Forum Member's Dodge Ram polished and Zainoed to perfection (53 pics)

[TH0001]

Man what a day. It started off well enough. I started early as I had about a 50 minute drive. Get on the expressway then boom!!!! 75 mile an hour tire blow out. I had just passed an on ramp and a Semi Truck was bearing down at me at full speed as I braked. I heard his tires screeching and his horn, I looked up in the rearview mirror and realized I had about a second left until death.

I was down to about 30 at the time, so swirved off into the steep ditch, the rim caught the dirt and propped me up on one wheel. I though I was going over as the rim dug into the ground, effectively stopping me from 30 mph in 15-20 feet. The other three tires came crashing down as I was pelleted from behind with all my detail equipment (that flew foward from the sudden stop). I didn't role, so I called a tow truck and took some pictures for you guys to enjoy.





Several month old Zaino still going strong!







The tow truck liftes the front of my truck out of the mud, we slap on a spare and I'm off...

A couple hours late to the detail though.

Process

Wash with Zaino Z7 in a foam gun using two buckets
Polished with Menzerna PowerGloss using LC Purple Foam
Polished with Menzerna SIP using LC Orange CCS
Polished with Menzerna 106ff using LC Blue CCS
50/50 wipe
Zaino Z5 pro (ZFX'd) for 2 coats
Zaino Z2 pro one coat
Zaino Z-8 Wipe
Zaino Z5pro one coat on rims, glass, and trim
Zaino Z16 for 2 coats on tires
Flitz Metal Polish on Exhaust

Okay on to the main event

The Ram had a lot of deeper scratches on the driver side. Here is the driver side door.



Same area after on pass of Power Gloss on the Purple Foam Pad. I was able to remove 100 percent of the swirls but only 90-95 percent of the scratches... (some where just too deep to go after)



Driver side front fender. Some deep scratches, light swirling and water etchings...



After one pass of PG/Purple Foam



After a pass of SIP/Orange pad



Here is the passenger side rear fender. Unlike the driver side, this passenger side did not have deep scratchs. However it had a lot of swirl marks. These where pretty light and one pass of 106ff on a blue pad removed them.

Before



Right side done half n half



Whole side done



Behind the rear tire...





Here is pass. side door. There where several areas of heaving pitting (in the left light) where the owner used SSR 2.5 from poorboys on the PC. Apparently this has happened to other people?



There was some really bad water etchings on the hood, roof, and bed cover (pictured) that required 2 pass of the wool @ 2200 RPM!!!. I then polished out with SIP/Orange and 106ff/Blue.



Here is a couple reflection shots from the bed cover after polishing...





I then pulled the truck out to inspect it in the sun for swirls and defects.

[TH0001]

A lot of people asking me how much Zaino do you apply. How much is enough for a coat, ect....

Well here is the Z5pro mixed with ZFX. This is right after I mixed it, its a about 1/2 OZ or so. With this little amount I was able to get two coats on the body and trim, and one coat on the glass and rims. A little goes a very long way!



To get this type of cover, simply mist the applicator with a spray of Z6 then apply the product in a thin X. With this amount there I was able to do 3/4's the hood and the front fender.



My twins...



After two coats of Z5, I wiped it clean and applied a coat of Z2. As its drying, rain clouds start rolling in (its been a bad day). I pull the truck out while the owner wiped away the Z2. I tried to get sun shots, but it was not to be today.

You can see the owner wiping the roof in this picture Of course I was kind enough to point out any spots he missed (I'm not kidding)



The leading edge of the clouds rolling in, covering the sun. I literally missed the sun shot by about 45 seconds.







Since I couldn't get any sun shots, I figured I would make the best of it and go for a lot of reflection shots...



The owner's thumb wiping off another spot (poor guy, I thought that was my job/ "Hey Josh, you missed another spot")









If you look closely, you can see 5 of me!!! (and listen close enough and you can hear my wife crying at the thought)

[TH0001]

The owner had to run so I packed up my stuff and my blown tire



Snapped one last photo...



And hit the road. The owner was in a hurry and passed me. That is him infront, heading into the rain.... Ahhh I guess this day was destined to end the same as it started

[zoomzoom mazda5]

What a day for you Todd, glad that your ok from the minor detour on the beeline, it looks like it from the pic's, and the your workmanship is always outstanding!!!!

[TH0001]

Thanks Angelo! I'm good and very lucky all I had was just the tire. The rim actually looks pretty good and the suspension seems okay. Infact, before the car would pull slightly right, but now it tracks straight!

[awahl63]

Great job Todd

[bpfoley]

wow, excellent work! I too have pitting from SSR2.5 that I cannot fully remove yet. Hoping to upgrade to a rotary to correct them finally. Very dissapointed.

[zoomzoom mazda5]

Glad everything is OK, now you got a free alignment minus one tire! Happy 4th of July!

[GregCavi]

Sorry to hear about the tire, but am glad you are ok!!

The detail looks great! Great job removing the defects and zainoing!

Greg

[AuAltima3.5]

Whoa, bad way to start a day! Did the alignment get messed up in that incident?

Great detail. Nothing saddens me like seeing a car I just did get dirty so soon.

[jgh1987]

Nice job Todd!!!!!!!! the pics came out real nice, especially that last one. Haha I figured you would take a pic of me when i passed you, and yes i ran into the storm . truck is sitting in the garage wet now. I'm tempted to wipe it down with an MF & spray and wipe, would this be alright...or do you think I should wait and wash it when I have a foam gun to use?

[mr.ikon]

man im glad to hear youre ok. i could care less about the detail right now and more interested in your safety. wow.