D2G Detail: 1972 Pantera... 70+ pics

[Dust2Glory]

Well it definately was a pleasure to work on this car... I have never seen anything like it, nor knew of its existance. I was referred to this guy by a local auto paint shop and I am glad, over 5 trips to work on this car I made a little over $1000. Alot of hard work, sweat and putting up with this guys jokes:bla2:

I also want to mention that this guy got screwed over by a local paint shop, there were alot of scratches and wetsanding marks that were under the clear coat and were not going to come out. This customer is a top notch guy and didn't deserve to get messed over like this. So I made this paint as perfect as possible on top of the clear, but under is a whole other story:

Engine bay detail:

The care was up on jack stands as it lacked an engine and transmission. So first up was ONR wash with MF rags... the paint was ultra smooth all the way around, so no claying was done. Also, used a little engine degreased on the lower parts of the bay. After that the cust decided he wanted to wet sand the bay. So with 2000 grit 3m I went after it using ONR as a lube. After all was sanded I went after it with PG compound and yellow CCS pad and my flex, then followed up with SIP and orange ccs and then 106ff and white pad.

Then I washed again with ONR, used QD to help dry... for protection I knew something strong and durable was needed. So out came the DG 601/105 combo. Both applied by hand using TW foam applicators. So this is what you get.
Befores:

During paint correction:

After polishing and DG application:

More to come!!!

 

[Dust2Glory]

Here are some pics I took of the whole car on the first day I saw it:

Here are some pics I took of the whole car on the first day I saw it:

So the next time I went back it was to start working on the paint... again I did and ONR wash because the vehicle could not be moved. Again looking over the paint with my Brinkman I found more damage done to the paint that could not be touched becuaes of it being covered with clear coat!!

For the outside it was a combo of 2000 grit in some spots, especially in areas he touched up... using PG compound and yellow LC pads, SIP and orange pads then 106ff and white pads. On some parts of the car I got away with just SIP and 106ff.

 

[Dust2Glory]

 

[Dust2Glory]

The only process I did not take pics of was polishing out the trunk or deck lid or whatever you wanna call it, but it was more of the same method used on the rest of the car.

Now for the final day, the car was completely put back together engine and all, so I showed up extra early to give the car a good hand washing... not just an ONR, also to work on the wheels.

On the wheels and tires the were power washed off. On the rims I used Meg's Hot Rims Aluminum cleaner... let that dwell while I sprayed the tires and wells off with awesome apc. The hit the tires and wells with the black schmitt. When that was done I used a grout sponge and EZ brush to tackle the rims. then rinsed them off.

On the paint I used a 75/25 mix of NXT wash and Meg Hyper wash... and used a Schmitt grout sponge. I actually wash the vehicle twice to ensure I got every thing.

Rinsed off again and proceeded to spray the pantera down w/QD and dried with Blue Pearl drying towels from Autopia and Might I add these towels are AMAZING, better than my cobra WW!!!! Got the air compressor out and blew out all the cracks and crevices. And had the guy pull the car back inside.

Once inside I had my helper start on the interior and I re-polished the roof and two doors with 106ff and a white pad (while puting the car back together the guys rubbed against the doors and put tools of the roof:shead

The interior didn't require much... Meg's APC to clean, D2G interior dressing, ## leather cleaner + and ## leather conditioner. Used mix to clean carpets .

Now to crown jewel the paint. Started off using Lusso creme via flex and UDM and blue pads. buffed off using DD towels. Then applied Jetseal via red ccs pads. While it was setting we started polishing the wheels.

I have started using the Meg's Hot Rims Aluminum polish and have found it amazing stuff to work with, and it smells like cinnamon!!! Used foam applicator to buff, the QD the wheels to make sure all polish was removed... the applied Deep Finish sealant to the wheels via TW wheel applicator.

Once this process was done, Jetseal was removed using DD towels and I got to *RUB*:thumb: the car with RB Juiced Edition thanks to my good buddy Heath (Cooter)
Using TW foam applicators I didn't use WOWO motion or body lines, i applied more like when your polishing a car, side to side then back and forth... I don't know why, I just felt like it. Well I let that sit for 10 mins and I applied Meg's HD to the tires and Adams UC spray to the wells.

I again used DD towels to remove was and after about an hour I applied 4* Poly Charged Spray Wax, this stuff reminds me alot of AW, but I hope has alot better durability!!! Being poly charged and all or course. And then finally the windows using SIG and WW towels


The engine bay got a QD wipe down to boot.

 

[Dust2Glory]

A few interior shots:

And some of my favorite shots:

Thanks for taking the time to look!!!

 

[Old Pirate]

Great write-up and recovery work on the Pantera Dust!..........:righton:

 

[cwcad]

No....thanks for taking the time to post! I loved the pictures!!

 

[ehuth1]

Awesome work Michael. Looks like the engine was just installed in a freshly painted engine bay in that one pic!! Top Notch

 

[mingraygt]

Man that is some real nice work you did!:righton: