DIY Auto Detailing Thread

[NWICY]

I was nervous going into it because I thought it was a two stage paint job and that the clear coat was just gone from the majority of it. It's turning out better than I ever thought. It should look pretty slick when I get the bumpers and grille cleaned up and painted.

I wasn't sure I was gonna keep the truck or flip it but I think it's worth hanging on to now. It's a 7.5L 460 with a manual transmission and only 117K miles at 30 years old. It's gotten some use so far and is pretty fun to drive around town. I was a truck/jeep guy in my teens and early 20s but I gave that up. It's nice having something like this to work on again.

With that 460 you should get about 12 mpg empty and 10 mpg when you are using it hard.
We've got one in our old truck I unhooked the trailer from it and took it to Ames in a blizzard never drove over 45 I didn't know I could make it to Ames and back on less than a tank and a half that night the round trip only took like 3/4 of a tank.

Enjoy the truck you've got it looking great!

 

[AgronAlum]

With that 460 you should get about 12 mpg empty and 10 mpg when you are using it hard.
We've got one in our old truck I unhooked the trailer from it and took it to Ames in a blizzard never drove over 45 I didn't know I could make it to Ames and back on less than a tank and a half that night the round trip only took like 3/4 of a tank.

Enjoy the truck you've got it looking great!

I haven't done any true calculating but I think it's more around 7-8 mpg lol. The worst part is it has dual tanks but I've only replaced one of the tanks/pump/sending units, so it eats through that pretty ******* quick. The other tank is still full of gunked up 10 year old gas.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

I haven't done any true calculating but I think it's more around 7-8 mpg lol. The worst part is it has dual tanks but I've only replaced one of the tanks/pump/sending units, so it eats through that pretty ******* quick. The other tank is still full of gunked up 10 year old gas.

And unless you get out and push......7-8 is about all it's good for. Had an mid 80's f350 with a carbed 460, 4 speed and no matter if it was empty or loaded.....7-8 mpg. Sometimes less.

I replaced the rear tank/pump/sending unit in mine, and left the side tank loaded and gunked. Was going to repair but sold it. I could deal with with filling almost every day....but when other things started to nickel and dime, it had to go.

 

[simply1]

I like black vehicles. I have 3. They look awesome when clean but it’s hard to keep them that way.

If you hate detailing, don’t get into trucks. The last time I detailed my Pete it took 2 days. The chrome polishing will give you Popeye forearms. The guys that do the truck show circuit must have brain damage. View attachment 149718

First time on gravel would make me cry.

 

[Malty Flannel]

Just did this for the first time a few weeks ago.

Step 1 hand wash.
Step 2 clay bar with soapy solution and rinse.
Step 3 Griots correcting cream. Already had Milwaukee batteries so purchased the M18 polisher. Totally worth it. Hand wipe excess compound away.
Step 4. Hand wipe in Griots 3 in 1 spray wax. Amazing stuff and easy to apply.

Obviously you polished it out, but curious how bad of marring you got from the clay bar? Planning to do this for the first time this weekend

 

[Gorm]

Kinda late to chip in on this thread, but I am a HUGE fan of Adam's products and have been for about 20 years now. A little on the pricier side, but I've NEVER been disappointed in one of their products.

Adam's Polishes | Premium Car Care & Detailing Products

Adam's Polishes provides premium detailing products designed to reduce time & steps in the process. We provide Wheel Cleaner, Microfiber towels and much more. Shop now »

adamspolishes.com

 

[ISU Clone]

Obviously you polished it out, but curious how bad of marring you got from the clay bar? Planning to do this for the first time this weekend

The marring wasn’t noticeable. I kept it well lubricated and dipped the bar in a water bucket to keep the bar clean. My truck is only two years old so that might have kept it minimal as well.

 

[cowboycurtis]

Kinda late to chip in on this thread, but I am a HUGE fan of Adam's products and have been for about 20 years now. A little on the pricier side, but I've NEVER been disappointed in one of their products.

Adam's Polishes | Premium Car Care & Detailing Products

Adam's Polishes provides premium detailing products designed to reduce time & steps in the process. We provide Wheel Cleaner, Microfiber towels and much more. Shop now »

adamspolishes.com

Adam’s detail spray is good stuff. Haven’t tried much of their other products

 

[Gorm]

Adam’s detail spray is good stuff. Haven’t tried much of their other products

Oh yes, I've used that stuff for a LOT of different reasons. It makes awesome clay bar spray!

