Ty Detailed 1998 Nissan 240SX

[Ty]

This is Cory (blackice)'s car. It was in rough shape.

I left my washmitt at home :shead:... so I had to use a EuroW towel for the wash. It worked quite well but wasn't exactly what I wanted. Oh well. I didn't need worry about scratches too much.

Products Used:

Wash
Gilmour Foam Gun (Loaded with Maxi-Suds II)
2 Bucket Wash Method with Optimum Car Soap
EuroW Wash "mitt" :P
APC
SwissVax Detail Brush

Wheels/Tires
AutoGlym Custom Wheel Cleaner
Raceglaze XL
SwissVax Wheel Brush
Two (2) coats of White Pearls Tire Dressing
Protected with Werkstat Prime: Acrylic

Clay
"Ebay" Gray clay (This feels identical to the CG White)
Optimum No Rinse (old formula) at clay lube strength

Polish
Uber Yellow
LC Flat Green
Uber Blue
LC CCS Black
Menzerna Power Finish PO203S
Menzerna Power Gloss
Menzerna 85RD

Protection
Two (2) coats of Menzerna PowerLock
One (1) coat of RBOE (Rubbish Boy's Original Edition)

Glass
Chemical Guys Window Clean
DI Glass ww towels

Metal
CG Metal Shine

Microfiber
Drying -- DetailedImage WW Drying (my favorite drying towel)
Doorjambs + dirty stuff -- "throwaway" towels from Roger
Polish Removal -- EuroW plush towels



Onto the writeup!

Upon delivery I knew I had my work cut for me for 8hrs.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fLX31FYI/AAAAAAAABz0/Vpau1AObTXk/s1024/DSC_4129.JPG
Umm.....Crap:thud:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fLjaC9JI/AAAAAAAABz4/gj3rzZpav5Q/s1024/DSC_4130.JPG
Pretty standard here -- nothing too terrible
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fMDPlAsI/AAAAAAAABz8/3eeQTPiqH9I/s1024/DSC_4131.JPG


Foamed with Maxi Suds II
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fMnA_JpI/AAAAAAAAB0A/BixPgoTpCd0/s1024/DSC_4132.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fM_HVPxI/AAAAAAAAB0E/Pe_TQAidbNc/s1024/DSC_4133.JPG
WHAT?!!?
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fO_CPJNI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/bJ16ucsrRCM/s1024/DSC_4138.JPG

Scrubbing the mold/pollen/crap/pine needles out of all the nooks and crannies
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fQZj4u_I/AAAAAAAAB0o/7HkSOiDKG_s/s640/DSC_4142.JPG

Wash buckets (No grit guard in the rinse bucket -- not worried about scratching with this job)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fOfMCuKI/AAAAAAAAB0U/B_YoBU6snpc/s1024/DSC_4137.JPG

Washing with my ultra rare EuroW Wash "mitt" :drinking2:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fPiBURUI/AAAAAAAAB0g/sUQNhhKK288/s1024/DSC_4140.JPG

Onto claying. I knew this was going to be mighty "fun" so I grabbed my most aggressive and cheapest clay. I still needed 3 chunks. 1 208oz bar I cut into 6ths... so half a HUGE claybar on this car.

After 2 panels
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fQ4ss_KI/AAAAAAAAB0w/HoHHOtHysgU/s1024/DSC_4144.JPG

All clayed and dried! Not much of a crisp reflection
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fSFxVZoI/AAAAAAAAB08/wIUryaOiPgM/s1024/DSC_4147.JPG

Front bumper was spraypainted with no CC. I washed it (kinda) and left it alone at owner's request.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fS9kCX0I/AAAAAAAAB1E/TaS10IzurcQ/s1024/DSC_4149.JPG


Now the inspection I was really dreading. IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH CLOSE THIS THREAD NOW

Burn through, on the C Pillar
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fT5QkEcI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/-Dl6cak28KM/s1024/DSC_4152.JPG
What?
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fUNmMG-I/AAAAAAAAB1U/nnYY3Q9bKVE/s1024/DSC_4153.JPG

Carbon Fiber hood is very faded and dull, not sure what I'll be able to do with this
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fUsl7yQI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/HdIVm-lVZkM/s1024/DSC_4154.JPG

Um....:thud: I avoided this area like the Plague.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fVY4YtLI/AAAAAAAAB1k/_s5JuIgDJCM/s1024/DSC_4156.JPG

Hm.. odd scuff
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fVywoY_I/AAAAAAAAB1s/pP-jV9YMg5c/s1024/DSC_4158.JPG

Another scuff
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fWWz15vI/AAAAAAAAB1w/OIgus7JER5Q/s1024/DSC_4159.JPG

Fairly deep scratches
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fXjOTN1I/AAAAAAAAB2A/gjqfzK-d5nY/s1024/DSC_4163.JPG

Under the halogens, the entire car looked like this
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fYOqPLII/AAAAAAAAB2M/Cmk4QTQaslo/s1024/DSC_4166.JPG


Alrighty, now we're onto polishing.

