'60 Impala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

RaskyR1

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1960 Impala, Full Wet Sand and Buff.

So this is another car that my mentor recently picked up for resale at a local auction (yes it sold). The car appeared to have been repainted several years ago, but it was never actually wet sanded and buffed after the repaint. Overall the car was in very good shape, but the paint really needed to be leveled off to show it's true potential. While I really wanted to level the paint as smooth as glass, the initial paint readings told me there was not a lot of paint of the car and the owner and I agreed not to go too crazy with the sanding, but it was still a huge improvement!


So lets take a look at how the car came in...

Here it is at the owners facility, where I did my initial inspection and test sanding/buffing.

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Deck lid
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Zoomed in
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Top of the passenger door
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Side of passengers door
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Passenger fender
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Dust nibs still in the paint
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Drivers side fender
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Looking down the side....those fins made for some challenging sanding and buffing.
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This one shows some swirls, RIDS, and nasty orange peel.
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The Sanding process was done by both hand and DA. Areas that were highly curved needed to be done by hand using Meguiars (Nikken) 1500/3000 grit sheets and a makeshift sanding block/pad. The flat panels were done using a combination on Mirka Soft 1000/2500 grit disks in both 3" and 6", followed by some Meguiar's 3000 grit disks.

I must also give Kevin over at BuffyDaddy a huge thumbs up for helping me find the right sanding media for this rock solid paint and for getting them out to me in such a timely matter! This was by far the hardest paint I've ever laid a buffer too. The Mirka Soft discs worked flawlessly and will be added to my wet sanding arsenal! Thanks again Kevin!!! :props:

Pics of the sanding in process
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Hand sanding curved areas
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DA sanding
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Car all sanded ready to be buffed...notice that the 3000 grit almost leaves the paint with a slight gloss. ;)
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Doing some more test spots trying to figure out best combo for scratch removal.
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50/50 test spot
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Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

This was on one of the late week nights, frustrated by how hard the paint was....Kevin asked how it was going so I thought I'd send him a pic showing how it was "really" going. :D
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The actual sanding scratch removal was done with the below process:
-M105 on the rotary with various wool pads (KB's method)
-M105 on the rotary with cyan LC foam pads
-M205 on the rotary with tangerine LC foam pads
-PO85RD on the rotary with black LC foam pads

LSP was Blackfire Wet-Diamond


The next day I decided to take a break from the paint and focus on the stainless trim and a few other items, which M105 actually polished up very nicely.

Before
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After
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Before
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After
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Change can be seen better in these ones

Before
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After
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While polishing the rear trim piece I also took off the tail light covers to better polish them. Plus they were a little dirty inside so I gave them a quick cleaning. This was actually a 50/50 shot of the rear trim and taillights...hard to see difference in the pic
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Dirty housing
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Quick cleaning
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Tail lights
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Both sides done
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Another 50/50 shot
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Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

This was as I finally finished at 1:00a.m. during a week night. I normally don't take cars on during the week as I have a full time job, but the car had to get done as it was going to the auction the next day.
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Next day when the owner picked it up.....yea sun! :)
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I didn't do anything with the motor or trunk but thought I add pics of them as well
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As always, thank you for taking the time to view my work! :)

Rasky
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Wow, that is an awesome car and AMAZING work Rasky! It doesn't even look like the same car in the after pics! I am very jealous that you get to work on some of the coolest classic cars out there! Wonderful work and write up!!!
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

wow chad... great job! What did you to to sand and buff in between the emblems on the front hood? HELL of a job chad!!
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

That is absolutely fantastic. Watching that much work going into it and seeing the results as it goes through.
I bet the person that wanted it done was very happy and hopefully very rich when it went to auction.:xyxthumbs:

Great job.
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

You did a damn fine job, indeed.:xyxthumbs:
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Ah yes the straight six and two speed powerglide transmission, I remember them well. 0-60 in the same day was a good description. Outstanding work on that whopper. I'm sure it got snatched up at the auction due to your extreme efforts.

Only an old fart like me would spot this. The Chevy emblem on the front grill is not the original. The gold "V" in the oval beneath the emblem itself shows the car has a V-8 which it does not. The six has no golden V. There would also be a V on the trunk for the V-8 but there is not. Trivia 101.
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

What a beautiful job you did on that classic Chad! It looked like an totally different color after you were done. Great job my friend.:dblthumb2:

Ps. Thanks for all the advise with the Opti Coat.
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Wow that is some impressive work Chad, amazing
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Wow, that is an awesome car and AMAZING work Rasky! It doesn't even look like the same car in the after pics! I am very jealous that you get to work on some of the coolest classic cars out there! Wonderful work and write up!!!

Thank you!

I actually wish I only worked on cars like this. Exotics would be cool too, but give me classic muscle and I'm all over it. :props:

wow chad... great job! What did you to to sand and buff in between the emblems on the front hood? HELL of a job chad!!

Thank you!

I actually removed the letters, mirrors, and rear emblems (anything easily accessible). Look back up at pics and you'll see it. ;)


That is absolutely fantastic. Watching that much work going into it and seeing the results as it goes through.
I bet the person that wanted it done was very happy and hopefully very rich when it went to auction.:xyxthumbs:

Great job.

Thanks Jim!

The owner (my mentor actually) was very happy and he did well at the sale too. :)



You did a damn fine job, indeed.:xyxthumbs:

Thanks Ted!


Inspiring work Chad.

You created a finish worthy of the car.


:dblthumb2:

Thanks Mike!

Always a good feeling when you take time out of your busy day to check out and comment on my work. :cheers:



Ah yes the straight six and two speed powerglide transmission, I remember them well. 0-60 in the same day was a good description. Outstanding work on that whopper. I'm sure it got snatched up at the auction due to your extreme efforts.

Hahaha! Thanks!


I actually had to drive it a few times while I was juggling a few cars (The Impala was last minute job) and I understand what you mean about the 0-60 time! :D


What a beautiful job you did on that classic Chad! It looked like an totally different color after you were done. Great job my friend.:dblthumb2:

Ps. Thanks for all the advise with the Opti Coat.


Thanks Barry!

Any time my friend! ;)



Wow that is some impressive work Chad, amazing


Thanks Sal!
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Excellent work as usual! It's amazing how that car turned out and you were like "we agreed not to go too crazy"! :props:
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Nice work Rasky! I don't know how you make it look so easy. My friend's '61 Impala is huge and it takes a long time just to buff it. I couldn't imagine sanding, too.

Very cool. :dblthumb2:

Randy
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

You never cease to amaze me Rasky, honestly. Wow, just wow...
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Fantastic work and huge difference. Enjoyed the pics. Thanks for posting!
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

dddaayyyyyuuummm. With all of the curves and points on that thing, it looks like a nightmare to polish.
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Great job Rasky! How long did it take you.... 3 maybe 4 hours? :poke: :laughing:

She looks great, I can only imagine the work you had to put into that thing.
 
Re: '60 Imala, Full Wet Sand and Buff: Rasky's Auto Detailing

Thats awesome man! I grew up riding in a 60 Impala (our family car - not nearly that nice though lol) Brought back good memories.... thanx man. Great job too :dblthumb2:
 
I'm not surprised at all of the end results Chad. Incredible job from an incredible detailer!!!
 
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