Removing Dirt and Grit after few years of sitting outside
 

Good Afternoon,

After working on the car for a few months, I was able to take her out yesterday and drive her around town a bit. Actually drove pretty good. I took it to the car wash and washed a lot of the dirt off the body. Can anyone point me in the right direction with reference to getting that other layer of dirt that seems to be fused into the paint somewhat?

Thanks in Advance

Forgot to Mention that it's an 83 244

look into detailing kits. You can find multi-step kits which include mild compounding agents to remove the top layer of oxidation and dirt then use a circular buffer and sealant/wax products to bring back the shine. If you have any tar or tree sap on the paint, there are products to remove that as well - do that prior to any compounding.

Do you have a solid color or metallic paint and does your year have a clear-coat finish?

thanks for the heads up.

i really don't know the difference between solid vs metallic paint and no it doesn't have any clear coat. i'll try to upload a pic a little later of the car.

The old Volvo paints are pretty good. This kind of dirt though is best removed with a mechanical buffer, pretty much the only way. By hand you can try using a CLAY BAR but it's a lot of work! Of course you can always hire a professional detailer.

metallic colors are colors like silver, gold, graphite, etc that have a sparkle to them. these virtually always have a clear coat. a solid color like white, black, red, blue-grey, from 1983 probably does NOT have a clear coat (but my solid white 1994 mercedes wagon does have a clearcoat)

before attacking it with a buffer or clay bar, try using a paint cleaner polish like Meguiars medium cut cleaner, then follow up with a polish/wax. follow the instructions for hand rubbing on the cleaner, doing a couple feet square at a time.

Get a little mild rubbing compound. Find an inconspicuous part of the car and use a clean white applicator. Rub on about a quarter size spot and then look at the pad. If it is only either dirty or clean then it is clear coat but of the paint color is on the applicator then it doesn't have a CC. Then look up how to detail the car on the web.