.

 

[colintrax]

I'd be treating them with a UV protectant rather than waxing, something like 303. I've heard once they go yellow and you sand them off they go off again really quickly.

Otherwise a clear polyurethane spray.

Does anyone make a replacement headlight lens?
I've seen headlights for $30.

Personally I've had good luck with wax. They'll reyellow, but it takes a few years. I've used that technique on just about every major brand of car and nobody has had em turn yellow again within an unreasonable amount of time. I must say though, I use plastix as the rubbing compound, and it might have UV stuff in it. I'll have to check

 

[scott9050]

Is there a reason not to go with these?:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Headlights-...ash=item1e66d1dc71:g:CoIAAOSwd0BVzahU&vxp=mtr

 

[firefly1246]

When you clean up the headlights you have to put a UV protectant back onto the headlight or else it will look like crap again. At wal mart and auto part stores they sell a temporary wax based protectant which only lasts a few months at best. The best fix is to put a permanent protectant like opti lens. Opti Lens cost about $50,( but you have enough for multiple cars) so sometimes it is cheaper to just by replacement headlights (especially on common cars). So just be warn unless you wax them every months or so with the store uv protector they are going to look crappy again.

On new headlights they have a UV protecting coating and when it brakes down over time is when the plastic in the headlights starts fading. The opti lens is like the oem coating and it is applied like a clear paint you brush on.

Enjoy!

 

[1997XLTRollover]

You'll grow to love the green interior, I did

I have to second this. The green interior is actually pretty unique and looked pretty cool on the green trucks. I loved my old 97. Mine was cloth though, not sure if they ever made it in leather but the green cloth was nice.

 

[96Green]

I have to second this. The green interior is actually pretty unique and looked pretty cool on the green trucks. I loved my old 97. Mine was cloth though, not sure if they ever made it in leather but the green cloth was nice.

They did do it in leather, and it looked awful. Thankfully mine is in cloth, and I find it far less offensive than the green leather. I'd go so far as to say I kinda like it.

 

[96Green]

Is there a reason not to go with these?: [replacement headlights]

That's probably what I'll do, as that's cheaper than a polishing kit, and the lights on my other car are glass, and thus, won't ever go all foggy and gross.

...how many miles on her?

The odo shows just shy of 165,000. Take that for all it's worth.

It looks like it's just about the right size to slap one of these lights in the depression as a backup light, then it's a feature not a flaw, though hatch clearance would have to be considered

I actually still have one of the two big LED spots that were on the front of my Sport. I've been toying with putting it somewhere on the back as an aux reverse light.


I spent the past hour cleaning Human Slime out of her. I've gotten it to a point i'd call it "drivable, but, still dirty." All the hard touch surfaces (steering wheel, dash, etc...) are cleaned up. Still need to do the carpets & seats. Really thinking of bringing it somewhere and paying someone to deal with it. I also need to de-stink the vents.

Here is some more eye candy for you:

The torn armrest is the only bad part of the interior. ... and that's an easy fix.

All the instruments light up!

The back seat is surprisingly clean, as is the cargo area.

Here is all the crap I found in the car, so far. All of this was in the center console.

2 visa cards (yes, i shredded them)
32¢
A micro USB to barrel plug adapter
a toothbrush
a fork
2 pens
a bandaid (thankfully, still in a sealed wrapper)
a graduation cap tassel thing
old coupons
chewed gum

 

[J_C]

When you clean up the headlights you have to put a UV protectant back onto the headlight or else it will look like crap again. At wal mart and auto part stores they sell a temporary wax based protectant which only lasts a few months at best. The best fix is to put a permanent protectant like opti lens. Opti Lens cost about $50,( but you have enough for multiple cars) so sometimes it is cheaper to just by replacement headlights (especially on common cars). So just be warn unless you wax them every months or so with the store uv protector they are going to look crappy again.

On new headlights they have a UV protecting coating and when it brakes down over time is when the plastic in the headlights starts fading. The opti lens is like the oem coating and it is applied like a clear paint you brush on.

Enjoy!

Might depend on the environment. I'm sure that those who park with their headlights facing the sun for a large % of the day will have it worse than others, but I'm also sure that some people repeat this protectant-necessity as more of an urban myth than truth.

My headlights went yellow and foggy like everyone else's. I used wet dry sandpaper and brasso to restore them. I never put any protectant or wax on and they look fine with only a yearly touch-up (takes much less time than the initial cleaning/refinishing, about 5 minutes if that) using brasso or plastic polish.

I already had the brasso and wet/dry sandpaper so it cost me nothing, then later I bought some plastic polish for another reason... zero investment and frankly, LESS work than if I had put a protectant on because there's the time to put protectant on, and then reapply, and/or you still have to eventually refinish the surface again but also have to remove (polish through) the protectant to do so.

I have no idea why people think you have to spend money to restore or replace your headlights. Who doesn't have sandpaper? IMO fine grint wet/dry sandpaper is so often needed for other things that you might as well own some. Even if you don't have brasso or plastic polish, it can be done with toothpaste but being a little lower abrasive it takes a bit more elbow grease or a buffer to reduce the polishing time.

I see it like polishing a brass belt buckle. You don't replace the buckle every time the sheen fades a little or put some polymer coating on... it's only as hard as you make it.