HOME | FORUMS | REGISTER |

This is the MCRParts.com archive. To get back to our main site, please follow this link: Ford Mustang

Pages: 1

So the cleaning process has begun...
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

so last night I decided to start my week long project of getting the cobra prepped for the show season. Usually takes me about a week or so to go through all the steps depending upon how busy i get. Below is my process

Day 1
1. Wash the car with Dawn to strip off last years wax
2. Clay
3. First coat of Zaino Z5 - let sit over night

Day 2
1. remove 1st coat of Z5
2. spray down with Z8 detailer
3. apply another coat of Z5

Day 3
1. remove 2nd coat of Z5
2. spray down with z8 detailer
3. apply first coat of Z2

Day 4
1. remove first coat of Z2
2. spray down with z8 detailer
3. determine if another coat of Z2 is nesscary ( normally is ) if yes then apply
-if no then apply 1st coat of Pinnacle Souveran carnuba

Day 5.
1. remove extra coat of Z2 or Pinnacle
2. spray down with z8
enjoy the spoils of my hard work!!

Now I know most guys do all of this in a single day, but I have a garage and work at my own pace and do it in my spare time and really really take alot of time and do it right. Most people call me anal or dumb for taking so long, but I enjoy doing it this way and it also ensure's I don't get lazy and cut corners towards the end.

Can't wait!!!

Posted by: MattCrow

Man that Zaino stuff is expennnnnsive. Can't wait to see it!!

Posted by: only90s

You put me to shame and I thought I was the most Anal person I know

Posted by: langod

SHould be beautiful! I do a similar process with different products.

On the cobra I'm going to have to do some more work than I did on the GT. Black shows more defects than red. So I'll have to break out the Porter Cable RO buffer and do some swirl correction.
Then I'll follow it up with a layer of Klasse All-in-one and one or two of Collonite 845. Before a show I'll hit it with a layer of P21S carnuba for extra depth and wetness.

Posted by: 03redfiregt

Quote:

Originally Posted by only90s

You put me to shame and I thought I was the most Anal person I know

Negative!! haha anybody here will attest i am prob the most anal person you will meet. My process is very similiar to Ians. And i also use Zaino! AWsome stuff!!

Posted by: chachee52

Damn!! I wax my car maybe 2x for the whole season, and then wash it a couple times a week (depending on how much I drive it that week). Man I better start stepping it up!! Maybe once I get the new house with a grage I'll be able to get more done with it.

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03redfiregt

Negative!! haha anybody here will attest i am prob the most anal person you will meet. My process is very similiar to Ians. And i also use Zaino! AWsome stuff!!

Tim is by far the best.
(except for that time he wanted to strangle me because I hid a Dorito under his floor mat)

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

tim is just about as bad as they come...but for the record that's a good thing

I simply just take my time to get good results, sure I could do it all in a single day but after about hour 6 my ADD will kick in and i'll start rushing and get sloppy. Much better to invest an hour a day for a week.

It's easier to just take my time....besides...after the initial wash everything can be done inside anyways whether its raining or not.

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by langod

SHould be beautiful! I do a similar process with different products.

On the cobra I'm going to have to do some more work than I did on the GT. Black shows more defects than red. So I'll have to break out the Porter Cable RO buffer and do some swirl correction.
Then I'll follow it up with a layer of Klasse All-in-one and one or two of Collonite 845. Before a show I'll hit it with a layer of P21S carnuba for extra depth and wetness.

More power to ya brother, I will NEVER own a black car for as long as I'd live. I'd probably end up driving it into a wall cuase i'd never be satisfied with the way it looks.

Posted by: EastCoast5.0

Damn, thats a process lol.

Take some pics!

Posted by: langod

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachee52

Damn!! I wax my car maybe 2x for the whole season, and then wash it a couple times a week (depending on how much I drive it that week). Man I better start stepping it up!! Maybe once I get the new house with a grage I'll be able to get more done with it.

DID YOU get the house? Last I heard you had made an offer and were waiting to see if they'd go for it....

Posted by: chachee52

Quote:

Originally Posted by langod

DID YOU get the house? Last I heard you had made an offer and were waiting to see if they'd go for it....

If all goes well, we close on June 17th. That's if the tenants that live there now get out in time. Then I plan on taking about a month or so to do some work inside on the kitchen and paint all the walls before we move in.

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

so last night I tried out the new Zaino Z-8 quick detailer...all i have to say his holy shit..its like liquid wax in a bottle. After using this quick detailer I will never use another brand.....alot of people say that quick detailer is all the same, but this stuff is simply amazing!!

p.s. todd, congrats man, one step closer. When I bought myplace I did the same thing. I closed in April and moved in at the end of May once I had some time to take care of some things on the inside. Definitly the way to go if you can swing it

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

well the exterior paint is completed....after 7 days I finally got it to the point I thought it was acceptable. It's not perfect, but its pretty good I think

now just a few things left to do

- clean the convertible top
- clean the interior
- clean the motor
- clean and wax up the wheels

wheeeeeewwwww alot of work!!!!!