 

[Malty Flannel]

Did first full exterior detail of the Expedition today. Washed wheels and rims, foam cannon + contact washed and dried, full paint decontamination with clay bar, spot-polished by hand (am not ready to get into full on DA polishing yet lol). Luckily I noticed very little marring from clay. Finished with 2 coats of spray on ceramic coating, 24 hours apart. pretty remarkable how much of a difference the clay and sealant make

 

[ackatch]

Used a new Meguiars product tonight. It's a hybrid ceramic wax that you apply while drying your car. Spray it on after washing, dry the cat, and bam! Youre covered. After the first application you can spray it in and rinse it off for additional applications.

Was very happy with the results on our new Equinox, can't wait to see it moving forward.

 

[AgronAlum]

If anyone wants to try out some paint correction, Harbor Freight is running a hell of a deal on their short throw polishers. It’s great for getting rid of swirl marks too. I have the same one and it works great. It’s 38 bucks if you’re a club member (it’s worth it).

 

[swiacy]

90% of my driving is on gravel and I never have the windows down. Interior dust on the dash is my aggravation, any suggestions on how to clean around all the different knobs, push buttons, screens etc.?

 

[JEFF420]

90% of my driving is on gravel and I never have the windows down. Interior dust on the dash is my aggravation, any suggestions on how to clean around all the different knobs, push buttons, screens etc.?

have you seen the goo? i've always wondered. this might be your refuge from the lime dust

 

[GoClone]

For interior dust, I keep a two inch paint brush in the counsel and use it around the knobs and dash when I see the dust clinging.

 

[do4CY]

90% of my driving is on gravel and I never have the windows down. Interior dust on the dash is my aggravation, any suggestions on how to clean around all the different knobs, push buttons, screens etc.?

We have a ryobi handheld blower that helps. I use it for the outside as well. Using a brush like @GoClone said makes a difference as well. Gravel sucks for cars.

 

[AgronAlum]

90% of my driving is on gravel and I never have the windows down. Interior dust on the dash is my aggravation, any suggestions on how to clean around all the different knobs, push buttons, screens etc.?

These brushes, some detailing spray and a microfiber cloth is a decent option. I use this type of brush for most of my interior. If it's really bad, compressed air in one hand and a shop vac in the other to start.

ProElite Boar's Hair Detailing Brushes 3 Pack | AutoZone

The ProElite 3 Pack Multipurpose Detail Brushes are a high quality tool for hard to clean areas. 60% of the bristles are natural boar's hair, known for its softness and used by professional detailers for years. 40% of the bristles are synthetic fibers adding strength and durability. These...

www.autozone.com

There are also some vac/brush combos that can work. Something like this.

Craftsman 2 in. L X 8 in. W X 1-1/4 in. D Wet/Dry Vac Micro Cleaning Kit 6 pc Mfr# CMXZVBE38668 - Ace Hardware

The CRAFTSMAN Micro-Cleaning Kit for wet/dry vacs makes tough-to-clean spaces a thing of the past. This kit comes with six different-sized tools for a variety of uses. Thin nozzles let you vacuum hard-to-reach places, while thin, angled pieces let you get into small crevices. Attach easily to...

www.acehardware.com

 

[swiacy]

90% of my driving is on gravel and I never have the windows down. Interior dust on the dash is my aggravation, any suggestions on how to clean around all the different knobs, push buttons, screens etc.?

Thanks for all the suggestions. We live 10 miles from town on gravel and I’ve thought about keeping the car garaged in town for highway use only. We have to heat and even torch off our wheel rims sometimes. The gravel dust and moisture cement will “weld” the rims on. Also adheres to the inside of the rims and makes them out of balanced so I routinely have to pressure wash off the inside of the rims. If I ever win the lottery first thing I’m doing is hard surfacing 10 miles of road to town!

 

[PredominantISU]

I’d love to get some advice from those who know what they’re doing. Even though i’ve heard many times that automatic car washes are bad for your paint. I have a membership to varsity car wash in Ames and absolutely love it. With having four young kids, I’m kind of fanatical about going through up to three times a week to be able to vacuum and wash down the inside and outside of my car.

I am noticing the swirl faint scratches in my paint and I’ve wondered about doing a quarterly buff with a machine in compound. My goal isn’t to have an My goal isn’t have a show car but I do care about keeping the vehicle in good shape.Anyone have any advice?

 

[Kinch]

An experienced auto detailer told me to use meguiars wax. We love it.