This is my car, and besides for some manual work here and there, this is my first real try.
The car is a `98 V70R, salvaged (all painted except front bumper :nixweiss ). The car was chopped in half at the top of the a-pillar and then a different tail attached. Anyway, after its completion, but before I bought it, it sat outside near the wrecking yard that was selling it for a year. It was filthy when I bought it but I refused to have the yard wash it. I worked there and I saw how the car wash guy washed cars. He would use a stiff brush on a long handle, soapy water (used all day) and then just hose them off. I didnt want it done this way, and I wanted to check for leaks, so I took it to a normal wand wash and focused on the door seams, glass, etc. When that was good I took ownership and washed it like it should be. It was just a normal soap (Meguiars #00), buckets, sponge and then dry. After it was clean I noticed it had dots all over it that would not come off with clay. I drove it this way until Memorial Day of last year. I had a long weekend and a free garage so I figure I would remove the dots once and for all.
I washed the car again with my #00 then clayed it. I had an old Makita rotary polisher (~3K RPMS) and a clean head for it. I went over the car with Meguiars #2 (mistake). Then I polished the car (Meguiars #7) with the same polisher but I washed the head and dried it completely. Then came my ROB and a coat of #20, and two coats of #26. The car looked downright awesome for about three weeks when the wax started coming off. I was really anal about keeping it clean and washed it a lot which probably didnt help with the life of the wax. The hot Utah summer probably didnt help either.
Well, now comes late October of last year. I was tired of all the swirl marks I had accidentally put in the car with my lack of experience. I decided to do it the right way. Using most of the same products I went at it again only this time I had a PC.
Nevermind the dirt, my sister had driven it for a month while I was out of state working, I would never let my baby look like this.
Befores:
Check out the scratches that show through the dirt!
Afters:
I was amazed at the difference using the proper methods could do to a car. Sadly I grabbed the pics right at dusk and hadnt cleaned the products off of the plastic trim yet. The car sits in storage while I am out of state (four weeks) but I drive the crap out of it when I am home (two weeks). When I pulled it out in Janurary it was still shiny black. It could have used to have me go over it quickly but I wasnt about to do anything to it 10°F weather. About another five days and I can go at her again and have her ready for spring.
Any thoughts or opinions about the repair would be appreciated.
The car is a `98 V70R, salvaged (all painted except front bumper :nixweiss ). The car was chopped in half at the top of the a-pillar and then a different tail attached. Anyway, after its completion, but before I bought it, it sat outside near the wrecking yard that was selling it for a year. It was filthy when I bought it but I refused to have the yard wash it. I worked there and I saw how the car wash guy washed cars. He would use a stiff brush on a long handle, soapy water (used all day) and then just hose them off. I didnt want it done this way, and I wanted to check for leaks, so I took it to a normal wand wash and focused on the door seams, glass, etc. When that was good I took ownership and washed it like it should be. It was just a normal soap (Meguiars #00), buckets, sponge and then dry. After it was clean I noticed it had dots all over it that would not come off with clay. I drove it this way until Memorial Day of last year. I had a long weekend and a free garage so I figure I would remove the dots once and for all.
I washed the car again with my #00 then clayed it. I had an old Makita rotary polisher (~3K RPMS) and a clean head for it. I went over the car with Meguiars #2 (mistake). Then I polished the car (Meguiars #7) with the same polisher but I washed the head and dried it completely. Then came my ROB and a coat of #20, and two coats of #26. The car looked downright awesome for about three weeks when the wax started coming off. I was really anal about keeping it clean and washed it a lot which probably didnt help with the life of the wax. The hot Utah summer probably didnt help either.
Well, now comes late October of last year. I was tired of all the swirl marks I had accidentally put in the car with my lack of experience. I decided to do it the right way. Using most of the same products I went at it again only this time I had a PC.
Nevermind the dirt, my sister had driven it for a month while I was out of state working, I would never let my baby look like this.
Befores:
Check out the scratches that show through the dirt!
Afters:
I was amazed at the difference using the proper methods could do to a car. Sadly I grabbed the pics right at dusk and hadnt cleaned the products off of the plastic trim yet. The car sits in storage while I am out of state (four weeks) but I drive the crap out of it when I am home (two weeks). When I pulled it out in Janurary it was still shiny black. It could have used to have me go over it quickly but I wasnt about to do anything to it 10°F weather. About another five days and I can go at her again and have her ready for spring.
Any thoughts or opinions about the repair would be appreciated.