Scratched up Ford F250 Pickup

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:25

Well, this truck was not very fun at all. The owner said that it was "pretty clean" and just needed a good "wax job". After laying my eyes on the truck and seeing all the scratches, I talked the owner into going for an extensive detail to remove what I could for scratches and get the paint back in tip top shape. It also had the famous "little black dots" on every panel (especially the top surfaces) which were a major PITA to get off.

The owners were not expecting to pay a lot for the detail, so I took very good care of them and didn't charge them nearly enough. My brother knows the owners, so that is why I under charged them. They left me the truck for two full days which allowed me to spend some time on it. All in all, the truck took me about 16 hours total. I really hate doing big trucks, but it's been quite a while since I last did one and really can't complain. I guess it was rewarding seeing it after I was done.

My Process:

Washed complete exterior

Cleaned wheels with Trans-Mate Sterling wheel brightener, polished with Wicked Metal Polish and sealed with ZAIO

Used Trans-Mate Kleens (APC) for cleaning door jambs, tires and all the mud out of the wheel wells

Engine compartment cleaned with Trans-Mate Kleens and used Hi-Lite dressing on all plastic

Removed tops of the "little black dots" with a plastic razor blade

Used Nylon Spotter solvent to remove grease and tar from bottom panels

Clayed with purple Kar Kraft clay bar (agressive) and rewashed

Chrome bumpers were steel-wooled while washing, then polished with Wicked Metal Polish and sealed with ZAIO

Wetsanded heavy scratches with 1500 grit paper and filled-in areas with missing paint with factory touch up paint. Wetsanded again after touch up paint was dry.

Compounded wetsanded areas with Menzerna PG using a yellow wool pad @1800 rpm

Buffed complete exterior with Auto Tech Crystal Cut Compound X 2 using yellow wool pad @ 1800 rpm

Buffed complete exterior with Menzerna 106ff X 2 using a foam finishing pad @1500 rpm to 1300 rpm

3 coats of Zaino (Z5 pro, Z2 pro & CS) with Z8 wipedown

Dressed tires and wheel wells with Super Blue dressing

The Before Pictures

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:27

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:29

And the afters...

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:31

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:32

stiffdogg06 · 10-08-07, 11:48

Damn, that truck looks so damn good. I wonder what made the truck look so good. The z5, z2 or the CS?....

Awesome job once again ricky bobby!

I love that name

- Andrew

JoshVette · 10-08-07, 11:52

Wow, that is one heck of a recovery. Very impressive.

How long did it all take you start to finish?

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:53

Thanks Andrew,
It looked pretty good after the Z5, but the Z2 really made the paint glow.

SpoiledMan · 10-08-07, 11:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiffdogg06

Damn, that truck looks so damn good. I wonder what made the truck look so good. The z5, z2 or the CS?....

The polishing!

Rick, another outstanding recovery! I just love to view your work man.

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshVette

Wow, that is one heck of a recovery. Very impressive.

How long did it all take you start to finish?

Thanks!
It took me about 2 days total (16 hours) for the entire detail. I must of spent about 4 hours just prepping it prior to any buffing.

stiffdogg06 · 10-08-07, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickRack

Thanks Andrew,
It looked pretty good after the Z5, but the Z2 really made the paint glow.

I asked because I wanted to know if the z2 was worth of getting..

RickRack · 10-08-07, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpoiledMan

The polishing!

Rick, another outstanding recovery! I just love to view your work man.

Yes, I suppose the polishing made it look al little better

Thanks for the kind words...