Special edition WS-6 TRANS AM detail

[EBPcivicsi]

Scheduled this car two weeks ago and just now got around to detailing it. The paint was in average shape and the interior was dirty from your normal convertible conditions. The car is somewhat of a garage queen and only comes out when the weather is nice. It had its share of bugs and road grime, but nothing too drastic.

One thing I noticed about this car is how horrible the fit and finish is throughout the car. The interior is the worst though, huge gaps between panels, wires exposed everywhere, etc. The exterior is the same way, huge gaps between the panels, you could actually see welds between the gaps by the rear tail lights.

The overal fit and finish of this car made my civic's build quality seem like a rolls royce. :dunno

Anyway, the exterior had a few holograms and minor marring, but nothing too bad. The sun did not cooperate with me on the afters so.....

Interior before:
Process was vac, APC with HT enzyme powder on all carpet and vinyl. LGCM to remove the APC. Dressed leather with meguiars medallion leather cleaner/conditioner.

After:

 

[EBPcivicsi]

The exterior process was wash, clay, meguiars #80 via PC and a polishing pad, NXT with a finishing pad. Glass was cleaned inside and out with sprayway glass cleaner, tires are dressed with meguiars high endurance HG gel.

Before:

Afew scuffs

A few holograms(this was post wash)

After

The engine was cleaned with car wash soap and an EZ detail brush, then dressed with #40 cut 50/50 with water.

Just for fun

Painted wheel wells, I used some #20 on them once I got them clean.

 

[MattZ28]

Very nice!

 

[G35stilez]

Detail looks great!!

The car on the other hand :ugh

Maybe we judge too hard because we are detailers, but I think the Japanese do a far better job with fit and finish compared to the US. My 90k mile Integra (1996) sounds mechanically sound inside and out where as my dad's garage queen 40k mile Cobra (2001) sweaks and rattles with every door open/close and bump.

I think we need a new term for domestic rice because that stripe has to go...Some kind of fried food :lol

What did you use on the wells to clean? tires to dress?

Again great detail!

 

[Silver97Bull]

That looks great. I don't really like the car, but it's clean like a detail should be.

But what can you expect from the Cobra? It has so much more power and toruqe. Just playin with ya. I like the Teggy, too. Heck, I'd take either.

 

[EBPcivicsi]

Detail looks great!!

The car on the other hand :ugh

Maybe we judge too hard because we are detailers, but I think the Japanese do a far better job with fit and finish compared to the US. My 90k mile Integra (1996) sounds mechanically sound inside and out where as my dad's garage queen 40k mile Cobra (2001) sweaks and rattles with every door open/close and bump.

I think we need a new term for domestic rice because that stripe has to go...Some kind of fried food :lol

What did you use on the wells to clean? tires to dress?

Again great detail!

Yeah, I know what you mean. The car would look 1000 times better with no graghics, that wouldn't fix the fit and finish problems though. :brick

I cleaned the wheel wells with a product that I buy locally called "white tire spray," Basically a high alkaline degreaser. The tires were dressed with meguiars endurance high gloss gel.

Oh yeah domestic rice would = corn I guess!!! :drunk

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[joshcaro]

You guys need to own an F-body to truly admire that car. I own a 96 Firebird and I absolutely adore that car and many of us F-bodys owners do to. Great job!

 

[91LSMAN]

Great work!!

 

[AZ Ferrari Man]

Hey, how did you use the # 80 with a PC. I know I asked this before but I lost the post, (sorry) also the medallion leather conditioner, did you let it sit and then buff or wipe on buff off? Thanks for your time. P.S. what did you use on the plastic on the consul and door handle (as far wash and if you dressed it)

Andrew

 

[Focusedonsound]

Nice detail!! looks great

The owner should be shot for buying such a nice car with a manual trans! And get rid of the graphics....

Nice detail though!

 

[EBPcivicsi]

Hey, how did you use the # 80 with a PC. I know I asked this before but I lost the post, (sorry) also the medallion leather conditioner, did you let it sit and then buff or wipe on buff off? Thanks for your time. P.S. what did you use on the plastic on the consul and door handle (as far wash and if you dressed it)

Andrew

I apply the #80 to the pad, start out at about 4, then once the product is spread around I crank it up to 6. I work the product until it is almost gone, then stop and move to the next section. I do this all the way around the vehicle and then go back and remove with MF.

The leather conditioner does not need to dry. Just work it in then flip to a clean side of the towel and buff.

I used costco APC mixed with HT enzyme powder on all vinyl. No dressing, just cleaned.

 

[edschwab1]

Nice work.


Eric

 

[mtodde]

Great job! You really cleaned it up well...I especially like the interior work.

 

[groebuck]

heh - not all Japanese cars are that good - my 2003 TL-S has a rattle coming from the back "somewhere" that all can hear but none can figure out why....

that and in one year of ownership (outside of my inital issues) I had to replace the Stereo and a headlight and the right front tire..sigh.

 

[kimwallace]

Great job as always ... I am pretty sure that is a 2003 T/A (the last ones built).
I have a 95 T/A and even though the fit and finish isn't the best, the car has lots of power and is a lot of fun for the money. I never did care for the T/A's or Formula's with the convertible tops. Oh well, to each their own opinion!

 

[05SilverTRD]

That car looks great.

As far as the fit and finish, I have owned both foreign and domestic cars. I had a 2002 Camaro SS, and while I loved the way it looked and it had a huge amount of power, I was not impressed with the build quality. Not only did the interior look cheap, it rattled. I now own a 2005 Volvo S60 and the build quality is far superior. I am not putting down the F-Bodys, it broke my heart to get rid of that Camaro, i am just stating my opinoin. I have owned 3 foreign cars (A Honda CRX, a VW Passat, and this Volvo) all of them have been great in the quality area.

 

[91LSMAN]

heh - not all Japanese cars are that good - my 2003 TL-S has a rattle coming from the back "somewhere" that all can hear but none can figure out why....

that and in one year of ownership (outside of my inital issues) I had to replace the Stereo and a headlight and the right front tire..sigh.

That's cuse your TL aint no Legend. :LOLOL :car :lmfao :headbang

Just kidding. LOL

 

[Ferrarislave]

Yes american cars have incredibly cheap build quality and crappy designs but thats buyer preference. There is only maybe 1-2 American vehicals that I would remotly consider having in my garage. Good job on the detail its horrible how convertible's get so dusty..

Im jelous of your weather I want to detail.