Fender before
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fbYA5ZjI/AAAAAAAAB28/3jbXKNxX7ZI/s1024/DSC_4178.JPG

The fender on the left was hit with 1 pass of PO203 on an LC Flat Green pad and the door on the right is the control. Not quite enough correction for what I was after
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fYubTi4I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/0zXfBYYPUvU/s1024/DSC_4169.JPG

New weapon.... the uber yellow!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fbAMGA0I/AAAAAAAAB24/DlLGMqCEL28/s1024/DSC_4177.JPG

Much better!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fcZPlB_I/AAAAAAAAB3M/UW01ooLFy2A/s1024/DSC_4182.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fbVAwcLI/AAAAAAAAB3A/kvk13zi65mY/s1024/DSC_4179.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fe2fe4nI/AAAAAAAAB30/8jtvLB3g69A/s1024/DSC_4191.JPG

For some reason I used an LC Flat Green pad with 85rd (I was on drugs I guess) and went to finish.. by the time I was halfway through my pass I realized I had on the green pad! The results were great though!
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67ffUFoi2I/AAAAAAAAB38/9H750hIcI3o/s1024/DSC_4193.JPG

50/50 action? Okay!
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fgJPX2hI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/ucnOOZYUY7E/s1024/DSC_4198.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fgohhjNI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/ixW7sxh3bwY/s1024/DSC_4200.JPG
Still some RIDS, but not worth chasing after seeing the previous "detailer" burned through a few spots
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fhOUAU2I/AAAAAAAAB4k/vE5RyTJ7gjU/s1024/DSC_4203.JPG


I knew my arsenal for the paint, so it was onto the hood while I was in "experimentation mode" so I grabbed the LC Flat Green pad and some power finish and I thought I could get some more. I stepped up to Power gloss and got another Flat Green pad and here's the results from my test area! this was hard to photograph
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fcsaD-gI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/x66brJJJj6c/s1024/DSC_4183.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fcytVVMI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/WnbQy_Q0QDo/s1024/DSC_4184.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fdh_xYuI/AAAAAAAAB3k/f5DcmcEQXak/s1024/DSC_4187.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67feMi8TnI/AAAAAAAAB3s/xkJjJhCEhyc/s1024/DSC_4189.JPG

From here I had to stop taking pictures and get to work. I snapped a few during, but not much.

50/50 of the taillights
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fir5gWVI/AAAAAAAAB48/C5HdZndOhl0/s1024/DSC_4209.JPG

After I was all done polishing and wiping down with IPA... It was on to 2 coats of PowerLock! I love this sealant. Put two TINY dots on your pad and you can do two panels. Once the pad was soaked a bit I didn't even need anymore. Fantastic spreading action!

An hour after the Powerlock cured it was on with the RBOE!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fjS5Z5NI/AAAAAAAAB5A/nxaW9OC8Ynk/s1024/DSC_4210.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fjtif2KI/AAAAAAAAB5E/0Zhp9rb1zpA/s1024/DSC_4211.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fkAhSNMI/AAAAAAAAB5M/uhGfmh5ebIk/s1024/DSC_4212.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fkXmbJFI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/r7VFy8WJTJ0/s1024/DSC_4213.JPG


45 minute cure time on the RBOE while Acrylic: Priming the wheels, dressing the tires, wiping the door jambs and other misc things.... and it was time to get it outside for sexy pictures! Unfortunately there wasn't much for sun at this point :(

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67flBJDIeI/AAAAAAAAB5Y/lz83Jnlj_AQ/s1024/DSC_4215.JPG

Not a hologram in sight! Much better reflection (minus the orange peel)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67flWkVfkI/AAAAAAAAB5c/Zeh5ghOcHOQ/s1024/DSC_4216.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67flmp5SdI/AAAAAAAAB5g/LF5bhV5Uyxc/s1024/DSC_4217.JPG

10000% improvement
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67foOqGnBI/AAAAAAAAB54/5k_gCVqnaso/s1024/DSC_4223.JPG

Oh yes
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fpTHBhgI/AAAAAAAAB6I/qsO6n4U73gc/s1024/DSC_4227.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fqbYundI/AAAAAAAAB6U/fOXfskFVY6w/s1024/DSC_4230.JPG

Carbon Fiber was a major milestone.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fqzkz9FI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/ORTQg4LNBKs/s1024/DSC_4231.JPG

Is that a sexy Subaru in the background. Oh, the 240 is nice looking too.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67frUgAJWI/AAAAAAAAB6g/ynYITV9aHs0/s1024/DSC_4233.JPG

A little rboe residue by the Nissan emblem (this damned thing wouldn't get clean) :sorry: but he had me debadge it... no fading after having badges on it for 12 years! Nice!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1mwQxjaOShQ/S67fuGeRRsI/AAAAAAAAB7I/fhoE1EvrLgY/s1024/DSC_4242.JPG

[gotrice93]

looks great ty! When we were doing details and learning how my instructor always said be careful on the edges cause you are likely to get burn through then you're fucked. But I have never seen burn through anywhere but the edge. Was the previous detailer running to high of a speed and staying in one area to long?

