As promised here are some cloudy day pictures of where I am so far. I actually ended up with an electric polisher, it fell in my hands so I figured at that point use it. It only has one speed, which is not crazy fast plus I am raking it pretty easy.

Here some of the hood I did. I believe the finishing polish I am using is not cutting enough to take it back to factory restore, I did this spot three times....however....for a 32 year old stock Jeep on 30's it made a huge difference. I am probably going ro do the whole Jeep with this polish and see how it looks and then decide if I want to go further. I'd rather bring it back to some level than to accidentally ruin it because I tried going to far.

Also I still don't know what this color is called. It is a dark blue but can look black or purple at times, some people have called ir green. It also appears to have some metallic flake it, maybe. I don't think I have ever seen another XJ this exact color. Edit: No idea why the pictures uploaded that way but if you click the first one it gets bigger then you can scroll through.

 

The hood and roof will be the toughest to do because of being flat and exposed to the sun and weather.
Once you start on the sides you may see that the clear coat is more clear than on the hood and roof, or looks deeper and more focused reflections.
Your choice would be to redo the hood and roof starting with a rubbing compound, then a polishing compound then wax and polish or have top top side resprayed with clear coat...

I believe the color is called "Dark Baltic Blue Metallic"

 

I think you may be right. I just searched 1989 Dark Blue Jeep Cherokee and found this image of an 89 Pioneer exactly like mine. Mine is also a Pioneer. Mine came with stock rally rims and the image has turbines. I really want turbines for mine. The image I found this from was from an article and it mentioned the paint waa dull but it is 100% the same color as mine.

I've seen blue jeep cherokee but they normally are more flat and opaque. I don't guess I've ever seen another one my color with the metallic. Pretty cool I guess.


See the brown dirty strips above and below the head lights and blinkers. Mine even used to have that exactly like that one before I took all of it off and painted it haha. I love those turbines.

 

Went out today and noticed the left side of my hood has whitish looking spots on it. It did not look like this immediatelt after finishing yesterday. Got a little worried but grabbed a microfiber towel and some appeared to wipe away but other spots don't seem to want to come off. My right side didn't really have this.

I am thinking since it didn't look like this immediatelt after finishing and wiping that maybe I just didn't work the polish in enough on that side and it's dried polish. I will admit I did use more polish on the left than the right. I was scared if I didn't use enough I'd burn through the paint. So I'm worried to use too little but also worried to use to much.

This has left me a bit scareed to continue and to get any stri ger compound. Do y'all think it is just dried polish? And how do I get that off, just compound or polish again? I nees to anyway as the hood is the worst spot on the Jeep and actually needs something a little stronger than finishing polish.

Sorry for being long winded. Best pictures I could get to show it. All pictures were taken before wiping any away. Some of it wiped away but some don't seem to want to wipe away.

 

Ok, after wiping. I took a picture in the sun and it doesn't look as bad. Went and bought some more micro fiber pads (tgey had no foam). And I also bought two more bottles of stuff. So now I have 3. What I originally had, the polishing compound (lighest), rubbing compound (heavier), and a scratch and swirl remover (probablly didn't need this).

 

Probably just dried polish, soapy water will take it off.

 

The clear coat is old, so it is not smooth. Under magnification it will have grooves, pits, hills and valleys...basically like a orange peel but much finer. The residue that whitened overnight is compound that was in all the little pits and crevices... So what does that mean, more compounding and polishing to make a smother finish. If you "wear through" the clear coat and the paint, then there was no saving it in the first place, but by the looks of your paint, light rubbing compound, then polishing compound and some wax polished should bring it up very nice, but it will take repeated steps on the hood and roof, they will be the worse.....

 

Yeah the medium rubbing compound helped ths hood more than the finishing compound. I've done it a few times. I may have to get the heavy just for the hood and roof though. One more set up of pictures until I finish, unless something goes wrong.

Back of jeep not washed, fender washed, hood polished.

Some sun.

Late. No sun.

Can't really tell anything here but you needed a left side shot ha.

 

That honestly looks good for a vehicle of its age and the fact that it was probably not a garage queen. I think once you keep doing more and more of the exterior panels, it will really come together. That fender really shows how well the paint can shine with just a little bit of work.

Others are right about the hood and roof being usually the first spots to show wear, or the spots with the worst wear.

I may have to try a little of that swirl remover for the hood of my XJ. It looks great from some angles, but not so great in others. The previous owner (older gentleman) used to wash it with a sponge and dry it with a towel, and after 30 years, you can't help some swirl marks.