Dodge SWIRLango

[Don]

One of the guys at work has a 2002 Dodge Durango with the Swirls Plus option package. I originally thought it was a 1998, but it just looked older than it is.



It took me almost 7 hours, and I could have put a few more hours into it, but oh well.



Starting things off was a strong wash with DAWN, and Mean Green on the tires, rims & wheelwells. Here is how it looked after the wash:





http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_1-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_2-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_3-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_4-med.jpg

[Don]

More Before pics:





http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_6-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_7-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_Before_8-med.jpg

[Don]

After the wash, I started off with DACP on a cutting pad @ 6 on the PC. After the first pass with the buffer, it started to look like this:



http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14During-med.jpg

[Don]

The entire truck was gone over with the DACP @ 6, each panel getting hit twice before I moved onto the next one.



After removing the DACP haze, each panel then got an intense rubbing with # 82 on a cutting pad @6. This really seemed to finish the job that the DACP started. There are still some of the worst scratches left, and he lives near the Nuclear Power Plant, and apparently his truck has been bombed by a few Chernobyl Chickens, or Radioactive Robins because the marks left are PERMANENT...no finesse sanding is going to fade these bad boys.



After the # 82, I used Color-X x2 on a polishing pad @ 4.5 This really seemed to deepen the color and got rid of some of the minor swirling that still remained.



I applied NXT with a finishing pad @ 4, and while I was giving it time to set up, I tackled the roof. It had as much oxidation as the rest of the truck, but without the swirls. I decided to give the Color-X a real test, so I bypassed the DACP & #82 and used a polishing pad and the PC @ 6 for the Color -X.



Let me tell you something...Color-X + Polishing Pad + PC @ 6 :bigups :bigups



The tires were treated with NXT Protectant.



Anyway, 7 hours and a gallon or so of water later, here are the results:



http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_After_1-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_After_2-med.jpg http://www.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/14Durango_After_3-med.jpg

[MongooseGA]

wow. excellent improvement.



what had this guy done to the car to get the paint in shuch horrible condition?

[Kleanride]

You are a brave man to tackle that mess! Good work!

:xyxthumbs

[NavindraLR]

good job... quite a transformation

hope u dont get a third leg from touching that biohazard

:D

[NickMach1]

I agree on ColorX, thats one of my favorite meguiars consumer products :up

[Scottwax]

Wow! :eek:



You did an incredible job on that Durango! :bow

[hirosh]

awesome job! nice transformation.

[s2skimon]

holy schmolee ! :xyxthumbs

[Don]

Thanks guys, you`re approval means a lot.



Looking at the car today in the direct sunlight, I can tell it could definately use a few more hours work. As the pics show, it`s miles beyond what it used to be, but nowhere near my personal standards. (I only charged him $100...OK, so he`s my superviser, but I think he got a hell of a bargain)



MongooseGA asked what this guy did to the truck...well, he`s obviously non-Autopian, he`s not even a car guy...when I took the truck yesterday, I made a few comments and his reply was: "C`mon, it`s not that bad." Can you say "Dirty t-shirt and dish soap washes??"



Put it to you this way...I couldn`t tape off the trim because everything was so dry/unprotected PAINTER`S TAPE left adhesive residue all over the trim when I tried to remove it :shocked



There was no wax residue anywhere...I`m good, but I leave wax residue SOMEWHERE (sometimes a lot of somewheres ;) ) That just tells me the truck hasn`t seen wax since the buffer jockey at the dealership.



In his defense, he did buy the truck used...last year.

[imported_edschwab1]

Good transformation. Did you a try using a rubbing compound?



Eric

[Don]

Originally posted by edschwab1

Good transformation. Did you a try using a rubbing compound?



Eric



No, the most aggressive product I used was DACP

[1 Clean WS6]

Dude....SICK transformation!!! :bow :bow