1997 Grand Prix - PB`s, Optimum, and Finish Kare

[mgm2003]

I recently ordered a few Finish Kare sealers and want to see how they hold up. Over the past two weekends, as time permitted, I detailed a neighbours 1997 Black Grand Prix. The car is outside 24 x 7, and doesn’t see a lot of care and attention. I’ll report back on this post from time to time to let you know what I observe. We live in the NE, which is generally exposed to a lot of air pollutants. Depending on the amount of rain, exposure, etc… I’d say a decent wax will last 4 weeks and a decent sealer is about double that (on average).

Process Used:

Polishing Steps:
SSR3 via cyclo & orange pad.
Optimum via Rotary & Orange pad @ 1400 RPM
Optimum via PC & Orange pad @ 5.5
Time: 3 hours

Seal:
Finish Kare #2180 x 1 by hand and the tops & #218 on the sides.
Time: Under 1 hour to apply, haze, wipe off. #218 comes off easier than #2180. Neither wipe off easy like FMJ, UPP, or WG.

Wax:
Finish Kare Pink Wax x 1 by hand.
Time: 30 min. I would apply to a panel or two, mist a MF with #425 and wipe off.

Wheels: Glipton all in one Tire Care & Poorboys PP.
Tires: Glipton Wheel Jelly
Time: 2 hours. The honeycomb wheels took some time to polish out.

QD:
Finish Kare #425 Poly Wipe Spray
Time: 15 minutes. Removed and haze, residue left from the seal/wax steps.

All in all it took 6+ hours over the course of 2 weekends.

Here are a few after shots

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010311.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010310.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010308.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/mgm121499/P1010306.jpg

[Woob]

Sweet! I hear the Finish Kare stuff is very durable as the weeks go by. It looks very deep paint, but reflective.

[G35stilez]

That paint looks great! Very clear and wet, yet still holds a very deep black color.

Nice work on the rims/tires too. How do you like the Gliptone Tire Jelly? I think it`s looking very comparable (looks) to PB BnB from here.

For those tailpipes, I ended up painting them everytime I did my bro`s Grand Prix until he got Borla exhaust. They NEVER clean up.

[Boss_429]

Excellent work! :bigups

So much great work is posted here... to bad we don`t have a forum just for these kinds of posts. :D

[mgm2003]

That paint looks great! Very clear and wet, yet still holds a very deep black color.

Nice work on the rims/tires too. How do you like the Gliptone Tire Jelly? I think it`s looking very comparable (looks) to PB BnB from here.

For those tailpipes, I ended up painting them everytime I did my bro`s Grand Prix until he got Borla exhaust. They NEVER clean up.
Thanks Sean.

The intention was to hit the pipes with #000 & PPP, but time ran out, and the owner needed his car. Painting them sounds like a good ideahttp://www.detailcity.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

A little opps on the tires... It`s actually the gliptone tire spray (forget what it`s called), topped with a coat of gliptone tire jelly. Nice look IMO. Our local Western Auto has started carrying the gliptone line (I believe the consumer line, not pro), so I`ve been trying them out here and there.

Boss_429 -Thanks for the nice words. My neighbor actually washed his car last night, which is VERY unusual. I think he`s pretty happy with the end-results.

[matthiasj]

looks good, i agree, those tips could use some care, but the wheels came out nice.