Matt's 3rd Official Detail -- DONE!!!

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Old 03-12-2011 | 09:30 PM
mblouir's Avatar
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Matt's 3rd Official Detail -- DONE!!!

I'm posting this before I go die. My back is killing me and I'm about to pass out. Every muscle on my body is cramping. I was on my first coat of wax and one of my fingers cramped sideways. I was like wtf?

I busted butt and did the entire detail in one day. Normally I spread this out over two days, but I managed to do it all today, including the interior.


Here's how it went down.....see if you can follow:
  • Clean trash out of interior
  • Thoroughly vacuum interior
  • Take latex gloves and wipe persistant dog hair
  • Vacuum dog hair bundled up from glove swiping
  • Briefly wiped down upholstery/seats with dry towel to remove loose dog hair
  • Used Adam's Leather & Interior Cleaner to clean all upholstery, door panels, and seats
  • Used Stoner's glass cleaner (had just bought a can two weeks ago) to clean all interior glass
  • Used Adam's Leather Conditioner to protect leather seats, upholstery, and door panel
  • Cleaned WeatherTech mats with Adam's All-Purpose Cleaner and scrubbed with Adam's fender brush
  • Did the same thing to removable cup holders
  • After drying reinstalled mats and cup holders
  • Cleaned wheels/tires/wheel wells/undercarriage/exhaust tips with Adam's Green Wheel Cleaner/APC/fender brush/boar's hair wheel brush/power stick
  • Cleaned engine bay with Adam's APC/fender brush
  • Washed truck with Adam's Car Wash + JUMBO wash pads (these things are freaking huge)
  • Dressed engine bay with Adam's Super VRT/In & Out Spray
  • Clayed entire truck (about died when I did my roof)
  • Dressed tires/wheels/trim with Adam's Super VRT
  • Dressed undercarriage with Adam's Undercarriage Spray
  • Did a test section to determine my method (two passes with Adam's green pad+SHR, one pass with orange pad+SHR, one pass with white pad+FMP)
  • Polished entire truck....by the end my back was killing me and I was counting down panels
  • Left polish between each step and after completion
  • Cleaned exterior glass with Stoner's glass cleaner
  • Sealed glass with Adam's Glass Sealant
  • Cleaned sealant residue with Stoner's glass cleaner
  • Wiped off polish residue
  • Applied Adam's Brilliant Glaze
  • Applied Adam's Americana wax....this stuff is amazing
  • Waited ~30 minutes, applied second coat of Americana
  • Took a few pictures, parked truck in the road (away from sappy trees)
  • Came in, loaded pictures, posted this, passed out




I didn't get after shots like I wanted as the sun was too far gone by the time I had applied the second coat of wax. Not to mention that I just sold my baller lens, so I was stuck using my 50mm, which makes it difficult to get good shots in such a confined area.

Not all imperfections are gone, but I'd estimate that 90% of the swirl marks are eliminated. When I have more time I will get it perfect. My roommate came out and said it looked awesome....to which my reply was "well it's far from perfect, but it will do." Sucks being OCD...




First pictures are a before/after of my rear bumper, where I was rear-ended in a parking lot a few weeks ago. It's far from perfect, as I discovered that the paint was scraped a bit. Not down to the metal or primer, but enough to prevent complete correction. I think it's much, much better, though.







Next pictures are some random before shots showing the condition of the truck/paint.....pretty nasty.





Recently removed custom FX4 decals...















Next are two pictures of the engine bay after it was dressed (darn 50mm lens).









Next two pictures show me testing the method I'd need to get the paint in the condition I wanted it in (within a reasonable time frame).








Now a few random after shots. I'm very pleased with how it turned out for a 1-day detail. It's so glossy it's like a mirror!






Roommate caught me!
 
  #2  
Old 03-12-2011 | 09:30 PM
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So glossy...













It was a beautiful day for it, but there was no cloud cover. I could feel my face and arms being scorched. You guys think I got burned?


 
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Old 03-12-2011 | 09:33 PM
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Nice work, man! Love that black.
 
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Old 03-12-2011 | 09:38 PM
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Beautiful job just absolutley beautiful as always man! Truck looks extreamly killer
I gotta do mine by April hopefully the damn salt will be gone. Anyway, I remember last year you did a full job on your truck and it looked amazing. Black is awesome when clean, even dirty.
 
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Old 03-12-2011 | 10:00 PM
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good work, whens my turn?
 
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Old 03-12-2011 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Patman03SprCrw
good work, whens my turn?
Right after me.
 
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Old 03-12-2011 | 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Stealth
Nice work, man! Love that black.


Originally Posted by Svets96
Beautiful job just absolutley beautiful as always man! Truck looks extreamly killer
I gotta do mine by April hopefully the damn salt will be gone. Anyway, I remember last year you did a full job on your truck and it looked amazing. Black is awesome when clean, even dirty.
Thanks, man! It was a pain to do but I enjoy detailing and it was definitely worth it.

Originally Posted by Patman03SprCrw
good work, whens my turn?
Originally Posted by Svets96
Right after me.


I would love to start a detailing business on the side, but that's a big commitment. Too much for me to deal with right now. Maybe a retirement job.
 
  #8  
Old 03-13-2011 | 01:03 PM
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  #9  
Old 03-13-2011 | 02:26 PM
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Black looks best when it is clean.
 
  #10  
Old 03-13-2011 | 02:52 PM
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Looks real good Bro.. That was a S load of dog hair! Lol!
 
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Old 03-13-2011 | 04:20 PM
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Nice work!
 
  #12  
Old 03-14-2011 | 05:09 PM
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Said it over on AF too... great job!!
 
  #13  
Old 03-15-2011 | 11:14 AM
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Thanks, guys! Dylan, your pics were my inspiration. Hopefully I'll have mine as shiny as yours. It's hard owning black.

Originally Posted by BLACKOUT FX4
Looks real good Bro.. That was a S load of dog hair! Lol!
Yes it was. I'm going as long as I can without taking her around again, but it's about time for another hike.


Finally rained so I got to see the glass sealant and Americana in action. Love them both!



 
  #14  
Old 03-15-2011 | 01:53 PM
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Wow that looks incredible Matt!

Can't wait to do my full detail after I get out of school for summer break
 
  #15  
Old 03-15-2011 | 01:58 PM
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You need new tires soon.

Nice work! Hopefully the black stays clean longer than 3 days
 


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