97 Malibu-Neglected

[dublifecrisis]

So here I found myself doing a detail for a friend. This time, a mother in law`s 1997 Malibu. Not only has this car been completely neglected, it`s constantly parked under an acorn tree and it drops all sorts of nastiness on it. The interior wasn`t that bad really so it got a quickie. who wants to spend 1-2 hours on a 12 year old Malibu anyway. The customer paid for a `one step` and wasn`t so much concerned with swirls as much as just `make it `shiny white` again.



I kept it overnight and basically knocked the interior out before bed. No pics because c`mon, we`re talking about a Malibu here. Mats and carpet got a little scrub down using some spray foam and a brush. plastic/vinyl bits scrubbed with some woolite dillution and finished with 303 throughout. Windows with Stoners.



I was most concerned (as was the customer) with the heavily oxidised white paint. The washing alone took me a solid hour using a few MF mits, 2 bucket method suds`d with armor all heavy duty shampoo. This stuff is supposed to be more concentrated but I`m sure any soap would have worked the same. Wheels/wells/tires got a good scrub with Eagle One, Simple green and Meg`s long lasting tire gel.



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5222.jpg



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5221.jpg



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5225.jpg



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5217.jpg



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5219.jpg



After washing the beast, I rolled her into the garage to clay the surface THOROUGHLY. I don`t have any fancy shots of my clay bar showing all the grime...LOL but let me say I love the clay magic bar. I used the Mother`s clay and although it`s more pliable, the Clay Magic holds up better to the abuse.



After clay and taping up the seems/seals

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5227.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5228.jpg



Ok, to cut the story short, I basically gave the customer what I would consider a worthy effort for a one step. I`m sure I could have used something more agressive and still finished down nicely but I went with this quick combo punch to bring up the gloss within a reasonable time.

Using a white CCS pad on the PC with poli-seal..including all exterior glass. Added a single layer of Opti-seal and a coat of that on the wheels also. Hit the trim with 303, windows with Stoners, and headligh/taillight lenses with plastX, then buffed the paint down with OCW once the opti-seal set a little. Not too shabby forabout 5 hours total.



http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5245.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5251.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5248.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5254.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5246.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5253.jpg



he liked the smell of the OCW i think

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5255.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/uchessor/97%20malibu/IMG_5256.jpg



this is just a side hobby for me but dam if it aint a good stress reliever in times like these!!

[Garry Dean]

The car really turned around!! Nice work!!

[AuAltima3.5]

Clay magic is better than mothers. It lasts longer, but I have yet to determine if it is more likely to cause marring when dry. I was a fan of sonus green till I used something else...



Anywho, excellent work!

[Cleaning Fool]

Not to shabby at all..The first couple pics of the fender and hood are fabulous!

[BigAl3]

good work! any full shots?

[alowe]

Great job, befores looked just aweful!

[Robb]

Great Job http://1person1million.com/img/149/r08c1006bidc/biggrin.gif

[dublifecrisis]

thanks everyone. The only full shots I did were when I pulled the car out and the sun and my poor photography really just resulted in unflattering shots that look, well...like any other picture of a car. I guess also because the car is white with no metallic or pearl effect.

[xspwrstang]

Great job on that white. I love using Poli-Seal but now I wish I would have ordered some Opti-Seal as well it does an amazing job.