2004 GMC Sierra Denali

[VroomVroom]

This was a pretty special detail. Quick background... The truck has spent the past 11 months inside a shop, having an extensive driveline build. I'll save the details in case anyone wants them, but this is an AWD truck that will soon be dialed up to more than 1,000hp at the wheels. The reason for the detail was a photoshoot for Truckin' magazine. The truck will be featured in the August "performance" issue, and if a few lingering transmisison woes can be resolved, it has a chance of being on the cover.



The great thing about this detail was that the heavy lifting - the vast majority of paint correction - was already done. I'd clayed and polished (PC) with SSR 2.5/LC orange & FPII/LC white five weeks prior. I finished with UPP and P21S. Unfortunately, the new transmisison blew up before the owner could drive to L.A. for the photoshoot. So, fast-forward to this particular weekend. The new tranny is in and the editor was in NorCal for the Goodguys show. So...this ended up being more of a minor detail, with lots of Pinnacle Souveran love. Here's the products & process to make the truck happy.



FRIDAY

• Poorboys Bio APC on wheels, tires, wells, & bars
  
• Wash w/ Duragloss 901
  
• More APC (4:1) on side & rear windows (to ensure grease-free finish for decals)
  
• Flood rinse, dry w/ jelly blade & waffle weave MF towel
  

Back inside, we got to work.

• SIP/LC yellow - spot polishing on roof & one spot on the hood.
  
• IP/LC orange on roof & hood
  
• FPII/LC white on roof, hood, & tailgate
  
• IP (hand w/ terry applicator) on wheels & nerf bars
  
• FPII (hand w/ terry) on grille shell & insert
  
• FMJ on roof, hood, tailgate, wheels, bars, & grille
  
• Poorboy's NL on tonneau cover
  
• Z16 on tires, bumper pad, nerf bar pads, & wheel wells - two light coats, followed by a buff w/ MF towel
  
• S&W + MF on windows
  
• Einszett CP on interior finishes
  
• Pinnacle Souveran on entire finish
  

The results?

And then...the photo shoot was delayed due to rain. So, I put on a second light coat of Souveran on the hood, roof, & tailgate, and called it an evening.



SATURDAY

• S&W + MF towel to remove dust & light grime from previous afternoon's tuning/testing runs
  
• Pinnacle Souveran on entire finish, nerf bars, & grille
  
• Z16 on tires, pads, & wells - one light coat + buff
  

Then it was off to the photo shoot. We got to the site in time to see the end of a shoot for an old Ford truck with some of the most amazing paint I've ever seen...blue over silver w/ ghost flames in the blue. It'll be worth picking up a copy of Truckin' to see that thing in print. Anyway...

• S&W + MF towel to remove road grime
  
• Pinnacle Souveran on entire finish - one last light coat for wetness
  
• Buff on tires, pads, & wells w/ Z16 residue towel
  
• OOPS! With the wheels cranked, took S&W and Z16 to the cupped lower insides of the splash guards...something I didn't catch at the shop
  
• Einszett CP + MF on interior surfaces
  

Bada boom. The photographer gave us the thumbs-up, so I grabbed my camera and just enjoyed the photo shoot. For fellow DSLR junkies, the photographer used a Canon EOS 5D with a 24/75mm lens. I was semi-surprised that he only shoots .jpeg - no raw images.



Here are some of my shots from the shoot...

Finally, some impressions.



My first experience - believe it or not - with Pinnacle Souveran. Just wow. It is totally as good as advertised, especially on GM's silver birch. I've tried lots of LSP's on this color over the years, and nothing comes close. Also, I love the combination of IP & FMJ. I haven't used any metal polishes for reasonably light work like this in months. The chrome and stainless looked really, really good.

 

[VroomVroom]

Two shots I forgot to include, just for fun.



First - the motor.

That was a "before" shot - weeks before, actually. The only detailing I did was to remove the greasy fingerprints you see in the shot, as well as some adhesive and other residue on the radiator shroud. I actually tried to lightly dress some of the black plastic, but it got pretty splotchy from the heat. For the same reason I didn't bother with the powdercoated pieces. It is incredible how much heat those turbos generate. On the day of the detail I just used a little S&W to make sure everyhing was clean.



And what seems to be the 'money shot' from the photo shoot - if you're unfamiliar with GM's Quadrasteer, this is always worth a smile:

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Not a fan of those truck but this one looks fantastic!



What an engine!!!!

 

[nmxdaven]

I'm generally not a fan of modded trucks, just seem pointless to me, but my God... that is impressive.

 

[teck]

Man now my keyboards a wet from the drooling impressive:wow::kewlpics

 

[J.J.]

That's one truck I'd like to have. Can't imagine the gas bill on that one... bet it don't run on corn either!



JJ

 

[GlossyTundra]

Man, my dad used to have a 04 Denali Quad like that, the rear steer was awesome and garnished some looks from allot of people.



But that, that is over the top, on the detail and the truck. Souveran made that thing look killer man!