300ZX Extreme Detailing [many pictures inside]
- Thread starter BryanH
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BryanH
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- Jan 9, 2013
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- #24
Thank you all. It was a labor of love as they say. Or a labor of "I have standards dangit!" 
I didn't, but the car did sit outside for a couple nights early on in the process. It was outside after polishing the paint, and it rained a little that night. I'm a bad man. The next morning, I wiped the car down with QD before starting Dr Color Chip. From then on, the car stayed in the garage until it was done.
One of the reasons it took so long was that I was taking my time in an effort to make sure I learned more, rather than rushing through my first time with so many new processes. It was a voyage of discovery.
For the T-top shot, look in the far side valley for the "after." This was something I did right after getting the car - cleaning up the years of built up caked on dirt in the crevices. I didn't do any cut/polish stuff here, just cleaned it up and finished with a QD wipedown.
The engine bay was probably the very first thing to get cleaned. I knew I'd be doing some work on the car right away, and working on a dirty engine is no fun. I wasn't super happy with the results from a detailing perspective but it was good enough to get the job done.
I used some general engine degreaser as Step 1, rinsed and let dry, then followed it up with No Touch tire care in the spray can. I would have preferred CD-2 Engine Detailer but I didn't have any on hand. In this picture, Step 1 was completed, and Step 2 (tire dressing) is drying on the near side only:
And here's what it looked like a month later in the middle of the fuel injector replacement:
:dig:
I didn't, but the car did sit outside for a couple nights early on in the process. It was outside after polishing the paint, and it rained a little that night. I'm a bad man. The next morning, I wiped the car down with QD before starting Dr Color Chip. From then on, the car stayed in the garage until it was done.
One of the reasons it took so long was that I was taking my time in an effort to make sure I learned more, rather than rushing through my first time with so many new processes. It was a voyage of discovery.
For the T-top shot, look in the far side valley for the "after." This was something I did right after getting the car - cleaning up the years of built up caked on dirt in the crevices. I didn't do any cut/polish stuff here, just cleaned it up and finished with a QD wipedown.
The engine bay was probably the very first thing to get cleaned. I knew I'd be doing some work on the car right away, and working on a dirty engine is no fun. I wasn't super happy with the results from a detailing perspective but it was good enough to get the job done.
I used some general engine degreaser as Step 1, rinsed and let dry, then followed it up with No Touch tire care in the spray can. I would have preferred CD-2 Engine Detailer but I didn't have any on hand. In this picture, Step 1 was completed, and Step 2 (tire dressing) is drying on the near side only:
And here's what it looked like a month later in the middle of the fuel injector replacement:
:dig:
SuperiorAutoLLC
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- Oct 8, 2011
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Fantastic job! You really brought that baby back to life!:xyxthumbs:
I believe the proper way to clean MF pads is by using compressed air...I see you used a brush. Maybe that's why they didn't fluff up?
I believe the proper way to clean MF pads is by using compressed air...I see you used a brush. Maybe that's why they didn't fluff up?
killrflake
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- Jan 25, 2007
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Wow, what a great job. Must have been a back breaking job but the results were worth it.
The paint absolutly pops and your work was fantastic, I totally enjoyed the pictures and
your write up. Thanks for posting it.
The paint absolutly pops and your work was fantastic, I totally enjoyed the pictures and
your write up. Thanks for posting it.
thebamboo23
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- Dec 19, 2012
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Love me some 300
BryanH
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- Jan 9, 2013
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- #35
Good eye. A previous owner (I am the 3rd) must have installed the TT front bumper cover, possibly at the same time they added the rear bumper extension.
I had heard of people using that method. Is it the only effective way? I also tried the terry towel trick that Mike Phillips demonstrated in one of his videos.
They fluffed up fine using the brush, but packed down immediately again when used on the paint surface.
What's funny (or sad!) is that when the car was looking ragged, I'd get almost daily compliments or waves from other drivers. Now that the car is looking a lot better, nobody seems to notice.
I had heard of people using that method. Is it the only effective way? I also tried the terry towel trick that Mike Phillips demonstrated in one of his videos.
They fluffed up fine using the brush, but packed down immediately again when used on the paint surface.
BryanH
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- Jan 9, 2013
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- #36
Small update of where the car is today.
It's still shiny, although the extra 'glow' of the P21S Canauba Wax seems to have worn off. I have been washing the car weekly, as it sits outside and is dark enough to show dust esaily, and using FK425 sparingly as a drying agent each time.
I find that I prefer my old wash, Meguiars Gold Class, over Optimum Car Wash. OCW is nice and slippery, and smells great, but doesn't seem to be as sudsy or as effective at getting bugs and other debris off paint. Perhaps it's best used on cars kept in clean garages that don't get very dirty.
Anyway, a few weeks ago I made a couple changes to the car.
She's now riding on KW Clubsport coilovers and 17x9 wheels with 255/40/17 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs all around (up from 225/50/16s on the stock 16x7.5 wheels).
This was done to see if the car could be competitive in an autocross class that allows a few modifications - enough to make cars more fun and interesting, but not so much that you can't still drive them on the street. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) calls this class category "Street Touring", and the 300ZX qualifies for Street Touring Xtreme (STX). Its main competitors include the RX-8, WRX, FRS/BRZ twins, E36 non-M BMWs, Integra Type R, and [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meybtwmMxQY]one awesomely insane '67 Camaro[/video].
