New to detailing: What to make my cobra pretty? pics inside

joemayo

New member
2003 Sonic Blue Cobra

Hasn't been waxed in over a year.

I've owned it for 2 years and never had it buffed/polished

I've been looking to buy a "kit" on autogeek but not sure what to buy.

I'll be getting the PC 7424 either way just need to know what you suggest on this kindof blue and the ford paint/clearcoat.

So poorboys,pinnacle,Mez? I'm stuck on this kindof stuff



Here's a pic of it few months back

Wax.JPG
 
Try a couple different products out to determine which results you like.





I've got a Daytona Blue 350Z and that's pretty much how I'm approaching it. I started off detailing by hand application and will soon be working with a PC7424 because I have a lot of dealer-installed swirls and a couple of minor scuff marks.



Here are some pics of a by-hand-detail I did a while back (2 years?) with the following products:

  • Washed with Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo
  • Meguiar's Clay bar with Zymol quick detail spray
  • wash again
  • Meguiar's #7 show car glaze (polish)
  • Mothers Reflections Car wax
  • Mothers Reflections Top Coat
  • applied with terry cloths and buffed with microfiber cloths



Note: not the greatest pics, but they work.



IMG_0185.JPG


IMG_0191.JPG


IMG_0192.JPG




Good luck!



Edit:

Almost forgot to mention what I'm stepping up to.

PC7424 :waxing:

Menzerna IP

Menzerna FPII

Menzerna FTG

Poorboys Natty's Blue



I might try to layer by using 845IW before the Natty's...
 
To the original poster, what makes your mustang beautiul is prep, clay, polish, glaze is the best route for prep, and don't bother doing it by hand, get a PC or UDM and youll be happy.



To Anomaly, stay away fron nattys blue, and anything poorboys. Their SSR polishes are re-labelled chemical guys compounds and nattys is the least durable LSP I have ever used, I have used spray waxes that last longer than Natty's blue. Go with the collinite since you already had that idea, its much better.
 
What about this

Clay

Meg #83 <<< Don't know much about it but let me know any others

Mez 106ff

Collinite IW845

????
 
i would have to see it in person, bu t it looks well kept.



1. I would start with a nice car wash.(any car wash will do) I use GC, wallmart mitt



2. magic clay blue bar with a quick detailer (EO, final inspection, last touch, or just lots of suds from soap as you go, maybe mix in a spray bottle or use a mitt)



3. wash car again



4. inspect the paint close to see how bad swirls are (move a halogen light around or run round the car in the sun) this will help you to see better.



5. pc with dacp or 2.5 and 8006 polishing pad. (or if paint looks descent) just try AIO



6. follow with say #80 or PWC polishing pad (at this point your car is gleaming)



7. finish with NXTx2, EX or s100 or both.
 
ron231 said:
To Anomaly, stay away fron nattys blue, and anything poorboys. Their SSR polishes are re-labelled chemical guys compounds and nattys is the least durable LSP I have ever used, I have used spray waxes that last longer than Natty's blue. Go with the collinite since you already had that idea, its much better.





F.Y.I. you use NB for looks not durabilty:secret



are you sure SSR are relabled Chemical Guys?



and what if you don't need a gallon of polish?
 
BigJimZ28 said:
F.Y.I. you use NB for looks not durabilty:secret



are you sure SSR are relabled Chemical Guys?



and what if you don't need a gallon of polish?



Oh I understand the idea of a beauty wax, but IMO nattys stinks. It looks alright, but not worth how short lived it is.



Zymol carbon lasts 4x longer than nattys for me, and thats sad IMO because zymol is the one with the bad rep for not lasting long.
 
ron231 said:
Oh I understand the idea of a beauty wax, but IMO nattys stinks. It looks alright, but not worth how short lived it is.



Zymol carbon lasts 4x longer than nattys for me, and thats sad IMO because zymol is the one with the bad rep for not lasting long.



ok but I like the look of NB and get over 2 months out of it



So you think your Zymol last almost a year? .... don't think so
 
Start a new thread!!! ha



What about this

Clay

Meg #83 <<< Don't know much about it but let me know any others

Mez 106ff

Collinite IW845

????
 
menzerna IP or menzerna SIP

menzerna FPII or menzerna 106ff

clearkote RMG

pinnacle souveran paste wax



total cost about 120



total number of looks...a bagillion!!!! and all are well worth it!



pc I would make it a two day job if I could...(assuming its your first time with a machine)



day 1:

wash, clay, wash, IP with a cutting pad, IP with a polishing pad

FPII with a polishing pad, FPII with a finishing pad

RMG glaze with a glaze/finishing pad

wait about an hour or so and the wax by had with pinnacle souveran



day two:

wax again wait about 4 hours, then wax again



rest of the time....ENJOY!!!!!



ok i was really bored right there, but you get the point...if you were good with a rotary, all in one day!
 
BigJimZ28 said:
ok but I like the look of NB and get over 2 months out of it



So you think your Zymol last almost a year? .... don't think so





As you know I am far from a Zymol fanboy, however the only way i could see NB lasting 2 months is if the car was garaged, never rained on, and QDed after each wash, and the wash was incredibly gentle, less than the normal 1oz per gallon ratio for car soap.



But really, calm down, just because I dont like NB doesnt mean that you have to go crazy trying to prove me wrong.
 
joemayo said:
What can I do to learn on a rotary? is there any videos to watch?



This thread might be helpful:

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-...-information-beginners-rotary-wetsanding.html



ron231: Your assessment of NB seems to be what I've read for it as well - relatively short life. I'm only planning on using it for looks (especially with my Z's DB color) and am willing to put in the effort to maintain it each week or so (about every wash). Hence, why I was planning on using the 845 underneath to keep the paint 'safe'.
 
Anomaly said:
This thread might be helpful:

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-...-information-beginners-rotary-wetsanding.html



ron231: Your assessment of NB seems to be what I've read for it as well - relatively short life. I'm only planning on using it for looks (especially with my Z's DB color) and am willing to put in the effort to maintain it each week or so (about every wash). Hence, why I was planning on using the 845 underneath to keep the paint 'safe'.





Or you could just use collinite 915 which IMO looks better than NB and lasts longer than 845.





If you really want a super wet look, use RMG before wax, you will be very surprised at how much wetter your paint looks after RMG.
 
Yea, I guess you'll have to go for looks, since you certainly didn't go for speed with a Cobra ;)



My personal faves for polishing are Menzerna's SIP/IP/FP line but I'm branching out (only to try new things). Duragloss #105 gets a lot of good reviews as a sealant over everything.
 
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