2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club  


Go Back   2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club > "Show" Discussions > Detailing/Cleaning Tips

Detailing/Cleaning Tips Cleaning your Mach 1 - Washing, Waxing, Detailing Tips and suggestions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-08-2019, 09:45 AM   #1
AlloyPony
Registered User
 
AlloyPony's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 161
Dealing with rock chips

So, since I started driving in 1995 I've lost track of how many vehicles I have owned. It's sort of a sickness. Lol. Mustangs, Camaros, a Challenger...Jeeps, pickups, etc. Maybe 25 vehicles or so altogether.

I have NEVER seen a car that has paint chips like this Mach 1. When I bought the car, it was a 1-owner and he cared for it really well, but, he did daily drive it for a while and the bumper, fenders, and hood looked like they had been driven through heavy shotgun fire. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen.

So, I spent a good amount of money last year and had the bumper, hood, and fenders painted. The car looked amazing. I put about 5,000 miles on it and the darn thing is chipping all over again. Bumper, hood, etc. has little white specs from chips showing all over the paint.

I had a '94 GT and a '01 GT, so same basic body style, and neither of them chipped like this. I'm wondering if the Azure Blue paint specifically is the problem? Is there something about that formula that just doesn't hold up well?

So I called around and got some quote for the clear protective film for the front. Prices were from $450 to $900. No thanks....I had the entire front painted for $900.

So... does anybody here have any suggestions? How can I keep the paint on this car from getting destroyed again?? (Not driving it isn't an option for me
__________________
2003 Mach 1 - TR3650 - Mac O/R H-pipe - Ford Racing driveshaft - Modified air intake - Nitto Motivo 315/35s on 10.5" FR500 wheels - Steeda clutch adjuster
AlloyPony is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 11:56 AM   #2
ab_mach1
Lorraine's driver
 
ab_mach1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 2,442
Re: Dealing with rock chips

Yeah, they are just too **** proud of that clear protective film stuff. Even just doing the front bumper is too expensive lol.

I use Dr. ColorChip for mine. The paint I've gotten has always matched and it's pretty easy to put on, especially for those of us that don't have a steady hand. If your patient, you can use it to fill up deep chips too. I've order kits twice over the 7 years I've owned my Mach. I've always been satisfied with the results.

https://www.drcolorchip.com/
__________________
  • Instagram: @azurblumach1
  • SCT X3 with LaSota Racing tune
  • Borla Stingers w/JBA off road H pipe
  • MGW short shifter w/comfort handle
  • Eibach Sportlines w/Koni STR.T's and Maximum Motorsports CC plates
ab_mach1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 12:44 PM   #3
311-420
Can't be bridled
 
311-420's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,005
Re: Dealing with rock chips

As paint ages it "dries out" and will chip easier. Doesn't matter how much of a garage queen the car is or has been. Stay far back from other cars on the highway and steer clear of gravel roads and that's about all you can do, besides pay $900 for a piece of plastic film I guess. If you had the front end repainted recently and it's already chipping, I would be inclined to think the job wasn't done to very high standards. But I'm no paint/body guy. Azure may just be a color that makes chips more visible.
__________________
2004 Mach 1 #6956 5spd w/IUP
Eaton swap, longtubes, built 3.73 SRA
452hp/409tq dynojet🏁
311-420 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 02:08 PM   #4
AlloyPony
Registered User
 
AlloyPony's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 161
Re: Dealing with rock chips

I've also considered a Colgan bra for the front that I could use during my weekly commute and then take it off for the weekend car shows. That would certainly do the trick, it would just be a pain to take the bra off and put it on again all the time.

Sigh..

I noticed that 3M had a clear spray film called "Paint Defender" that did exactly what I want, but it appears that they took it off the market a couple of years ago. I wonder why they pulled it?
__________________
2003 Mach 1 - TR3650 - Mac O/R H-pipe - Ford Racing driveshaft - Modified air intake - Nitto Motivo 315/35s on 10.5" FR500 wheels - Steeda clutch adjuster
AlloyPony is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 05:33 PM   #5
Big Ron
Original 03 TR Owner
 
Big Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Waco, TX
Posts: 2,860
Re: Dealing with rock chips

If I remember correctly there was a 3 month problem with there being bad primer put on the hoods of our cars when built. Mine fell in the time period. I too had excessive amount of rock chips. When I had the front of mine repainted I told them of the primer problem and it was a lot more than the stated $900.00. Since then I have just driven slower. When I travel on the interstate now I stay right around 60 mph. This gives the rocks and bugs time to get out of the way. LOL So far so good. It has been about a year since repaint. No chips.

I wouldn't put the clear protective film on my car even if it was free.





Big Ron
Big Ron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2019, 09:27 PM   #6
falcongtho3
Moderating at Mach 1
 
falcongtho3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 16,267
Re: Dealing with rock chips

Pretty much a given on the '03s with original paint. There is a TSB out on the proper procedure to repaint the front end. Ford admitted there was a problem, just would help fix it.

__________________
Krewe de la Mach Rouge

#340804 13th Mach 1 built
11/07/02 Build Date
12/13/02 Delivery

Last edited by HAEG; 04-09-2019 at 08:14 AM.
falcongtho3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
(c) 2002-2013 Mach1Registry.com

<