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

[NgoFcukinWay]

Looks good, yo!

Are you using the two bucket system with a grit guard or 2 (or 4)? I was gonna recommend a wheel wax, but it's surprising how clean they are before you started the wash. That exhaust is totally blingin though!

Should give the leather seats a thorough cleaning next time when you get the chance with the Leatherique treatment.

http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Packages-M...Care-16oz-P360/

That and the Connolly are the only leather products I use on the G or much less any other leather material I need to clean. Great on those purses too for the wifey/girlfriends as well! lol

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

The tape is there to protect the trim from possibly being damaged during the polishing process and it helps prevent them from getting stained by the polishes. If they get stained, it's extra work to remove it.

Clay bar is pretty easy and straight forward to use. Check out this article if you're uncertain about how to use it.

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how...use-a-clay-bar/

They have a bunch of great articles to read through and I've learned a lot from them. It's just a matter of getting the experience first hand from there.

[snapshotgt]

Thanks to all for the kind words.

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.

Thanks man, as stated above, I taped off the window trim to keep excess polish from getting on the trim (which is annoying/difficult to remove). Check google and search detailing forums for technique info (lots out there, this is a living for people). Example of how-to youtueb video: clay bar.

Looks good Colin

Thanks Dustin, you're the man.

Looks good, yo!

Are you using the two bucket system with a grit guard or 2 (or 4)? I was gonna recommend a wheel wax, but it's surprising how clean they are before you started the wash. That exhaust is totally blingin though!

Should give the leather seats a thorough cleaning next time when you get the chance with the Leatherique treatment.

http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Packages-M...Care-16oz-P360/

That and the Connolly are the only leather products I use on the G or much less any other leather material I need to clean. Great on those purses too for the wifey/girlfriends as well! lol

Thanks man, always keeping the wheels clean is a priority. I will definitely use wax at some point, but my main focus was on paint this time around. When I wax they wheels, going to make sure they're removed, and detail or steam the wheel wells. And two bucket system is the bomb, though I ted to rinse with my hose instead (which wastes more water, but its always fresh water). Also, I use two different microfibers for upper half/lower half for obvious reasons. Leatherique is a great product, just is a touch expensive for me and I had this stuff laying around (Audi etc sells LeatherOnly products at dealers) -- however, I will probably break down and buy some Leatherique at some point.

This post has been edited by snapshotgt: Jul 24, 2011 - 11:12 PM