2004 Dodge Ram 2500 (Complete Correction)

Okay, I hate to admit it, but this is another one of my trucks. (It is actually my wife’s winter driver). This 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 (w/ 37K on the clock) has been very much neglected recently. It is outside 24/7 (never seen the inside of a garage) and has never been polished. It is a truck that is treated like a truck. At times it is used as a work truck (hauling supplies, debris going to the dump, and we also use it to pull our 27ft. camp trailer). It is also used as a hunting, fishing, and true going off road truck. It has been through sage brush numerous times, and across many lava fields. It is long over due for a full paint correction, complete interior/exterior, engine bay, wheel well and undercarriage detail. My youngest son Andrew volunteered to help with the detail (as he always does), so here we go:

Here are a few pictures of what we were up against (prior to starting):

Notice the horizontal scratches just above the D and G (those will be dealt w/ later)…

Okay, so here we go…

Engine Bay: Covered the alternator with a large plastic bag and duct tape. Cleaned the engine bay with ARO (Amazing Roll Off) and various scrub brushes. Started truck and let it run for about ten minutes; dressed all rubber, plastic, and vinyl with 303 AP. (Here are a couple of shots):

Tires, wheels, wells, and Undercarriage: Tires and wheels were cleaned with Amazing Roll Off (ARO). Tires were dressed with Optimum Opti-tire bond. Wheels were sealed with 2 coats of Poor Boys World Wheel Sealant. Wheel wells and Undercarriage were also cleaned with ARO and sprayed with 2 coats of spray on rubberized undercoating. (A few pics.):

Interior: Door jams, Carpet, upholstery, and floor mats were all cleaned with APC+. (Door jams polished and protected w/ Klasse AIO. Carpet and upholstery protected w/ 303 fabric guard). Dash board, door panels, and trim were all cleaned with DP total interior cleaner and protected with 303 AP. Instrument panel, overhead display and stereo face were cleaned and protected with Plexus.
(Here are a few of shots):

First Wash: Presoak was done with Foam Gun and 3oz.of DP Extreme Foam Shampoo. Truck was then washed using 2 buckets w/grit guards, Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo, and an old GS-50 Sheepskin wash mitt. Rinsed and dried w/FK-425 and PakShak WW mf’s.

Clay: Clayed with DP universal detailing clay, using ONR mixed a 1:32 with distilled water for clay lube.

Paint Correction: (We chose the following):
Step 1 = m105 and several cyan hydrotech pads (91% IPA wipe down).
Step 2 = m205 and several tangerine hydrotech pads (91% IPA wipe down).
Step 3 = Menz. 85rd and several Gray CCS pads
(We used PakShak microfiber “Ultra edgeless white towels” for polish removal and PakShak ultra plush towels for IPA wipe downs).

(Here are some shots before, during, and after the polishing stages):











50/50



After

Some Before and Afters:
















Second wash: After completing the correction stages we washed again. This time we washed the truck using 2 buckets w/grit guards, Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo, and a GS-50 Sheepskin wash mitt. Rinsed the truck with CR spotless, including engine compartment, and wheels. Blew out crevices with B&D leaf blower, blotted some areas with FK-425 and PakShak WW MFs.

LSP = We chose Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint sealant for the LSP. (Removed sealant and buffed with PakShak Ultra Plush MF’s). Here are a few shots after removing the sealant…

Exterior Trim, Plastic, and Glass: All exterior trim was first treated with Poorboys World Trim Restorer and allowed to cure for 48 hours, then further protected with 303 protectant. Plastic head light and tail light lenses were polished with Maguire’s Plastix and protected with Klasse HGSG. All glass was polished with Stoners Invisible Glass and protected with Klasse HGSG.
(Here are a few of shots):











Bed Liner, Chrome, and Exhaust tips: Bed liner was cleaned with Meggs APC+ and dressed with Black Again. All chrome was polished with Optimum metal polish on a 4” orange LC pad. Nerf bars and Exhaust tips were polished with Optimum Metal Polish and #0000 steel wool.

