Detailing a Jeep

[LouisanaJeeper]

OK, I plan of detailing my jeep grand cherokee in about 2 weeks (once my engineering finals are over).

This car has been offroaded, many scratches, stains, dents etc.



This is what I have planned.

Any comment suggetions, etc

(PS. low budget here and I don`t really need a show car finish)





ENGINE:



products:

"simple green"(degreaser used everywhere)

"greased lighning" (dereaser used on stubborn spots)

"Mothers Quick Detailer"

"Formula 2001?"(I think that is the name, it comes in a bright green bottle) rubber protectant



steps:

protect the electrics

wet engine

apply degreaser

let sit 5min

lightly brush

rinse off(low pressure)

< repeat above steps once again as needed>

towl dry

use the QD

apply rubber protectant







PAINT PREP

wash car with palmolive or dawn







SCRATCHES

products:

"3m rubbing comp."

"3m swirl mark remover"



steps:

apply rubbing comp.

apply swirl mark remover

(or is meg`s scratch x better?)



(BTW, I will not be attempting to pull out the dents, they will stay :) )





CLEAN (again?)

wash car once again w/ dawn ?





WAXING

"mother`s" QD, 3 part wax, claybar



Clay Bar car

Apply Pre-Wax Cleaner

Apply sealer/glaze

Apply wax

(how long between coats for BEST results?)

(any tips for this particular wax)







TIRES

open to suggestions (they are mud tires)(I have meg`s endurance and formula 2001 rubber protectant in garage)







GLASS

Eagle 20/20





Well, feel free to criticize/suggest other options



later

[Scottwax]

Without seeing your Jeep, it is hard to say exactly what it needs.



Your product selection and steps seem okay, but I wouldn`t bother rewashing the car after polishing.

[LouisanaJeeper]

pic1 (http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/spillway/side-muddy.JPG)

pic2 (http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/images/reartiremuddy.JPG)



most of that mud washes off, but it does tend to scratch the paint



hope this helps..

[Scottwax]

Well, I meant more like seeing it in person, but the pics to help somewhat. I`d use the swirl mark remover first and see if it will bring your paint back before using a compound. Always try the least aggressive product first.

[LouisanaJeeper]

OK, got some better pics today.

http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/images/scratch1.JPG

(surface sratch with paint from another object-many of these)

http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/images/scratch2.JPG

(scratch on the hood from going under a tree or something, it goes all the way throught the clear coat, but the paint is still there, 3 strips like this (about 3"x8") on hood)



products I have so far:

http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/images/supplies.JPG



still have not bought any scratch remover or rubbing compound

[thevolvoguy]

Sounds like a good start. As for a good SMR, if you are doing it all by hand (expect quite a job) start out with Meg`s Scratch-X in a small place, and if that does the job... then go ahead with it on the rest of the car. Just be prepared to do some polishing afterwards, because Scratch-X is pretty abrasive.



I would encourage you to invest in a PC polisher and do it the right way with an SMR like #9, or 3M PI-II.

[shaf]

It sounds like you`re in for a MAJOR job! Depending on how methodical or thorough you are with it, this may take the better part of a day or two. Especially since it sounds like you`ll have to do all your polishing by hand (bring Gatorade).



Wash it, then clay.



Thanks for the pics. Although I can`t comment much on the scratches, pic #2 reveals in the sun spot that you have at least a "moderate" case of the swirlies. Since I`ve personally found SMR to be pretty mild by hand, I would start off with the FCRC and then follow it up with the SMR because FCRC probably won`t leave the finish at its very best. Yes the WHOLE vehicle. :( If your hood has swirls then the rest of it probably does too. Don`t forget to work it in thoroughly and long enough (hopefully you`ll have read up on swirl removal by hand).



You could probably use either Scratch-X or FCRC to round off the scratches. See which works better for you. Do before the above swirl removing.



You probably won`t find much use for the pre-wax cleaner. After FCRC and SMR it`s redundant and too mild for swirl removal. Go right to the glaze and then wax.



Before throwing out your used clay, try claying the glass too (lubing with car wash).



Are your wheels truly bare-metal chrome plated (not clear coated)? I noticed the wheel cleaner you`re using.

[LouisanaJeeper]

What is SMR, FCRC?

Yeah, its hard to capute what I`m talking about in pictures. Just imagine rubbing the paint with 100 grit sand paper for 15-30seconds, that`s the type of damage on the hood.



I plan on it taking 2 days. One day for all the prep work, then another day two for the actual waxing and final details



the wheels are chrome (not clear-coated)

pic below

[LouisanaJeeper]

http://usazj.rockcrawler.com/images/tire.JPG

low-bandwidth users, enjoy :)

[shaf]

Originally posted by LouisanaJeeper

What is SMR, FCRC? It`s your two 3M products, abbreviated. ;) (I`m assuming your rubbing compound is the Fine Cut version?)



This is linked on the left side of the homepage, but for some bizzare reason "FCRC" isn`t in it. http://www.autopia.org/acronyms.php

[LouisanaJeeper]

Ok bought some more stuff today

Meg`s Scratch X

3M FCRC

and a bunch of new foam pads



They did not have the 3m SMR, but I saw "3m finish restorer"?

[shaf]

Oh jeez, I thought you owned those two 3M products already! :o :doh



I guess the FCRC should be fine. Not as popular as Meguiar`s DACP these days though. Instead of SMR just get Meguiar`s #9, which has been said to be easier to use by hand anyway.