Weekend Details - 56K Warning, Lots of Pictures

[hirosh]

This past weekend, I washed my other Mustang, a 1989 LX 5.0 Hatchback with a single stage dark red paint, as I had detailed it the previous weekend, and as it sits outside 24-hours a day, 7 days a week under a tree, it obviously got dirty. So as I proceeded to hose it down, I noticed the way the water is rolling off the vertical panels of the car. It almost looked like ball bearings rolling down the side of the car! :eek: So I hose down the hood and take a closer look. Upon closer inspection, I see this:

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1650089-hood-bead02-med.jpg



Holy moly, that`s some surface tension! I never saw anything like this in person. Needless to say, I was totally blown away.



The process for that detail was:

Wash with Meg`s Gold Class car wash shampoo

Polish with Poorboy`s SSR 2 and 1

Sealed with Poorboy`s EX-P x2

Waxed with Poorboy`s Natty`s Paste Wax x2

Tire Dressing - don`t laugh, No Touch :o



I waited approximately 24 hours between coats of sealant and wax. I also allowed the wax to `cure` for 24 hours after the last coat of wax went on. I think this helped the paint retain most of its slickness. I also painted the front and rear bumper trim, as they were nasty and showing yellow plastic. I also painted the rear bump in a similar dark red, which isn`t a perfect match but I can`t complain for a spray paint can job. :p



Anyways, onto the pictures:

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1650089-01.jpg

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1650089-02.jpg



And my usual hood reflection shot:

http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/1650089-roof01.jpg

[hirosh]

I also decided to clean up my dad`s 1994 Nissan Altima, which is pretty bad inside and out. Inside, well, let`s just say he doesn`t vacuum ever, and doesn`t care if he spills coffee. I obviously did not get my detailing genes from him. :D I didn`t take any pictures of the interior as I didn`t do a good job of cleaning it up because I was too tired.



The paint was pretty swirled all over, well, except for the hood which was my test bed about a month ago. :D But basically the whole car was like this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-swirls01.jpg



So I gave it a good wash with Meg`s Gold Class car shampoo, followed by claying it with Mother`s Clay on the horizontal surfaces. The paint was dirty because as I was claying, it sounded like I was sand papering! :eek: but turned out to be all the dirty and crap coming off the paint.



I then busted out the PC and Poorboy`s SSR 2.5, and started polishing. Here`s a picture of the rear door, half done with SSR 2.5, and also showing how badly swirled this car was.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-swirls02.jpg



Here is the whole door polished out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-swirls02-after.jpg

[hirosh]

So after doing SSR 2.5 over the whole car, I used SSR 1 to clean up any hazing, as evident in the above shots. It really cleaned the paint up and allowed the metallic to shine through, as evident in this picture. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-flakes01.jpg

This is after polishing and before any sealant/wax was applied. This is also a good example of how the proper prep is critical as using a sealant/wax shouldn`t really add that much more to your paint (compare this picture to the next picture). It also surprised me that the paint was metallic!



I decided to trying something else besides Poorboy`s, so out came the Clearkote Caranuba Moose Wax. Easy on, easy off, nice clear look, a great product. It ROCKS! :p

Here`s the paint after two coats of CMW.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-flakes.jpg

BTW, this was taken outside, and that`s the sun. The hazy areas are clouds. I am also curious as to the durability of CMW, and since this car is outside all the time and never washed, it be a good test subject.

[hirosh]

Anyways, more info on the details.

Tires - No Touch again. Wiped it off and used NXT Protectant instead.

Black side view mirrors, black trim - Poorboy`s Trim Restorer.



Rest of the pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-02.jpg



My usual roof reflection picture :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/rmiyash/Altima/94altima-roof.jpg





Overall I was quite happy (and tired) getting this car back into shape. There were some scratches that I couldn`t get out, but overall, I`m happy with how SSR 2.5 & 1 polishes out the paint. I really believe they were more of an influence in getting the paint to look this good, more so than the CMW.

I think someone said `It`s 99% prep work, 1% LSP." I couldn`t agree more! :xyxthumbs

[imported_edschwab1]

Great work. I really like the roof reflection of the Altima.



Was the work done using a PC? If so which pads did you use?



You just added value to the Altima.



Eric

[GoodnClean]

Great work! I don`t know why but the one shot after the 2 coats of CMW close in on the paint looked like a camrea flash to me at first...odd.

[stilez]

Both look awesome!



That `89 is in exceptional shape. Is it a project car? :)



Night and day on the Altima! I love the door and reflection shot.



How do you like PB TS?

[hirosh]

thanks all for the compliments!



edschwab - sorry, i forgot to mention that the polishing was done by PC. on the Mustang, with the SSR 2 & 1 it was with a white polishing pad. for the Altima, SSR 2.5 with yellow cutting pad, SSR 1 with white polishing pad. speeds for all were about 5-6. :p



Sean - the 89 Stang was my previous driver until i bought the mach1. right now, it`s just the car that takes up space. :p i might fix the A/C and other miscellaneous stuff and make it my daily driver again, ie beater car, and just use the mach1 on the weekends.

PB`s TS? do you mean the Trim Restorer? if so, i love it, it works good at removing wax residue on the textured plastic, and if i apply it, let it dry, and buff it out, it leaves a nice finish, not shiney but not dull. plus it doesn`t run when it rains or after a wash. durability wise, i think it lasts about 3 weeks with one wash per week.

[1 Clean WS6]

Just GORGEOUS work Hirosh!!!:xyxthumbs :xyxthumbs Those fox body Stangs have a sweet spot in my heart...good to see one as well kept as your`s. :D

[hirosh]

Originally posted by 1 Clean WS6

Just GORGEOUS work Hirosh!!!:xyxthumbs :xyxthumbs Those fox body Stangs have a sweet spot in my heart...good to see one as well kept as your`s. :D



Thanks. :) Unfortunately, this Mustang isn`t as nice as I want it to be. Okay, maybe the paint is ;) but even then, it could use a new paint job, and it is in need of some mechanical work. :(

[tpgsr]

:bow Looks great. You do good work!



Umm hate to intrude, but may i have permission to use that amazing looking upclose shot of the beading. It has perfect composition, and i would love to make it into a focus element on my new site. Please? :o

[hirosh]

tpgsr - check your PM. :)