Here are a few more shots of the final project:












Thanks for looking…

ASPHALT ROCKET said:

Dam Tad, now that is a complete detail in the true sense of the word "detail". Most of the details are just wash and waxes. Awesome turn around buddy, and way to show everyone that you do not need a flex, a pos Griots or the Megs da. Great turn around buddy, you have come a long way in a short amount of time.

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Thank you Dana, appreciate the compliments. I know what ya mean about the Flex/GG/PC/Meggs war. Everytime I hear one brewing up I think "WOW hear we go again" blah, blah, blah"...

Indy YZF said:

Nice job, looks like brand new!

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Thank you, however I don't think it looked this good when it was brand new...lol

Birdhunter said:

WOW!!! That looks GREAT!!! :dblthumb2:

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Thank you Birdhunter!

cobalt9123 said:

Great work as always Tad! rops:

I am curious as to what camera you use? When I do a full Finish Kare paint decontamination and m105/205/85rd in a couple weeks I want a camera that I can actually capture swirls with such as yours. My iPhone just doesn't cut it.

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Thank you my friend, I have a cheap digital I use. I'ts an older Cannon Powershot. Believe me I had a hard time capturing defects and even sun shinning on this one (most pics just wanted to bleed out), because of the light colored paint I think.

Kre8speed said:

Man what a turn around! Great looking truck!

Kris

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Thank you!

CEE DOG said:

Tad, "Complete" is right! I don't think its possible to do better or more complete work then what you accomplish. On top of that you take the time to document all of it. Really incredible!!!
I like the US Flag pic

How long did the ex. tips take?
I see you put your son to work on the hard job! :laughing: Just kidding of course

I soooo love the attention to detail :dblthumb2:
You and your son should both be extremely proud of the amazing work you do!

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Corey, you are way to kind! I really do enjoy documenting and sharing my details with my forum brothers. Ya I noticed the flag reflecting off the paint and thought WOW what great :idea: for a pic. Ya no kidding it's a lot easier for Andrew to get down there on the ground and work that metal than it is for his old dad...lol. He is getting very good at polishing them up to a mirror finish. I think he had 2-3 hours into polishing the exhaust tip and both nerf bars. Thank you again for your very kind words buddy!

RTexasF said:

Now THAT is work beyond compare! Even with that amount of real estate to work with you missed nothing......even the pumpkin on the rear axle! :applause:

The lad also deserves his due for hard work and even volunteering. He restored my faith in today's youth, good work on raising that boy Papa.

Beyond superb in every aspect........and done with a PC:urtheman:

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Thank you for the kind words. You are right, there is definitely a lot of real estate to polish on this truck. Yes Andrew is a fine young man, and I am very fortunate that he genuinely loves to detail and loves working with dad to accomplish things. He doesn't have his drivers license yet, but he does have a car we fixed up for him in preperation for when he does get his license. He details that old car just about every week. Thanks again for the compliments.

SouthernStyles said:

What a great write up and very good work!!

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Thank you for the compliment!

Bunky said:

Excellent work. I like the blue.

I did not know you could restore chrome pipes in that condition.

Do you find that 303 over PB's extends the durability?

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Thanks AL...You know, I was afraid you'd catch that; (after what I said last week about the WG Vinyl and Rubber Protectant vs. PB's Trim Restorer). After thinking about it more, I really think that 303 offers the best protection, (and as bad as this trim was) I thought it couldn't hurt to use the PB's first, let it cure for a couple of days and then apply 303 in hopes of achieving the best looks and the best protection. Thanks for pointing that out though...J/K...lol

Rsurfer said:

Excellent job and write up Tad. Those tips came out awesome. Lava fields?? Your son is becoming quite a detailer.

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Thanks Ron, means a lot comming from someone that I have such respect for. Your son has taught my son and myself wellrops: Ya lava fields, we have a lot of lava fields here in SE Idaho. I live about an hour or so from Craters of the Moon National Monument... We do a lot of activites out on the "desert"/"lava fields"...

Marc08EX said:

Wow that's an amazing difference! The truck looks new now! Mind if I ask how long it took you to complete the whole detail?

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Thanks for the compliments... Hard to say for sure how long it took, as we were only able to work on it a few hours here and there, but I would guess somewhere close to 30 total hours...