Black Pontiac Grand Prix

**ziggo99** · 07-17-2012, 06:47 PM

A real good friend of mine asked me last fall to detail his car. He had put it off until a couple weeks ago, when it was 110+ degrees. I seem to always go above and beyond when I get a detail, and this one shows. He was wanting a "detail", which to 97% of people is a wash, wax, and spruce up the interior. Well, he got a bit more than that. Onto the before pictures!

As we can tell, we`re dealing with a rough black vehicle. I`ve read the horror stories of GM black paint being tough as nails, but I couldn`t worry about that. It was 6:30 in the morning, with the heat rising by the second. I must press on!

^^^That was was just from the wheels and wires

So after washing and drying the beast, I moved onto a quick claying. I suspected it had never been clayed in it`s life. My suspicions were confirmed. This was the lower portions of the car.

So now that we have it washed and clayed, it was time to look at the true condition of the paint. If you notice, the condition of pictures improves from here on out. I grabbed my six year old Sony point and shoot and then moved to my brother`s Canon 50D with the 18-55mm kit lens. So, let`s see what I found.

Hood shot! (I`ll come back to this)

As we can see, even without flash you can tell this isn`t shining up like it should be. Taking into account several factors, I decided against an AIO and went for a one step polish and then a good seal.

That is the exact same post as the previous picture. Look at the difference. The depth, the gloss, the clarity. It`s all back!

I tried a couple 50/50 on the fender, but the bends were throwing me fits. You can still tell the difference. I can assure you though, this isn`t the only 50/50 I got.

By this point, it`s nearing 11:30am and I`m about out of shade in my driveway. Part two continues under the carport and in the next post....

So, it`s time to start the rest of the car. Here are the promised 50/50`s

This one is my favorite.

Alright, excellent progress. I would have more pictures from other areas, except there is one problem.....time. My friend is going to get the car at 4:30. So I put the camera down and go to work...

:work:

So I finish polishing and pull it out into the sun for a quick look over. I wanted to do more with the headlights, but I was really pressed for time, I still had to wax it and do the interior, and they really needed a wetsand and coating session.

So, I seal it, and look at the time. 2:49. I have a little more than an hour seal the wheels,clean the interior, dry foam and scrub the carpets, dress the interior, clean and dress the leather, clean the windows, apply the tire and underwheel dressing, and look over it. Well, you know what I said?

In doing so, I have zero shots of the interior cleaning. I also forgot to get a shot of the engine bay dressed. I was literally pulling it out as he showed up to get it. Here is the final shot, all said and done.

I could see him coming down the street, his head out the window, and jaw dragging on the ground. He couldn`t pick it back up. Nothing but a string of "You`re ate up man!" "Wow!" "You`re the man!". At this point, because of the heat and pushing so hard, I`m drenched in sweat and having a time catching my breath, but even I could stand back and enjoy this moment with him. It was 4:30. And I was done.

Now, the process

Engine sprayed down with straight Optimum Power Clean and a Chemical Guys`s Citrus Wash, agitated with Raceglaze style brushes and old microfiber mitt

Wheels were cleaned with Wolf`s Chemicals WF-1P Decon gel, agitated with Daytona Wheel Brush, Mother`s Wheel Brush and and old microfiber mitt.

Tires and wheelwells cleaned with straight Optimum Power Clean, agitated with Mother`s Tire Brush.

Car washed with...ahem....3 net oz of Chemical Guys` Citrus Wash and Gloss. I thought the cup said fluid oz, but it was really net oz.

Car clayed with Meguiar`s Smooth Surface clay, lubed with Optimum No Rinse.

Polish, pad and machine of choice? Menzerna Power Finish PO 203 on 6.5" Lake Country White flat pads on speed 5 on a Griot`s Garage polisher, with some spot work done with at 4" Lake Country White CCS pad. To say I was impressed is an understatement. I was a sworn member of the SMAT party, since I didn`t have to wait for any breakdown. But after using Power Finish and seeing the results, I think I`ve changed my mind.

Sealant of choice was BlackFire Wet Diamond. I thought about keeping in the Menzerna line and going with Power Lock, but I wanted that extraness that Polycharger gives BFWD.

Tires dressed with CarPro PERL at 1:1.

Exterior trim was dressed with CarPro PERL at 1:1.

Wheelwells dressed with Finish Kare Top Kote dressing

Wheels were coated with Element 119 System X.

Engine was dressed with 303 Aerospace protectant.

Exauhst tips were polished with Meguiar`s NXT All Metal Polysh and microfiber towel.

Interior was cleaned with Optimum Power Clean at 3:1, using a Swissvax detail microfiber towels and brush.

Carpets were scrubbed with Tuff Stuff and Turtle Wax Oxy Power Out foam, scrubbed with a Libman brush

Interior was protected with 303 Aerospace protectant.

Leather was cleaned with Optimum Power Clean at 3:1, using a Swissvax leather Brush and microfiber

towels.

Leather was protected with Poorbooy`s Leather Stuff.

Windows were cleaned with Meguiar`s D120 Glass Cleaner.

All in all, I was satisfied with the job. I knew that perfection wasn`t gonna happen. I was thinking if I could get 80%, I would be happy, and I think I achieved that. If I had to do it again, I would`ve done the interior the night before when he dropped it off. I wasn`t think I was going to cutting it that close on time. Lesson learned.

Alright, I`m done talking. Comments and questions time