Forum member fastskylines Vette (detail in progress)
Here are some photos I have taken of forum member fastskyline's 05 Vette, which at the time of this thread is nearing completion. So far it has about 8 hours invested in it. This car was in much worse shape then I orginally thought (though no fault of fastskyline, this was preowned). After the intial washing and inspection with a Brinkman Dual Xenon swirlfinder, I was shocked to see that car was literally a road map of scratches. There was also a fine layer of oxidation, which when removed, revealed more scratches, swirls, and etched waterspots.
I was forunate to have this car for 2 1/2 days, so I could take my time on it and do it right
The detail started by washing the Corvette with the 2 bucket method w/ Meguiars Hyperwash dilluted 400:1, using two wash mitts... First I removed the license plate, then went to work...
I then clayed it using Meguiars Quik Detail Clay and Lasttouch Detail spray while the car was still wet. Afterwards I dryed with a couple Meguiars Water Magnet microfibers...
Then I used a Brinkman Dual Xexon light to get a better idea of the surface condition. It was pretty rough...
I started my rotary adventure with Meguiars DACP #83 on a foam 8006 pad, at about 1200 rpms. After a pass, the surface looked more scratched because when it cleaned up, the road map of scratches appeared. Argh...
This led me to go with Meg's #84 on a cutting pad, at 1800 RPM for the entire car. After this, I followed by a pass of Megs DACP on a 8006 pad, at 1200 rpm and finally #82 swirl free polish on a 8006 pad. Then, I polished then entire vehicle twice with the PC, once with DACP and then followed by #80 Speed Glaze.
Here is the resulting finish...
As you can see, its not perfect (mainly because a lot of those orginal scratches ran pretty deep) but its about 95% percent defect free, and a 100% improvement, IMO.
However, there was some deep scratching in certain areas of the hood that I wanted to see if I could could remove. In this first picture, the Xenon was going dead, but you can see the scratches, or atleast the pattern of the scratches...
Last edited by TH0001@properautocare.com; 07-28-2006 at 03:07 AM.
The picture really doesn't do it justice, so I decied to plug the Brinkman in and charge it. I busted on the big guns, going right to Meguiars #85 Diamond Cut with a wool pad and 2000 RPM's. I made two passes, and here is the results after the second pass. I had to use the flash of the camera, so its not a fair before and after, but it will give you an idea of getting worse before it gets better!!!
Then I made one pass with DACP/rotary/1400 RPMs and 1 pass with 80/rotary/1200 RPMS to remove the heavy swirling left from the aggresive cut and the wool...
After DACP
After 80...
Then I polished the area with 80 on the PC.
The rims where cleaned with Meguiars All Wheel Cleaner and then glazed with Meguiars #21 Synthetic Sealent. The tires where scrubed with Meguiars APC, then dressed with one coat of All Season Dressing and one coat of Hot Tire Shine...
Before...
After...
Here is a sneek peak of the Corvette now, in the full sun, over the scratched areas...
I will finish posting up some pictures tomarrow. The second coat of sealent is being allowed to set up overnight, before I put on some wax, wash the windows, and dress the trim. Then it will be done, and hopefully fastskyline will be happy
Last edited by TH0001@properautocare.com; 07-28-2006 at 03:30 AM.
The morning started (I stayed up late, sealing the paint with 2 coats of Meguiars 21, followed by a coat of 26)
I used Meguiars Exterior Detailer on the plastic and rubber, on the right you can the untreated area, on the left is treated. Not a big difference, but a subtle, dark, satin shine. The Corsa exhaust was polished with Meguiars NXT All Metal Polysh.
Of course its cloudy today, so I could only get a couple sun shots, but here is a pethra of afters..
Here is the scratched area from the first post, in the sun...
I then put the plates back on it, and drove down the front of my neighborhood to try to get some beauty pictures and some reflections in the hood...
The name of my company is Tropical Detailing Excellence, and the sun happened to break right when I was setting up this picture. My new slogan "We can't predict the weather, but we guarantee the shine!"
great job but oh man its gonna be so hard to keep that up!!!
I'd give it 3 coats of Zaino right away to make sure it stays that way!!... I'm not taking away anything from TH's work cuz its exemplary but I dunno about the durability of Meguiars products
TH - Outstanding work.
Fast - I bet you want to smack the previous owner for letting the finish get in that type of condition.
yeah - my thoughts exactly . That's what - an '05 or '06 -- how did the finish get that bad in only 1 to 2 years? must have left it under a sprinkler and polished with Brillo.
Well - fantastic job !
I've been in a Meguiar's Hot Shine mode for the past 4 months myself - it's an easy spray-on, gives a nice look, and good durability. Nice to see you using it also.
Thanks for the FANTASTIC writeup and all the effort you put into it to document the work with so many pictures !
Nice work.
Which sealant are you using on the paint?
Meguiars #21 Synethic Sealent
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIDOauto
I'd give it 3 coats of Zaino right away to make sure it stays that way!!... I'm not taking away anything from TH's work cuz its exemplary but I dunno about the durability of Meguiars products
Thanks for the compliment . Meguiars #21 will give a solid three months of protection. I'm not touching the Z word
Quote:
Originally Posted by StephenT
Good work, but dude, I hope you are not naked in this pic and buff in the buff
Ummmm, I had a black C6 in the garage and the wife was away for the day, errrr nevermind
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Forum member fastskylines Vette (detail in progress)
