richy
New member
- Mar 27, 2007
- 5,158
- 0
This is an interesting car. It had been in a bad wreck but was repaired by a very capable body shop that specializes in high end stuff. They did a really good job on it all told. So the back half of the car has a different hardness to it as well as different readings.
This job was great for several reasons:
1) Got to finally use the foam applicator and mf's for CQ
2) Got to experiment with a new beta polish
3) Got to use a few new Carpro products
4) Tried a new mix of DG beta sealant with DG 501
5) Tried topping CQ with DG beta sealant for the first time (and it WON'T be the last!!!)
6) I got to do an engine detail (most of my customers don't want it done)
The car was initially booked for a one step. The problem is that the owner gets it washed at a car wash 2X's a week. The paint looked good and was very smooth. That tells me that they fill in the scratches they are putting into it with a strong wax. Time would tell.
First up was the engine. Here are the befores of it and the insulation under the hood:
Engine Procedure:
I sprayed down the insulation first and misted it with Zep Citrus and agitated with a brush and allowed it to dwell. The engine was power washed and then sprayed down with Zep Purple and agitated with various brushes and was allowed to dwell. Then both the insulation and the engine were power washed off. The insulation took quite a bit of rinsing and then quite a bit of time to drip dry after that. It was subsequently vacuumed the next day. (I had the car at my disposal for a week)
The engine and insulation were dried with the leaf blower.
The plastic pieces and metal pieces were treated to PERL at 1:1.
I wiped them down after doing the wheels, about an hour later.
ENGINE FINISHED PRODUCT:
Wheels/Barrels/Wells/Tires:
The wheels had bad brake dust, typical for MB. I sprayed IronX on the dry wheel face and allowed it to dwell. I had just received some IX gel, so I put some on my trusty Ken-sourced Raceglaze wheel brush and agitated the barrels with it. OMG, the entire wheel both inside and out was purple!! I followed that up with Megs WB just to be sure and then some Zep to neutralize the acid. I did not need to spend long with the acid and neutralizer after the IX gel.
The tires were cleaned with Zep Purple and the wells with Zep Citrus.
The wheels also needed polishing because they were dull and lifeless. The customer had made a specific request to attend to the wheels. I folded up a white flat LCC pad like a taco and put some M105 on it and had at 'er. They came up nicely. They were subsequently wiped down with IPA and then sealed with CQ.
This is where I got the idea to try topping the CQ with the DG beta polish. I figured it was just like putting a stronger version of ReLoad on it. Boy, oh boy did it work well. It improved the look (made it wetter) and made the surface unbelievably slick. I made the decision that I would try it on a panel of paint and see how it did there too.
Before shots of a wheel:
IronX doing its thing:
Foam/Wash/Clay:
With the wax on this car, I used a strong mix of Zep Citrus and DG 901 to foam the car and let it dwell.
It then got washed with a stong mix of 901 and Dawn. While rinsing off, there was no longer any sheeting action left. Success.
The car was clayed with CM blue that was warmed up in the microwave first to make it as pliable as can be.
Headlights:
The headlights were badly faded and got wet sanded with 2000 grit and then 2500. They were compounded with M105 and a TB wool pad followed by M105 and a yellow B & S followed by M205 and a green B & S pad. The lights were sealed with CQ afterward.
Before shot of headlight:
Work in Progress (I don't remember what I had done for this shot actually):
BEFORE SHOTS:
This job was great for several reasons:
1) Got to finally use the foam applicator and mf's for CQ
2) Got to experiment with a new beta polish
3) Got to use a few new Carpro products
4) Tried a new mix of DG beta sealant with DG 501
5) Tried topping CQ with DG beta sealant for the first time (and it WON'T be the last!!!)
6) I got to do an engine detail (most of my customers don't want it done)
The car was initially booked for a one step. The problem is that the owner gets it washed at a car wash 2X's a week. The paint looked good and was very smooth. That tells me that they fill in the scratches they are putting into it with a strong wax. Time would tell.
First up was the engine. Here are the befores of it and the insulation under the hood:
Engine Procedure:
I sprayed down the insulation first and misted it with Zep Citrus and agitated with a brush and allowed it to dwell. The engine was power washed and then sprayed down with Zep Purple and agitated with various brushes and was allowed to dwell. Then both the insulation and the engine were power washed off. The insulation took quite a bit of rinsing and then quite a bit of time to drip dry after that. It was subsequently vacuumed the next day. (I had the car at my disposal for a week)
The engine and insulation were dried with the leaf blower.
The plastic pieces and metal pieces were treated to PERL at 1:1.
I wiped them down after doing the wheels, about an hour later.
ENGINE FINISHED PRODUCT:
Wheels/Barrels/Wells/Tires:
The wheels had bad brake dust, typical for MB. I sprayed IronX on the dry wheel face and allowed it to dwell. I had just received some IX gel, so I put some on my trusty Ken-sourced Raceglaze wheel brush and agitated the barrels with it. OMG, the entire wheel both inside and out was purple!! I followed that up with Megs WB just to be sure and then some Zep to neutralize the acid. I did not need to spend long with the acid and neutralizer after the IX gel.
The tires were cleaned with Zep Purple and the wells with Zep Citrus.
The wheels also needed polishing because they were dull and lifeless. The customer had made a specific request to attend to the wheels. I folded up a white flat LCC pad like a taco and put some M105 on it and had at 'er. They came up nicely. They were subsequently wiped down with IPA and then sealed with CQ.
This is where I got the idea to try topping the CQ with the DG beta polish. I figured it was just like putting a stronger version of ReLoad on it. Boy, oh boy did it work well. It improved the look (made it wetter) and made the surface unbelievably slick. I made the decision that I would try it on a panel of paint and see how it did there too.
Before shots of a wheel:
IronX doing its thing:
Foam/Wash/Clay:
With the wax on this car, I used a strong mix of Zep Citrus and DG 901 to foam the car and let it dwell.
It then got washed with a stong mix of 901 and Dawn. While rinsing off, there was no longer any sheeting action left. Success.
The car was clayed with CM blue that was warmed up in the microwave first to make it as pliable as can be.
Headlights:
The headlights were badly faded and got wet sanded with 2000 grit and then 2500. They were compounded with M105 and a TB wool pad followed by M105 and a yellow B & S followed by M205 and a green B & S pad. The lights were sealed with CQ afterward.
Before shot of headlight:
Work in Progress (I don't remember what I had done for this shot actually):
BEFORE SHOTS:
)
rops: Like you said, not too many people want this done, but to me, when you open the hood and the engine pops out at you like that one does, it makes all the difference in the car. Very nice job!!