I ran it at one event - a ProSolo which utilizes a drag-race style start to each course. It's a great adrenaline-pumping format. Here's some in-car video I took from Saturday's runs:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVYhVF5_ZR8]El Toro ProSolo 2013, STX Z32 - YouTube[/video]
The car showed some potential even in its primitive first iteration of a suspension setup. I've decided to take things further, and aside from a better limited-slip diff this means finding a hardtop chassis that is both stiffer and lighter than my T-top model. That probably also means another detail project unless I find an exceptionally well kept car.
But next on the detail list is the family Camry. It's not too bad, I'll probably just hit it with some Klasse AIO and SG and keep it simple.
Today I also sealed the new OEM wheels for the garage queen MR2. Those babies weren't cheap... but I wasn't satisfied with the refinishing job I received on the originals. Which will now be sold I suppose.
It's still shiny, although the extra 'glow' of the P21S Canauba Wax seems to have worn off. I have been washing the car weekly, as it sits outside and is dark enough to show dust esaily, and using FK425 sparingly as a drying agent each time.
I find that I prefer my old wash, Meguiars Gold Class, over Optimum Car Wash. OCW is nice and slippery, and smells great, but doesn't seem to be as sudsy or as effective at getting bugs and other debris off paint. Perhaps it's best used on cars kept in clean garages that don't get very dirty.
Anyway, a few weeks ago I made a couple changes to the car.
She's now riding on KW Clubsport coilovers and 17x9 wheels with 255/40/17 Dunlop Z1 Star Specs all around (up from 225/50/16s on the stock 16x7.5 wheels).
This was done to see if the car could be competitive in an autocross class that allows a few modifications - enough to make cars more fun and interesting, but not so much that you can't still drive them on the street. The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) calls this class category "Street Touring", and the 300ZX qualifies for Street Touring Xtreme (STX). Its main competitors include the RX-8, WRX, FRS/BRZ twins, E36 non-M BMWs, Integra Type R, and [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meybtwmMxQY]one awesomely insane '67 Camaro[/video].
I ran it at one event - a ProSolo which utilizes a drag-race style start to each course. It's a great adrenaline-pumping format. Here's some in-car video I took from Saturday's runs:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVYhVF5_ZR8]El Toro ProSolo 2013, STX Z32 - YouTube[/video]
The car showed some potential even in its primitive first iteration of a suspension setup. I've decided to take things further, and aside from a better limited-slip diff this means finding a hardtop chassis that is both stiffer and lighter than my T-top model. That probably also means another detail project unless I find an exceptionally well kept car.
But next on the detail list is the family Camry. It's not too bad, I'll probably just hit it with some Klasse AIO and SG and keep it simple.
Today I also sealed the new OEM wheels for the garage queen MR2. Those babies weren't cheap... but I wasn't satisfied with the refinishing job I received on the originals. Which will now be sold I suppose.
billyboymr2
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- Nov 28, 2012
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Good job man, looks awesome! Looks like a nice SMG MR2 you got there too. As you can tell by my name, I'm partial to those...
BryanH
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- Jan 9, 2013
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- #38
UPDATE, 1 year on.
I hope I'm not overstepping any bounds here by bumping an old thread, but I thought I would share an update in my continual quest to learn things.
Within 6 months after completing this detail job, the paint was looking dull again and the hood looked the same as the "before" shots -- except now it was developing that ugly type of oxidation in one area. With 2 coats of KSG and weekly usage of FK 425 as a drying agent, I expected protection and shine to last a while. The car did sit outside most of the time but I have never seen anything deteriorate this quickly. Is it safe to say the paint was too damaged to begin with? Despite the fact it looked amazing after my final polish step? Or did I do something wrong? It makes me a little nervous for future details of my cars.
I sold this car and have a different 300ZX now (a Sapphire Blue 1994 hardtop) which I plan to detail soon - its paint appears to be in better shape to begin with.
For detailing my garage queen, a Steel Mist Gray 1993 MR2, I will probably seek a professional expert (not just any shop that does dealer production work) near me if I can find one. The car was detailed by someone in Idaho before I bought it in 2006. Since I have owned it, it has lived in the garage (and done probably 30k miles) and not once have I waxed it or clayed it or anything. And yet, and yet! Water still beads and the paint looks clear. I wish I knew what products were used on it back then! I only want to detail it to maintain good protection and also because after these 8 years you can start to see light swirl marks.
I hope I'm not overstepping any bounds here by bumping an old thread, but I thought I would share an update in my continual quest to learn things.
Within 6 months after completing this detail job, the paint was looking dull again and the hood looked the same as the "before" shots -- except now it was developing that ugly type of oxidation in one area. With 2 coats of KSG and weekly usage of FK 425 as a drying agent, I expected protection and shine to last a while. The car did sit outside most of the time but I have never seen anything deteriorate this quickly. Is it safe to say the paint was too damaged to begin with? Despite the fact it looked amazing after my final polish step? Or did I do something wrong? It makes me a little nervous for future details of my cars.
I sold this car and have a different 300ZX now (a Sapphire Blue 1994 hardtop) which I plan to detail soon - its paint appears to be in better shape to begin with.
For detailing my garage queen, a Steel Mist Gray 1993 MR2, I will probably seek a professional expert (not just any shop that does dealer production work) near me if I can find one. The car was detailed by someone in Idaho before I bought it in 2006. Since I have owned it, it has lived in the garage (and done probably 30k miles) and not once have I waxed it or clayed it or anything. And yet, and yet! Water still beads and the paint looks clear. I wish I knew what products were used on it back then! I only want to detail it to maintain good protection and also because after these 8 years you can start to see light swirl marks.
kirkatizer
New member
- Nov 20, 2012
- 179
- 0
Great job on the Fairlady! I want to detail one sooooo bad. I owned a 1992 300zx TT back in 08 before I got into detailing. Was a very fun car.
