Mini-Van vs. Optimum

mgm2003

mgm2003

New member
2000 Dodge Caravan: This is (I hope) the last mini-van that I ever sign up for. I really don’t get any satisfaction out of detailing a mini-van, regardless of the price.



Process: Day 1



Exterior Wash: 2 hours

Wash: Bug Squash & Optimum

Clay: Optimum Poly Clay

Wells: Optimum APC 50/50 mix. TOL rubber dressing.

Wheels: APC 50/50 x 3 (covers were plastic and heavily stained with thick brake dust. )

Brown Tires: A2Z/brush. Optimum Tire Gel x 3 (the tires literally absorbed the first coat in about an hour)

Tar: Mineral Spirits (The doors & rear quarter panels were loaded on both sides)

Front Bumper Bugs: Bug Squash x 2 & a bug sponge

Jams: Degreased with APC 50/50 & protected with Gliptone Body Gloss

Door/Lift Gate Seals: APC 50/50 and treated with #40



Interior: 5 hours

-Vac

-Wipe down everything with a 6:1 ACP mix

-Dress with #40

-Carpet, Seats, Mats: Kids & Pets (undiluted) on all spots & extract x 2. APC 6:1 mix (saturation) & extract x 1

-Removed all seats and cleaned the jams & carpets under the seats. I found enough candy for trick or treating next week J

-There were 2 areas that had salt water taffy ground into the carpet. I applied ice to harden them up, scraped off with a plastic razor blade, and soaked with Kids & Pets for 1 hour. This completely removed the taffy and stain.

-After extracting the carpet & seats for a final time I steamed the carpet & seats the next day and extracted one last time.



Day 2:

Exterior Paint: 4 hours

-Optimum Compound/Polish Mix @ 1400 and a polishing pad (used my Metabo on the hood, lift gate, and roof, and cyclo on the sides)

-2000 grit (pre soaked for 2 days) on a few deep scratches followed up with Optimum Compound/Polish Mix @ 1400 x 2. This effectively hid the scratches, but did not remove them.

-Poorboys Polish with Sealer x 1 via cyclo and a finishing pad. ß Orange color/smell, easy on/off, nice slick/glossy surface.

-Final Wipe down with OCW



Here are a few after shots.

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mgm2003 said:
2000 Dodge Caravan: This is (I hope) the last mini-van that I ever sign up for. I really don’t get any satisfaction out of detailing a mini-van, regardless of the price.
Click to expand...
The finished product looks great!
While mini-vans aren't like doing a high end car detail, how can you not get any satisfaction out of doing that job?

It looks almost new in the pictures and to me, that's what detailing is all about.

Charles
 
CharlesW said:
The finished product looks great!
While mini-vans aren't like doing a high end car detail, how can you not get any satisfaction out of doing that job?

It looks almost new in the pictures and to me, that's what detailing is all about.

Charles
Click to expand...

I enjoy the end result. It's the start of the project that I hate. 99% of the time mini-vans are abused inside and out. People generally treat them like rental cars.

The owner was out of town for the weekend, and when he returned to pick up his van he was VERY impressed. Last night he dropped off a nice tip: Crown Royal Special Reserve and a Gift Certificate to a local Steak House.
 
mgm2003 said:
I enjoy the end result. It's the start of the project that I hate. 99% of the time mini-vans are abused inside and out. People generally treat them like rental cars.

The owner was out of town for the weekend, and when he returned to pick up his van he was VERY impressed. Last night he dropped off a nice tip: Crown Royal Special Reserve and a Gift Certificate to a local Steak House.
Click to expand...
The booze and the gift certificate didn't happen to be in the stuff you found under the seats, did they?:)

Charles
 
I've dreaded every kiddy mini van that I had to do, but then been real happy with the finish...I think in part is that they are the most drastic in change...Great job on this one and the tip BOO-YEA!!!!!!!!
 
Amazing job! Would you happen to have some before pictures? I can only imagine the condition of the vehicle before you got to it considering the amount of time you spent on it. That thing must have been painful to look at.
 
I was gonna say... "You better have been paid well for that", but then I saw what he gave you :).


Great work, John. Thorough is an understatement! Are you just trying to challenge yourself more? You are taking it all to the N'th degree.

I am hunting out that Kids and Pets stuff!
 
Thanks everyone!

Conrad: No before shots. It was raining and overcaset both days that I cleaned up this beast.


Sean -If you have any grocery stores owned by Safeway, they carry Kids 'N' Pets. You can also find it on Amazon in bulk. It comes with a pour spout, but I used a spray head instead.
 
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