One thing I do need is a squeege to clean the windows with, haven't found one that i like yet so if you have any idea's I am open.

Posted by: Mustang5L5

I've given up on cleaning my car.

They are redoing the sidewalks on my street and repaving the road as well as new basins and sewers....so my street will be under construction all summer long.

I washed the car sunday...it was dusty in 2 hours from cars driving by. Not to mention i need to drive through dirt across the dug up sidewalk to get into my driveway and my car always spins the tires and kicks up dust.

Guess i'll have a lot of free time on Sat mornings. All i can do is hose off the dirt every couple days. No point washing as it just settles back down 2 hours later

Posted by: MattCrow

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorchRedSVT

well the exterior paint is completed....after 7 days I finally got it to the point I thought it was acceptable. It's not perfect, but its pretty good I think

now just a few things left to do

- clean the convertible top
- clean the interior
- clean the motor
- clean and wax up the wheels

wheeeeeewwwww alot of work!!!!!

One thing I do need is a squeege to clean the windows with, haven't found one that i like yet so if you have any idea's I am open.

What do you use to clean the convertible top?

Posted by: BIGJ

A squegee?

Ian, WTF?

Just use a good glass cleaner, and a green microfiber.

Posted by: Orange SS

Holy cow!! Can you please come do our car???
What do use for the wheels??? It took me 1 1/2 hours to clean the wheels on the car. I did it because my hands are smaller than my husband's, but the wheels are sooo deep, I was up to my elbows.

Posted by: 03redfiregt

So i started my cleaning process tonight! CLay bared the car and then two coats of z5! My back is soar!!! haha I'll finish up the other two coats of z2 before i get the car tuned saturday!

Posted by: Orange SS

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I have question. Would using a clay bar on a 8 y/o car damage it in any way??? If not, how labor intensive is it??? I need to give myself enough time.

Thanks

Posted by: langod

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange SS

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I have question. Would using a clay bar on a 8 y/o car damage it in any way??? If not, how labor intensive is it??? I need to give myself enough time.

Thanks

No not at all.
Claybarring is probably the single best thing you can do to a finish to ensure the finsihed process has that glossy, wet look. There is a great deal of fantastic information here: http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/
as well as on their forum.

Claybarring doesn't take long -- I can do my whole car less than an hour. It depends how bad the finish is in the first place. If you clay 2x a year, it's fast and easy.

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

I started as well... 3 Hours last night (until 10pm in the driveway) .. All I accomplished was the back bumper/wing/trunk area up to the rear wheel wells...

All Meguairs

--> Complete Surface cleaning with Scratch X

--> Complete Round of 3 Step cleaner / polish / minus the wax step

--> Finish off with Gold Class paste as my final wax

Works every time and lasts a while with quick detailer updates I do weekly.

I can't see wasting money on Zaino unless the car is black.. Def a waste on metallic silver.

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange SS

Holy cow!! Can you please come do our car???
What do use for the wheels??? It took me 1 1/2 hours to clean the wheels on the car. I did it because my hands are smaller than my husband's, but the wheels are sooo deep, I was up to my elbows.

I did my wheels on Sunday...

Seriously, buy A Mother's Powerball or Powerball Mini.. Saves me hours and saves my back .. This year the Powerball did an awesome job too (they were filthy)..

I'll pull off the rims next weekend and do the insides with the powerball as well.

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

hey jake, the squeege is used to get the water off while im drying the car after a wash. I go back and clean the windows with invisible glass and microfiber later on...no worries

as for cleaning the wheels, I use a mini -power ball , meguirs polish then put a coat of wax on the wheels to help with the brake dust. However, I take the wheels off the car to do so as it makes life sooooo much easier.

MattCrow, to clean the convertible top I use this Ragtop. Best product out there for us guys with the cloth top: http://www.superiorcarcare.net/rt1165.html if you are a member on SVT, the vendor there has a 10% off special for SVT members!!!

OrangeSS - as Langod mentioned, clay baring on your 8yr old paint will be fine, it helps to give the cleaners, waxes and polishes a smooth and contaminent free surface to bond to. I usualy only clay once a year...just make sure you dont clay on a dry surface, use a soap mixture so not to burn or hurt the clear.

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

Try the Claybar with Windex ..That's what they use in the body shops

Posted by: MattCrow

I've never used a claybar. I bought the meguirs kit last year, just haven't used it yet. I think I'll give it a whirl this weekend.

Posted by: Orange SS

Thanks for all the info guys. I will give it a try sometime soon. Of course it will look so good that it wont start. LOL

Then Chris(my husband) will want me to do his truck.