[Ty]

I'm assuming the previous detailer was using an aggressive wool pad, which I don't use unless I ABSOLUTELY have too. I can get just as much correction out of my foam pads usually -- it just takes a while.

For the Pillars I'm sure they turned it at an angle rather than going to a smaller pad and had the faster edge (as the outer edge of the pad rotates faster than the inside) and had too much pressure and voila! It only takes a second with wool and the edge of the pad.

And convinced something similar happened on the mirror. The door handle edges were also burned.

Wool is bad.

[gotrice93]

Would you guess that the edges are burnt around the door handles because they didn't have the best clear coat finish on them? All we use to use was wool, I knew no different. Nice to no wool is bad. Do you use and orbital for your gloss?

[Bmer89]

Wow, the car turned out awesome! Well done, owner must be very happy lol

[Ty]

They didn't tape off the door handles -- I always do.

I use my rotary 100% of the time, unless it's a Porsche with "sticky" clear coat. Then I use a Porter Cable 7424XP orbital. Same pads, different machine.

I <3 my rotary. I use it for cutting/compounding and finishing, as well as jeweling. And even applying sealant like I did today.

[gotrice93]

Sorry about the 99 questions, just interested in what you use to accomplish a great job. Turned out amazing again!

[Ty]

Sorry about the 99 questions, just interested in what you use to accomplish a great job. Turned out amazing again!
Not a problem! The equipment is a large part of it, but you have to be REALLY comfortable with your polisher and polishes as well.

I added you on MSN. We can chat more there :)

[Bmer89]

I aspire to one day detail like you......

I hope to get a rotary soon, so I can get a feel for it on my car (which hopefully will be painted sometime this summer). Sooo I may have a few more than 99 questions when that rolls around haha :P

[Ty]

Before you go rotary MASTER a porter cable. You should be able to get results like these with a good PC... but it will probably take you a bit longer. Once you're comfortable with an orbital and you get used to certain pad/polish combos and how different clear coats will react... THEN move to rotary. I used a porter cable for 2 years before I moved to rotary, and I still use it every now and again.

[gotrice93]

All I have experience on is a rotary with wool pads and a orbital with a micro fiber pad to lay a gloss/sealant. So I guess I might be a little ahead of you ;) jk.

[Ty]

All I have experience on is a rotary with wool pads and a orbital with a micro fiber pad to lay a gloss/sealant. So I guess I might be a little ahead of you ;) jk.

If you used wool on this car you'd have holograms leftover like a mofo without at LEAST 1 finishing/mid step. chances are unless you'd have to do 2 more finishing steps with wool.

And with how thin I assumed this clearcoat was -- I wouldn't even think about using wool.

I can, I have, I just prefer not to use wool. With my foam pads I can get just as much correction and a much better finish.

[justin]

Dude you made coreys car look almost like magic. It's been in such sad shape I'm pretty hyped to get a first hand look tomorrow! Def be bringing my talon up to you when the time comes.

[Bmer89]

Before you go rotary MASTER a porter cable. You should be able to get results like these with a good PC... but it will probably take you a bit longer. Once you're comfortable with an orbital and you get used to certain pad/polish combos and how different clear coats will react... THEN move to rotary. I used a porter cable for 2 years before I moved to rotary, and I still use it every now and again.

I've already mastered my porter cable. But it's a nail gun....... Do they make just one orbital? I'm not sure what the difference is between orbitals and rotaries, sounds like they both go in circles lol

[MetaEnder]

Wow, looks great! I'd love to still have you do my car, especially my new one. With a newer paint job polishing would probably go easier too.

You should add me on MSN too. I wash/detail my car as much as possible all the time and wouldn't mind chatting every now and then. My addy is metaender@gmail.com.

[Ty]

Add me! tylerl@2randomthoughts.com

[blackice]

Ty did a great job restoring the paint as much as possible. The dealership I bought the car from did some pretty shoddy body/paint work as you can see but I am confident it looks a ton better than when I purchased it a few years back. Next step will probably be a full paint respray haha but looks great for now. Having water bead on the whole car is very nice and looked great even though it rained at the Golden Gardens and Northwest Motoring meets I rolled to today. I definitely recommend his work to anyone that cares about their car.

[2fast4usteeley]

awesome job man, you made her really shine. +1 for pro work