Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

[Anthony S.]

Any advice on cleaning up a car to prepare it for Star/Bowtie awards. All original, just years on it, and the typical oil leaks one might expect..."Clean the car without
hurting the orginal paint/finishes, and without hurting the frame paint???, etc. etc." Sharing any actual experiences would be a plus. I have not found
much in a search of past posts/ threads on this subject. Thanks in advance...T

[John F.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

I have my 62 ready for Kansas City in two years. Everyone says a good cleaning only, no restoring. Leave the rust on the bolts, grease and oil as they lie, etc. I wiped the dripping oil up

[Kevin G.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Tony, Good luck with your pursuit towards the prestigious NCRS Bowtie/Star Award. The best advise I could offer would be, the cleaner the better!

My .02

[Roy S.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

If you own a Judging reference manual, read the star/bowtie section, if you do not own one it could be the best investment you ever make, available through the online store for a minimal fee.

[Anthony S.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Hi Roy, Thanks, good points. I have the older version and the latest version of the Corvette Judging Reference Manual.. I am trying to get views of actual experience, in addition to the content in the guide. Thanks Tony

[Patrick H.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Diluted Simple Green in a spray bottle, diluted Dawn and hot water.
As long as finishes are essentially visible you're really going to be fine. If you have grease and dirt caked on so that the judges can't see if a part is original or what the finish may be, then it needs to come off.
I use old soft toothbrushes to help clean.
Don't disassemble ANYTHING or remove any bolts if humanly possible.

Look at my car photos visible in my link below. It should give you some idea of the "usual" amount of dirt seen.

[Mike E.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

This one is really funny...If a new Corvette was built today with all the glue smeared on the door I don't think folks would buy one...Our standards have sure changed, I guess its just what makes these old cars so cool.

When restoring its so easy to over do. As I I'm working on my '65 I keep telling myself...GM didn't make show cars. Thanks for posting!



Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

This one is really funny...If a new Corvette was built today with all the glue smeared on the door I don't thing folks would buy one...Our standards have sure changed, I guess its just what makes these old cars so cool. When restoring its so easy to over do.

As I I'm working on my '65 I keep telling myself...GM didn't make show cars. Thanks for posting!

Mike

Mike,
The glue wasn't that ugly when it was new. The glue went on clear. That yellow finish is after years of change. However, I agree with you our standards have certainly changed. I just spent a day with a friend taking museum delivery, and those cars are spectacular; of course they are brand new and 21st century technology.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

I happen to think that glue is beautiful.

[John H.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Hi Roy, Thanks, good points. I have the older version and the latest version of the Judging Guide. I am trying to get views of actual experience, in addition to the content in the guide. Thanks Tony

Tony -

What Roy referenced wasn't the Judging Guide - it's the "Corvette Judging Reference Manual", 8th Edition; the book everyone should have, but few do. It has a complete section of the Star/Bowtie award.

[Anthony S.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Right on. I was thinking Corvette Judging Reference Manual, but shortened it, whIch made It confusIng. So I updated my post above for clarification. Thanks for catching that.

[Anthony S.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

.... I do have the 8th Edition. It has grown over the years and thus takes a bit longer to find specific facts you are looking for ....ha.

[Terry B.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

I just successfully went through the Bowtie process in San Diego. My advice is to get everything as clean as possible without removing any of the old paint. It is a fine line as you need to expose stampings, bolt heads, zerks and etcetera without removing the assembly markings. My car had been undercoated (a blessing and a curse) and it had to be removed. For most of the cleaning I used Simple Green and rags or soft brushes, for some areas I CAREFULLY used plastic scrapers and screwdrivers to remove caked on grime. For the undercoat I used heat and plastic scrapers. As you may already know they will not tell you exactly what they are looking for (so you don't have a recipe for building a Bowtie), but when you go through local and regional judging they will help you identify places that must be cleaned more than they have already been cleaned.

[Anthony S.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

Terry, how did you ever get that under coating off without hurting the car!!!! T

I am impressed. I have been told stories with bad endings....

[Terry B.]

Re: Prep for Star and Bowtie judging - cleaning recommendations

I did it carefully. I have a scare from the effort. As I said it was a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing in that everything underneath it was perfectly preserved.