"Faded Glory" Grand Prix White Honda S2000

[Tru_Shine]

So I took a trip down to Murfreesboro Tn to clean up a couple of Honda S2000's before the big IA meet in Nashville. And when I got down there I found a couple of nice S2k's, but each had there own fair share of defects. The White one was Faded like no other, the previous owner had definitely mistreated the paint and the convertible top. So my client had requested the Tru_Shine treatment. I did the Paint correction and convertible top treatment, and here it is. So sit back and enjoy!





Wash Process:



I began by spraying down the wheels with some P21S Wheel gel. This stuff was incredible wheel cleaner, and it is way better then the Diablo wheel gel but it cost a little more. but it's worth every penny.

You can let this stuff dwell for 5 minutes to 2 hours. it wont harm any type of wheels or brakes. it is totally pH balanced and has incredible cleaning abilites.



here it is eating at the brake dust and tire grime.

Next while that is dwelling I used my Karcher Mini 1400psi pressure washer with a Foam cannon and I first sprayed Chemical guys Tar & Bug remover on it, Then I let it dwell for about 5 mins, and rinsed it off, and then I applied DAWN detergent via Foam canon to wash the car with to remove any waxes or anything.

Wash tools:

5gal bucket

Grit Guard

100% sheep skin Wash mitt

After that I got back to the wheels Scrubbing them with various brushes inclubing the EZ-Detail brush At this point it was getting dark out side and the pics were getting hard to take. So I finished up the washing stage by Scrubbing the convertible top very thoroughly with some APC(all purpose cleaner) and agitated very thoroughly to get a real deep cleaning. the top must be completely dry before applying the RaggTopp Vinyl top treatment. so This was the end of Day 1 and I let the Top dry over night.

Day 2



I woke up the next morning and inspected the vehicle post washing, and now that the top had thoroghly dried I could apply the RaggTop Vinyl top treatment.

And here was the Tru Surface.

It was VERY faded and had lots of buffer trails from the previous detailer.



I took measurements of the paint thickness to make sure it was healthy enough and to kind of get an idea of what this paint has been through? This thing had all kinds of readings all over the place, 5.4, 5.3, 4.3, 3.1 but there were a couple of 2.7's which I knew that I needed to be extra careful around those areas because that is VERY thin paint and I dont want to burn through it.

But either way this thing needed some serious lovin!



So next is the convertible top care. I used the Raggtopp Vinyl Protectant because the S2000's top is of course.....Vinyl. and the top was very faded and dry looking. this stuff was really nice to work with.

 

[Tru_Shine]

and here it is Good as new, You could really tell a big Difference in person but I think the camera captured a good enough image of how shimmery and clean it is. this stuff will repel water and last 5-8 weeks. to keep it looking like this you just have to re apply every couple of months.

Next I brought it back in and started the polishing process.



Tools and Products:



Flex 3401

Lake country Cyan Hyrdrotech pad

LC Tangerine Hydrotech pad

Surbuff R-Series pad

LC blue finishing pad

Meguiars M105 compound

Meguiars M205 polish

Black Fire Wet diamond





Here are a Few in progress and 50/50 shots.

Here is the Driver door.

Its a whole different Shade of white!!!

Here is a 50/50 of the front Fender

After all of the buffing and polishing I brought it back outside and sprayed off all of the dust and wiped all of the crevices and sealed it with Black Fire Wet Diamond

Once I wiped off all of the BFWD Sealant, I walked around wiping the car with some Black Fire Gloss Enhancing Spray to make sure nothing was missed.

I polished the tips with some 0000# steel wool and Bushes polish. but forgot to take after pics.

 

[Tru_Shine]

So now here are the Glossy After Shots. Enjoy!

The Owner standing in Awe! lol j/k

Thanks for looking and Have a blessed day!

 

[Mindflux]

I used to love the P21S gel wheel cleaner, but it's too darn pricey anymore. I find myself grabbing a diluted APC like OPC or Megs APC+ for wheels more and more. Works really well and it's much more cost effective.

 

[Thomas Dekany]

Stunning transformation there!! :bow



The first 50/50 shot is $$$$$!!!

 

[Tru_Shine]

I used to love the P21S gel wheel cleaner, but it's too darn pricey anymore. I find myself grabbing a diluted APC like OPC or Megs APC+ for wheels more and more. Works really well and it's much more cost effective.

yeah, I just really wanted to use it. this was my first time. But its way better then the Diablo wheel gel. I definitely wont be using it on every car, not at this price.

Stunning transformation there!! :bow



The first 50/50 shot is $$$$$!!!

Thanks! any 50/50 on this thing would have been noticeable

 

[sacdetailing]

Hey! u made that white gloss!! How long did it took you? seems like a couple of hours lol!

 

[Tru_Shine]

It was actually about 2-3 hours on day 1 and about 9 hours on day 2. S2000's are small vehicles.

