8 Hour Detail: 60 pictures, Wash, Dry, Claybar, Polish, Paint Sealant Options

[snapshotgt]

Hey guys:

Its been a while since I've posted, but thought 6gc would enjoy this thread of the Celica getting some L0V3. Its that time of year where I throw down some wash, dry, claybar, polish, wax/paint sealant. The process took approximately 8 hours total, but the end results were worth every minute.

1mz-fe update: First, it must be known: the 1mz-fe has been running beautifully. No real maintenance the last 3 years beyond oil changes and regular small stuff. It has been a 100% reliable daily driver and never broken down on me since sorting out the axle spacer issue in 2008. I've been very impressed with its performance and reliability. However, I'm retiring it to the garage, as I now DD a E46 BMW M3. I've considered selling the V6, but we'll see -- shoot me a PM if you're dying for a reliable N/A swapped Celica. However, enjoy the effort below and sorry for no engine shots -- those can be found in profile. I'm planning on detailing the engine bay another day.

Products used as follow:

- Meguiars Gold Class Wash
- Griot's Garage microfiber washing mitts and drying towels
- Griot's Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner with their deep reach wheel brushes
- Griot's Garage Speed Shine and clay bar
- Griot's Garage Polish 3 & 2, applied with their 6" random orbital, polish removed with Griot's polish removing microfiber and Pre-Wax spray if needed
- Griot's Garage Paint Sealant (for added protection), applied with their 6" random orbital
- Griot's Garage Long Lasting Tire Dressing
- Griot's Garage Metal Polish (see exhaust)
- Griots Interior Cleaner
- Leather Only clean, condition, and protectant
- Black WoW plastic conditioner/repair

The car didn't look too dirty from a distance, but up closer was a different story:

Close (roof):

Close (passenger side):

The products:

Getting ready to roll:

Quick Rinse before soaping:

Wheels cleaned:

Gotta love the color:

Ready for post-soap rinse:

Drying with Griot's drying towel:

Towel pic 2:

Washed and dried:

Imperfections and water spots (that didn't wash out):

Using Griot's swirl finder tech light to expose imperfections:

Up close:

Beginning to tape off:

Speed Shine & Clay bar:

Clay-barring:

The products: 6" Random Orbital, Machine Polish 2 chosen:

Beginning to polish (a bit too much polish applied, no harm though):

50/50 of passenger fender (left = polished, right = unpolished):

Up close of passenger fender, polished:

Hood polishing complete:

Inspecting polished hood with tech light:

The work station:

Polishing the roof:

Roof completed:

Moving to driver door:

Passenger door polished (look at that reflection!):

Passenger door polished pic 2:

Driver door polished:

Driver door again:

Ready to start waxing:

Paint sealant applied to Griot's Random Orbital:

Sealant evenly distributed:

Applying sealant:


NOTE: not many pics of applying sealant, needed to keep working it in evenly. Once applied, waiting about 1.5 hours before buffing out. So in that time, I polished the Greddy exhaust tip and moving to the interior:

Griot's metal polish:

Before:


After:


Interior Before:


Vacuuming:

Complete:

Griot's interior cleaner and microfiber:

Moving to the vents:

Leather before:

Rear Seats Conditioned:

Passenger Seat Conditioned/cleaned:

Driver seat Conditioned/cleaned:

Interior Complete:

Used Black Wow on all plastics:

50/50:

Black Wow used on mudflaps:

Tire dressing:


Then hand buffed wax off, after pics:







A E46 Teaser:


This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Jul 23, 2011 - 9:12 PM

[jordisonjr]

I'm wondering why you taped off the window trim at the very start? was this for the black wow?
You should do some write ups on the techniques you used on things like the claybar etc.
I have a clay bar kit but I'm kind of nervous to use it because i don't really know what to do
I've also wanted to restore the paint on my car like this but don't really know how.

But this is like night and day, it looks way better after.
Good job man