1997 Tahoe Full Correction-Detail

MarkD51

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Hello all,

Three weeks ago, I finished doing a total paint correction on my 1997 Tahoe.

Lots of hours were poured into the work done, but took my time, and kept at it.
I couldn't have taken it this far if it weren't for this group, and all the folks in it, as well as the high quality products available at AG.

Please forgive me that the pics are not the best, as you all well know that White Paint is very hard to capture, especially in broad daylight. Sure wish I had a garage here, or something along the lines of the AG Garage, to better showcase the work, and quality of correction.

The correction to the paint was done 3 weeks ago, and since the paint condition in regards to swirling was quite minor, I was able to get a very good correction with only WGTSR, and 5" Flat White LC Pads on my PC7424XP.

I only did a one step, and did not go onto WGFG, as I was sort of fighting time, and also felt the paint was LSP ready at that point. I'd say I probably got 99% correction, and not at all bad, considering this original paint is better than 15 years old.

All Door Jambs , under Hood, Tailgate were all hand polished with Meg's 205, and sealed with UPGP.

All Exterior Trim (with the exception of the Rear Bumper were cleaned, and sealed with CQuartz Dlx. All Glass treated with Pinnacle Glass Spot Remover, and futher cleaned with Stoners Invisible Glass.

The Vehicle was treated to 2 coats of WGDGPS 3.0 Sealant 3 weeks ago, and again treated to a coat of Menzerna Powerlock Sealant today.

These pics were taken today at 1:00pm in 105 degree heat. When the Powerlock was applied, it was about 85 degrees, and was applied in the shade to cool paint.

Products used:
Zymol Shampoo
Iron-X Liquid
Pinnacle and Mothers Clay Bars
PC7424XP with LC White 5" Pads
Griots 3" DA with Griots Orange 3" Pads
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover
Meguiars 205 Ultra Finishing Polish
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0
Menzerna Powerlock Sealant
Ultima Paint Guard Plus
CQuartz Dlx
Optimum Opti Bond Tire Gel

Some pics were taken under my Car Port, and the others taken at the New Mexico Museum of Space History here in Alamogordo, NM.
Mark


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Looks great!

All your hard work has really paid off!
 
Looks great!

All your hard work has really paid off!

Thank you, and again I'm sorry for the seemingly poor pics that do not truly showcase the quality of the condition of the paint, and overall condition of this SUV, which has under 40K on the odometer.

There were many processes which were truly opening a can of worms, such as removal of Wiper Cowl to treat with CQuartz Dlx, and removal of some other trim parts such as Rocker Sill Step Moldings, rear Corner Trim Moldings, Weatherstripping, etc etc, which revealed dirts, filth, leaves, from many years of accumilation. That sometimes we of course neglect such since these are not true show cars-collectibles.

About all I can further add, is that I've been vastly more than pleased with the products I had mentioned and used, that have been purchased from AG-Autopia.

Such outstanding products all of them, which of course weren't even thought of back 15 years ago.

Very proud, and happy being a member here, to enjoy interaction with all of you, and to have found such a great resource for vehicle care products!
Mark
 
Two surprises during this work, was the Iron-X product, and the
baggie test.

I did see quite a bit of iron bleed from the Hood, and to a lesser amount the Sides, and Roof. None the less, there was evidence everywhere. And how long such iron particulates were imbedded in the paint cannot be answered?

Perhaps since the vehicle was shipped in the fall of 1996 when I took delivery of it?

Although the car was thoroughly washed before Iron-X'ing, and had noticed that Iron-X also seems like a "soapy" sort of solution, I was not prepared for what the baggie test revealed. I was shocked! This of course was not the first time the vehicle had been clayed during its life.

The paint, while not feeling that bad with bare hands felt like sandpaper with the baggie! Oddly though, there was not much in the way of dirts showing up on the clay? Very little dirt in fact.

About the only conclusions I can come to, as to what was adhered to the paint, it may have been tree saps? Perhaps tree saps don't show up like a dirt in the paint deposited onto the clay?

I then let the baggie test be my guide on every square inch of paint. Not until the paint was perfectly smooth did I move onto following paint correction processes.

Without a doubt, I cannot stress just how important, and needed that the baggie test was, that not only eyesight, but also "feel" guided me.
Mark
 
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