 

[a_guerrajr]

love your work



yea teh diablo gel is ok, nothing great.



might try the ps21 out, i guess the price isn't cheap, just gotta find it on special

 

[Tru_Shine]

love your work



yea teh diablo gel is ok, nothing great.



might try the ps21 out, i guess the price isn't cheap, just gotta find it on special

Your in luck man. DI has it on sale for today!! I put a link there for you. they have the gallon for only $80 and the 1000ml for $18.96



P21s Wheel gel on sale

 

[MarcHarris]

Real stunner Eric. 50/50's like that on white are unreal. S2000's have such soft paint - they really look bad if not properly maintained over time. Great work!

 

[Barry Theal]

Outstanding work Eric. You really seem to be progressing into what will be a great future in detailing for you. Nicely done.

Barry

 

[2007TBSS]

Looks great!



How you like the Flex?



I'm heavily considering investing in one if business keeps up.:dance

 

[dsms]

Outstanding work once again!

 

[Apollo_Auto]

Awesome 50/50's, Eric (and kudos for picking them up that well on white... nice)! The final result is even better ! Can I suggest something (hope you don't mind)? When doing the before-polish stripping try this and I'm certain that you'll see a vast improvement while stripping: Snowfoam the car to remove what you can then wash. After the car is washed, snowfoam again and wash it again with the mitt while the DAWN or APC mix is on the car then rinse. The reason for this is that despite the alkalic/degreasing properties of the "stripper" it won't really do a whole lot to the layer of wax that's on the car because surfactants need a bit of physical abrasion to remove something as hard as carnauba wax. I've done extensive tests on this and have found that physical abrasion is the only way to truly "strip" so I'd be really interested in your results if you'd be willing to test my theory !



- Jesse

 

[DetailnByDustn]

Great Job Man, Hopefully here in about a year ill have my third vehicle and a little more money for detailing. Its an expensive hobby if you get on here to much haha. Autopia and Detailed Images daily specials have me spending more than I make. I cant wait to detail some of my buddies cars in the Air Force. My buddy Zack said they had 2010 Cameros on every corner around the bases. How did u like the Surbuf Pads? Ive seen quite a few people using them now days. I also need to come see you before I leave and be taught by a real professional on using a rotary. I believe Im finally ready haha

 

[Scottwax]

Excellent work, from chalk to gloss!

 

[David Fermani]

Now that's how you do white! Looks like it was filled with rotary buffer trails? Any idea how they got there?

 

[Tru_Shine]

Real stunner Eric. 50/50's like that on white are unreal. S2000's have such soft paint - they really look bad if not properly maintained over time. Great work!

Thanks Marc, It was real nice talking with you on the phone, I really learned a lot, and I bit the bullet on that baby Karcher, so far I love it and haven't had any problems out of it.

Outstanding work Eric. You really seem to be progressing into what will be a great future in detailing for you. Nicely done.

Barry

Thanks Barry, I'll make it there with roll models like you guys here on Autopia. I wouldn't be anywhere near this level without you all. thanks

Looks great!



How you like the Flex?



I'm heavily considering investing in one if business keeps up.:dance

I couldn't imagine being without one. There is just something about it, it cuts so well but finishes down so smooth. with the right combo's of course. but I highly recommend it.

Outstanding work once again!

Thanks David

Awesome 50/50's, Eric (and kudos for picking them up that well on white... nice)! The final result is even better ! Can I suggest something (hope you don't mind)? When doing the before-polish stripping try this and I'm certain that you'll see a vast improvement while stripping: Snowfoam the car to remove what you can then wash. After the car is washed, snowfoam again and wash it again with the mitt while the DAWN or APC mix is on the car then rinse. The reason for this is that despite the alkalic/degreasing properties of the "stripper" it won't really do a whole lot to the layer of wax that's on the car because surfactants need a bit of physical abrasion to remove something as hard as carnauba wax. I've done extensive tests on this and have found that physical abrasion is the only way to truly "strip" so I'd be really interested in your results if you'd be willing to test my theory !



- Jesse

Thanks Jesse. I'll give it a try, this was my first car getting to use the snow foam cannon so I was experimenting with some different things. and I also dont think my 1400psi Karcher is enough power to get that Thick frothy snow foam out of it. but thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try it out.

Great Job Man, Hopefully here in about a year ill have my third vehicle and a little more money for detailing. Its an expensive hobby if you get on here to much haha. Autopia and Detailed Images daily specials have me spending more than I make. I cant wait to detail some of my buddies cars in the Air Force. My buddy Zack said they had 2010 Cameros on every corner around the bases. How did u like the Surbuf Pads? Ive seen quite a few people using them now days. I also need to come see you before I leave and be taught by a real professional on using a rotary. I believe Im finally ready haha

Yeah we definitely need to get together before you head out to the Airforce. and as far as the Surbuff pads go, right now I hate them, the M105 dries up so fast with them. but it does have some crazy cut, and leaves real bad marring. I still need to play around with them before I make my final review.

Now that's how you do white! Looks like it was filled with rotary buffer trails? Any idea how they got there?

I am pretty sure with mid to high 5's on the PTG that it has been painted on 90% of the car. I have never seen that new of Honda paint fade that bad, and it had pretty bad orange peel, So my guess it had been painted sometime in the past.

Excellent work, from chalk to gloss!

Thanks Scott