Labor Trade Job

[mnehls86]

Well I will try to make this one short and sweet. Saturday I did a straight across labor trade with a buddy that is a mechanic. I ordered all 4 struts and the components that went with them and he installed them and did the alignment and I was to wash, clay and wax his Chevy Silverado 2500. Of course I knew I was going to have more man hours in than him but he has done things in the past for me for a case of beer so I had no problem taking care of the truck.

Make: Chevrolet
Model: Silverado 2500 HD Duramax Turbo Diesel, 4-Door, Long Bed, Beast
Color: White

Wash Stage
Wheels: Sonax Full Effect, various brushes
Tires: 5:1 3D products Orange Degreaser APC, scrubbed with tire brush
Wheel wells: 20:1 3D products Orange Degreaser APC
Bug splatter: 20:1 3D products Orange Degreaser APC, 3D bug and tar sponge
Wash: CG Bodywash and Wax in Gilmour Foam MasterII and 2-Bucket Method
Dried Body: CG WW MF and Cobra Guzzler
Dried Windows: 3D Blue WW MF

6:15 am and ready to go

Finally got to use it. Softens up a lot!

After being all dried
Clay: Megs Smooth Surface Clay
Clay Lube: CG Synthetic QD
Wheels: Mothers Aluminum Polish mixed with HD Polish & Topped with CG Top Coat Wax and Sealant
Tires: Dressed with CG Silk Shine
Chrome: Mothers Chrome Polish
Trim, Side Mirrors and Bumpers: PB Natural Look

Interior (no pics)
Vacuumed
Panels, Leather Seats, Dash and Floor Mats Cleaned: BF Interior Cleaner
Panels, Leather Seats and Dash Protected: PB Natural Look
Glass: 3D Products Glass Cleaner

After washing and before claying I thought about adding an extra stage for free since the paint looked pretty rough and I wanted it to look good. I was in between glazing or single stage correction. I hate being so damn nice.....I went with the correction.

Before

Correction
Chicago Electric DA
5.5" BP
Tested LC Thin Wool vs LC White
Pad Chosen: LC Thin Wool
Polish: HD Polish

I did do a run of HD Polish on a LC White pad after to see what the clarity difference was and there was hardly any so I stuck with the thin wool for the entire truck.

50/50

After

Found this guy while finishing up. I wonder if he was there the entire time?

Finish: CG Top Coat Wax and Sealant
Wipe Down: CG Synthetic QD
Total work time: 11hours
Just enough light for a couple decent pictures

Thanks for looking.

Matt.

 

[mjlinane]

Great work!

 

[Ronkh]

real nice !

hope he was happy

 

[Paul Mitchell]

Great job!

 

[tropicsteve]

nothing like a clean, shiny truck. very nice.

 

[mnehls86]

Thanks guys! After driving it to my house and back now I really want a truck!

real nice !

hope he was happy

He was very pleased. He also brews a lot of his own beer so he told me he was going to put a new one on tap that night and to come by in a day or 2 to pick some up.

 

[ec90]

Nice job!

 

[Stokdgs]

Beautiful job, Matt !
The correction you achieved was really, really, great !
Did you have to go back over it with the White Pad ?
Your 50/50 picture is amazing !
Dan F

 

[mnehls86]

Thanks Dan! I did do a test spot with the white pad after the thin wool and there wasn't much of a difference. I'm guessing maybe it was hard to tell since the truck was white and not the best lighting but it wasn't hazy as far as I could tell and I didn't want to spend much more time on it. I work at a relaxed pace so going over the whole truck on a white pad too probably would have tacked on another couple hours. I really did enjoy working on this project. I wouldn't have been very proud without the correction but I know I'm going to have to get over that for other little jobs that don't call for it. This job also might have changed my mind on white cars as well. I won't be rushing out to buy a white car but I will definitely consider one in the future whereas before a white car was completely off the table.