Final tune of my LS3 427 Camaro

J

JimO

New member
I've used my Mother's Clay bar on 3 cars already, and I'd like to use it for another 3 cars that I'm going to detail. How many uses do these bars typically get? How do you guys tell when it's time to throw out the old clay an buy a new one?
 
I suppose it depends on how contaminated each car is that you clay. When the bar becomes so soiled that it's still dirty after folding and kneading multiple times, then it's time for a new bar. If you are claying all new cars, ONE bar would probably last quite a while. But, if you're claying dirty, unkept cars, then one bar may last just only every few cars. It just depends on the condition of the cars and the quality of the bar as to how long it will last...IMO.
 
Do as BRad does and tear off pieces and clay with them then when done throw em out.



CLay is hard to tell when it is full of crap....better to err on the safe side.
 
It shouldn't be that hard, I would use it until it's dirty, after half a car I would start looking at the area you just clayed, if it is not any smoother or if the clay is inducing swirls/scratches, you know it's time for a new peice or a new bar.
 
The Pinnacle Poly Clay instructions say that it is good for 5 or 6 cars. Depending on how bad the car really needs it I would guess. It is really hard to say how many cars exactly it will do. Maybe just one really bad car or ten not so bad cars. It all depends. The instructions also say that when the clay is dirty then throw it away. Hmmmm.... That is open for translation. I'd say throw it away when you feel that it might be dirty enough to be counter productive to keep using it.
 
Three cars with one bar - and haven't dropped it one time??? I don't believe it! I'll bet $5 you have dropped it and you are still using it. If you get six uses out of it, you are a better (or at least less clumsy) man than I.



The only time I managed to have a clay bar even remotely able to be reused beyond one vehicle is when I clayed the then-brand-new vette. I still have it in a jar for emergency use and to show what a clay bar looks like when it's about shot.



I used two bars on my Expedition alone. I dropped the first one but it wasn't looking so good anyway. Felt much better going to a new one to finish up. I used the dropped one on the wheels later after cleaning it up some.



I am going to start using Brad's method from now on.
 
I only used clay once, it was Meguiars and I used it on about half of my rear spoiler and after a few of the "skid marks" it left I just stopped and threw it away.



I was always under the impression that a clay bar would only last one time, then I see on the fourms people are saying 6 cars. Then Cybercowboy says your all bogus :-)



Are we throwing them away too soon, that what it seems like....
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by joed1228 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'> Are we throwing them away too soon, that what it seems like.... [/b]</blockquote>
I'll repeat what has already been said a half dozen times, it depends on how bad the car is that you are working on. Period, end of story.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by joed1228 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I only used clay once, it was Meguiars and I used it on about half of my rear spoiler and after a few of the "skid marks" it left I just stopped and threw it away. [/b]</blockquote>
joed, unfortunately you used the worst clay out there, imo. meguiars is the most streaky clay i've used and it just doesn't have that much cleaning power. i like mothers and clay magic. you should try it with another brand and i think you'll be surprised at how smooth it will make your paint.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Cybercowboy [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Three cars with one bar - and haven't dropped it one time??? I don't believe it! I'll bet $5 you have dropped it and you are still using it. If you get six uses out of it, you are a better (or at least less clumsy) man than I.[/b]</blockquote>
Really! I have used the same bar on 3 cars :) But I know of a few times when I almost dropped it, I couldn't believe my reflexes were that fast. I guess that's what happens when the instructions say "Throw the bar away if it falls on the ground". Heck, I paid $15+ for that clay bar, I'm going to take care of it till it's not able to perform.

PS: Any football fans know about the Raiders-Steelers "Immaculate Reception"? Well, I made sure that the clay bar did not touch the ground when I caught it. :D
 
The only bar I ever had really slip is Mothers when using a soap solution.



The clay magic has not slipped. I spray solution...rub back and forth with clay... Grab Mf and wipe dry...



then put everything down accept clay and then I knead away like a kid with PLayDOH!!!
 
Guys



Would you be able to polish before claying, to extend its life?



Or would polishing grind in contaminants clay would normal remove before hand?



Cheers
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Shane [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Guys

Would you be able to polish before claying, to extend its life?

Or would polishing grind in contaminants clay would normal remove before hand?

Cheers [/b]</blockquote>
Any contaminents that you remove from the finish before claying will extend the life of the clay. Kind of like rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher.
 
Most would polish after claying to a) polish the car only as much as necessary and b) remove any marring the clay induces.



Don't think clay mars at all? Go grab your clay bar and get a good idea of its texture and everything. Now go get your most prized, highest quality MF and feel that. Now why are you using that expensive MF all of the time if that hard clay bar is so safe?



Point: I personally would recommend polishing after claying. If you want to use a paint cleansing lotion beforehand, go ahead but it's not much cheaper than the clay.



I personally break the claybar into 4 or so pieces and use these individual pieces. I throw them in a QD'd bag when they start getting contaminated, and then use them on glass only. I get 1-2 cars per Mothers claybar . . . I love clay but I am wary of it. I will be trying Eagle One clay some time soon and will post impressions of it.
 
2 easy ways to tell when clay is "used up":



1) it's no longer gold in color, it's brown instead.



2) it takes more and more passes to do a panel.



The previous comment about paint condition is correct - it depends on how many embedded contaminants there are.
 
Nearly a year ago I took my car to the performance shop to get a full dyno tune. During the course of the tune on one of the pulls, the catalytic converters exploded. lol It was sad and awesome at the same time. The cats just couldn't handle the power, and I've had a partial tune (just to get the car around) for a while now. Since then I got the cats replaced and today brought it to Nick at Newtech Performance in Hayward and he did a great job with the tune. Had him tune it for maximum drivability instead of max power since the new owner wont be racing it.

Old numbers were 521/473.


On a conservative tune, Nick got it up to 543 rwhp / 505 rwtq!

Thanks Nick!




Here are the vids... All are recorded in 720p HD so be sure to click the quality button on the bottom right of the vid.


Vid 1 - Idle and loading onto dyno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LD5Wm-kAV8




Vid 2 - Pull with cutouts closed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaMk6m_agzc



Vid 3 - Pull with cutouts open and it makes 543/505 here. It was insanely loud and painful recording this in the shop. Nick even had earplugs in! It totally overpowered the microphone...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVkpItnECdI&feature=player_profilepage
 
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