Hey guys... sorry to be so long getting back here. Was a long weekend fo` sho!
Realized I left out a LOT of the info on the deal we got. Got a new Samsung S7 Edge last Monday (yup... the 4th), plus a new tablet with it (only 99¢) and was trying to put the reply in with my phone. Put a screen protector on it, then ended up with a big ol` Otter Box on it that has ANOTHER protector built-in. Makes it a PITA to type.
ANYwhooooo.... the deal was supplier pricing, BUT, you also stack any factory incentives on top of that, AND Costco kicks in another $1000. After buying, you take a survey from them and get a $1000 Costco card on top of it all. Got well over 9K off all said and done.
Got it home and did IRON-X Snow Foam right off the bat. Hit it once and rinsed, then hit it again. Was surprised at how much iron WASN`T on it considering it came from MI to ATL. Had some reaction, but not bad overall. That`s the good part.....
The bad part is the paint is LOADED with foreign matter that will have to be clayed/Nanoskinned. Forget the baggie test... this thing has roughness you can feel with you FEET! LOL
OTOH... the wheels are clean!
Pulled the tonneau cover off and put WETS on the bed rails, along with the rear bumper and the mirrors. Still need to climb up and get the cowling, and up to the roof and get the sat antenna. Honestly though... I was thinking about putting C4 on it, but it doesn`t need `restoring`, just protecting.
Haven`t had time to start detailing the new one yet though because I`ve been working on CarMomma`s old Denali, getting it ready to sell. At this point I might even just wholesale it and move on. I can say that it`s VERY CLEAN about now.
I`ve done the outside, boosted the coating, and now done the interior, brushed, wiped, cleaned, extracted, even used the "Dry Upholstery Tool" on the headliner in a few spots last night. It`s been SO FRIGGIN HOT here lately that I`m losing a couple pounds water weight every time I go out and work on the darned thing.
In between all these things I need to do with getting my Caddy and her Denali ready to sell (well the Caddy is perfect anyhow as it stays wrapped up in the garage) I`ve been having to go back and forth to the lawyers office several times here lately (working on CarMomma`s mothers estate). Had to go back over there today actually. Which of course killed the chance to get any work done on the truck (before it gets mid 90`s) around here.
BOB.... you mentioned back ache brother. OMFG.... I`ve tweaked the SNOT outta` my back.
Still have to install the bed extender tomorrow, drilling required. And for SOME reason Lund thinks that your typical homeowner has a pop rivet gun... for ONLY 4 RIVETS! :blink:
The plan however is simple.
Day 1:
Foam and decontaminate the paint.
Buy a new Nanoskin pad for my DA. Between my hand held(s), the old DA one, and the new one I should be able to get the surface contaminates off.
IRON-X Snow Foam again for good measure.
Go over entire vehicle and make notes of paint problems, use VIF. Plenty of FISO`s. Yes... FACTORY installed swirl option`s. The dealer didn`t even wash it, didn`t even pull the plastic off the seats.... but the paint has it`s share of RIDS and Swirls. Trust me... the VIF will be FULL.
I`ve taken some paint measurements and they are shocking. Overall it`s from the 80`s to the low~mid 1-teens (in microns). The consistency is.... well.... about that. It may be 85 and a foot away be 103. Overall though (
with the exception of the B pillars, back of the front/front of the back doors) there is precious little orange peel to be found.
Day 2:
Prep and taping day, ESPECIALLY the style lines on the hood. I`ve never, EVER seen a more complicated hood to buff. So many different angle, heights, sharp lines, plus it`s all five feet plus in the air. Likely I`ll try a little wet sanding, 2000 grit there on the doors at the B-pillars.
Start on the roof and buff, buff, buff, and BUFF. Then move down the back of the cab.
Coat it after buffing!
That`ll probably be all I`ll get done in a day before burning up, or dying in pain.
Day 3:
Start buffing on the front fenders, then the doors working back, both sides, front to back, top to bottom. Much easier to do the sides on this puppy than a car, especially as it`s a 4x4.
Finish the cab.
Wipe, prep, and coat.
Day 4:
Clean the hood of all buffing debris. Time to tackle that puppy. Angles, pockets, sharp edges, something like 11 different sections (
or more). Buff and coat, TWICE.
Buff front bumper (
chrome) and coat. (
It has some light grease smears from the factory here and there on it that didn`t wash/foam off.)
Day 5:
Buff bed sides and tailgate. Coat those puppies!
Coat all glass.
Install OEM splash guards. Body shop has had them for 2 weeks painting to match. As of today... they STILL were not painted.
Day 6:
Time to get out early and remove the wheels, 1 at time and get them all coated.
Apply Opti-Bond to both sides of the tires while they`re off the truck.
Go inside and cool off, get another ice pack, take a nap.
Come BACK and get jiggy with the interior and make nice with some Enziett Protectant on the dash, door panels, etc. Break out the detail brushes, fancy swabs and apply plastic/rubber protectant, as well as exterior trim sealant/coating to any/all remaining interior/exterior areas.
Day 7:
Day of rest.
Put on a brisket, low-n-slow... eat happy 11 hours later!
Day 8:
Make funeral arrangements, crawl in a hole and die.
All this off course (BOB) is if I can actually get up and DO anything come "Day 1". I know right now I don`t see me getting out of bed till late-thirty. Meds... lots-n-lots of meds see I in the future.
