99 Grand Am...FIRST DETAIL!!

[99GrandAM]

Well, as the title says, this is my first detail to date. I've been snooping around here for about a year and have learned a TON about detailing. So after buying products and researching, this spring I decided to detail my car. I took off 3 days of work to just work on my car non-stop...and I have to say it was well worth it! I was able to get all the swirls out and the RIDS to about 95% corrected.



Before the pics...a DISCLAIMER: my car is not in the best of shape. Yes, I know the front bumper and spoiler need to be repainted/replaced...but seeing as I'm a HS grad getting ready for college, I don't have the money to do everything I want to the car. I ask that you comment on the pics and processes and not that the parts mentioned.







It's been a few weeks, so let me see if I can remember everything...





Process



Interior

Bissel Carpet Cleaner

Resolve Spot Cleaner for stains

Shop Vac

AA Original

Woolite 10:1

Invisible Glass

Lexol Conditioner



Wash

2BM

2 Grit Guards

Meg's #62

Sheepskin Wash Mitt

Eagle 1 Wheel Cleaner



Clay

Clay Magic Blue

Meg's #62 10:1 as Lube



Polish

70% Alcohol Wipedown

M105- Orange LC flat x1-2 passes

M80- White LC CCS x1-2 passes



Final Products

AA Extreme Tire Shine

Collinite 476S- on car and windows



Misc

PC

Husky 1000W Halogens

Blue Magic Metal Polish

Meg's Quik Detail

LOTS of MFs

Steel Wool #0000



Time ~30 hours







Pics



Interior



Before

After

Driver Seat 50/50 with Woolite...I was amazed at the difference!

After

Water from Carpets

Exterior





Before

Hood Before

Hood 50/50

Hood After

Driver Door Before

After

Driver Fender Before

After

 

[99GrandAM]

Mirror Before

After

Pass Fender Before

Afters

After Pics!



...there wasn't much sun. But I did what I could.

The next day it rained, and I took some beading pictures. Granted it's with my P&S camera, don't have a DSLR.

My Favorite One

Comments and constructive criticism welcomed! Thanks for looking! :buffing:

 

[the walrus]

Looks good. Well done!

 

[OCDinPDX]

Very, very nice! That car looks like it was fairly well cared for from the get-go.

 

[White lexus 23]

looks alot better. not to bad for a first detail

 

[99GrandAM]

Looks good. Well done!

looks alot better. not to bad for a first detail

Thanks walrus and lexus!

Very, very nice! That car looks like it was fairly well cared for from the get-go.

And thanks again! I did take good care of the car before (wash weekly to bi-weekly, clay, and collinite), but I knew there was a lot more that could be accomplished with a full polish! Plus the swirls and defects were just getting on my nerves.

 

[99GrandAM]

Have updated a few of the products I left off.

 

[LeadingEdgeDetail]

That second beading shot is now my background :clap:



Great job! :2thumbs:

 

[99GrandAM]

I'm glad you liked it so much! Thanks!

 

[ninobrn99]

looks good!

 

[FDNY1075]

Strong work!

 

[99GrandAM]

looks good!

Strong work!

Thank you both!

too bad the car itself sucks! Glad I got rid of mine

Well, I like it...for a first time car I'd say its pretty nice...and a lot nicer now

 

[ninobrn99]

edited to satisfy Blacksunshine

 

[unclejud49348]

Very nice job. Did it really take you 3 days to do everything? If so, then I'm gonna take time off work when I do my car, lol. Or did you just take time off just in case it took longer than expected?

 

[TGates]

looks wise, they're great. mechanically, not so much. LIM gaskets, alts., turn signal clicking, rotors warping, sunroof motors, stock stereo error code..yeah, i got all those. very common on the grandamgt forums. I did still like driving it. Just not as much as my Trans Am haha

I'm sure he appreciates your opinion on how much you think his car sucks. Get real. I had a 2001 just like it and other than a fuel pump, had no problems with it whatsoever.



To the OP, you did a great job. Looks a lot better! I always appreciate someone taking what they have and making the best of it. Good for you.

 

[mongo]

Nice turnaround on the Grand Am great use of products to produce the results.

:xyxthumbs

 

[Freaky Fresh]

great work...dont really like the car that much but you did a great job

 

[99GrandAM]

Nice turnaround on the Grand Am great use of products to produce the results.

great work...

Very nice job. Did it really take you 3 days to do everything? If so, then I'm gonna take time off work when I do my car, lol. Or did you just take time off just in case it took longer than expected?

Thanks to all! And yes...I took off three days to do the job just in case...it took all three days...a little longer than I expected, but it was well worth it!

To the OP, you did a great job. Looks a lot better! I always appreciate someone taking what they have and making the best of it. Good for you.

Thank you Black! I take pride in taking care of it and making it look the best I can...and get a lot of compliments about it too. Thanks for the nice words

 

[AKOZ]

Great job. You took your time and saw what can be done and you gained knowledge and skill. You will get better with every car you do.

 

[Barry Theal]

that looks great for your first detail. great job man!