Body Cleaning

[stevem]

Looking to put the body back on this weekend and have been reading threads about cleaning prior to body work. Plan on driving in gelcoat through this summer so I will just be knocking down the parting lines and fitting doors, trunk, and hood, smoothing any sharp edges. I bought some prep all wax remover from Orielly. Seems most guys do a wipe down then use scotch bright pads etc. to roughen surface then wipe down again. Really don't want to scuff up the surface much if I am going to be driving it through the summer. Seems to me that could allow contaminants in. Is one good cleaning with prep all and wipe down with a cloth good enough at this stage. Maybe follow up with warm soap and water, or do you go for the full clean up in this case.

[j.miller]

Dish soap and warm water. If there is any visible wax in a mold line you can scrape it out with a small tool. After 500 of these I can't count the hours spent cleaning the body's before body work.....OH!, YES I CAN! One! On my first MK1. The only time I preclean the body is if it has been driving in gelcoat (to get the oil off the inside of the body) Have never....not once, had a problem due to mold release...da Bat

[stevem]

Thanks. Always great to have advice from an expert. I don't know how many body guys here in Hayward have ever seen a factory five much less worked on one. Might actually get above freezing here this weekend which will make the task much more pleasant.

[VD2021]

If you're going to drive it in gel why go through all of the cleaning now? I would degrease and scotch brite the areas along the parting lines (since you'll be sanding them) and wait until you're ready to start the bodywork for paint for the remainder.

You could even touch up the sanded parting lines with gel coat and buff the gel for a glossy finish while you enjoy it for the summer.

[stevem]

I think I'm just going to spot clean the areas I'm going to sand and soap and water the rest for now. Have to get it ready for pictures to send to the DMV to get my title.

[riptide motorsport]

I agree with vd2021.