2001 Chevy Impala

[JimO]

Thanks Short Cut! It`s almost like having CMA locally.

[dengelson]

Also you might like to check out Finish Master this is a professional paint supply store that carries the full 3M and Meguiars lines. The link points to a store search for CA. Looks like you have a couple of locations to choose from in the city.

[mx5]

It seems all Murray`s Discount Auto Stores sell the 8oz. 303 protectant. I have been to four in my area and they all carry it.

[imported_rwright]

Greetings all. The following thread is based on a 2 step correction that I performed for my mother as a birthday present. The goal for this one was 80% correction as it`s had a little bit of paintwork from a deer hitting it and some etching that will need to be corrected by wet sanding, which I wasn`t prepared to do. I apologize for the lack of after pictures, due to the fact that I had to drive home from work (150 mile trip) to finish up the car so that it could be picked up the next day and very little sunlight was present. I will get the car cleaned up and update with more pictures. One other note, my PC XP broke as I was finishing the last quarter panel so I was unable to jewel the paint.

Wash

Car was rinsed, then treated to a Meg`s APC+ @ 4:1 pre-soak, followed by a wash down with 3oz APC+, 3oz. Meg`s Shampoo+ to 4.5 gallons of water.

Tires/Wheels/Wheel Wells

These were cleaned with APC+ @ 4:1, various brushes
Tires dressed with DP Tire Gel (New Formula), wheel wells dressed with Meg`s aerosol dressing, plastic pieces treated with 303 Aerospace Protectant

Clay

Car was clayed with Meg`s OTC clay and QD (Not Ultimate Quick Detailer but the original). Typically I use Mother`s clay kit but wanted to use up what I had on hand.

Engine

Engine cleaned with Zep Citrus, dressed with CD-2

Paint

Paint was corrected using PC XP
Meg`s M105/M205
Lake Country 5.5" Cyan & Tangerine Hydro Tech Pads
Lake Country 4" Cyan & Tangerine Hydro Tech Pads
91% IPA diluted 1:1
3M blue & green tape

Trim

Trim was dressed with Poorboy`s Trim Restorer

LSP

Car was sealed with DP Poli-Coat followed with a Duragloss Aqua Wax wipedown

Towels

Various towels were used



Car on arrival



Interesting imprint from the body shop



Rock chip, I plan to have this fixed



She said this was concrete but I was able to chip it off with my fingernail







Cleaned the hood, keep in mind this has been in the body shop











During the clay process I ran across this section and it kind of puzzled me



This was a test spot that I performed a long time ago to show what the car was capable of, used orange ccs pad and M105 only



Now for my first test spot, M105 + Cyan Hydro Tech pad taken with iPhone



Same spot taken with Canon point and shoot



In the sun



Roof before



Afters







Remember me talking about the etching?



If you look just to the right of the garage door rail you will see the etching



Mirror before



Mirror After



Hood before



Hood After



Door handles before (They all looked like this)





Door handles after M105/M205 using microfiber pads and towels






Now onto some miscellaneous pictures







License plate area



After M205 on door, taken with iPhone and turned out as the best picture!




And a couple final shots







Well that completes this thread for now. Again, sorry for the lack of final photos. I plan to get the car cleaned up and shoot some pictures in the sun. Sadly I couldn`t be there for delivery, I work 150 miles away from home. My wife called when my mother arrived and I could hear her in the background, it was funny but pleasing!

Thanks for looking.

Richard

[Old Pirate]

Great turnaround you did on the Impala for your Mom, bet she was very happy!:clap:

[imported_Flash Gordon]

Wow, are you sure you didn`t repaint the car :spy: Its a different shade of blue now :biggrin:

Looks great and Mom is very happy. What else can you ask for :wizard:

[bmw5541]

Great job on the Impala. It looks like a new car. It`s always nice to do something like that for mom. They raised us, so the least we can do is give something back.:thumbup:

[imported_rwright]

Great turnaround you did on the Impala for your Mom, bet she was very happy!:clap:

Thank you much. She was and still is very happy!

Wow, are you sure you didn`t repaint the car :spy: Its a different shade of blue now :biggrin:

Looks great and Mom is very happy. What else can you ask for :wizard:

Thanks! Until I snap some better pictures in the sun, you have to trust me that it turned out better in the pictures posted.

Great job on the Impala. It looks like a new car. It`s always nice to do something like that for mom. They raised us, so the least we can do is give something back.:thumbup:

Thank you and I agree. I was trying to figure out what to do as a birthday present when I happened to look at the original test spot photo and it hit me. Even though the car is very worn, it still holds a special place.