ForeverMaker Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) ... paint to be a pain in the ass! This Cobra came to me with a decade of paint abuse. I don't think it was ever even washed correctly. Years of going through a paint-swirling automatic wash had taken its toll. Since time was against me my focus was 80-90% swirl correction and I wasn't going to worry about anything else (no wheels, vinyl top, etc). Paint only. I would not be going after many deeper scratches and tracers which would require much more time (and a rotary). Oh the horror... You get the idea. Now let the cleansing begin! I am starting with a wash using Chemicals Guys Citrus Wash. Great for stripping off any residual waxes, etc. I then followed up with a claybar. Let the healing begin. Test area after an initial pass... meh... Getting better (LOL at my face): Edited September 18, 2011 by ForeverMaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverMaker Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 The wing. You can see on the right the scratches, on the left nearly full correction... Near side, bad. Far side, good. First pass looking better! Now lets do a final pass with a finishing polish and a black Lake County pad... Looking meaner already! On to the wax. If the German car gods themselves jerked off in a container and sold it for $50 this would be the result. From our friends in Germany we have Sonax Carnauba Wax. Goes on like butter... And comes off like butter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverMaker Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) Let's wrap it up with some before and afters... See ya... Edited September 18, 2011 by ForeverMaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 I love these threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Automotive Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Great job, Ryan. And to think, I remember way back when you bought your first buffer ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Very nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Brian Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 You should get a bumper sticker that says "cobra" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 You should get a bumper sticker that says "cobra" I Cobra what you Cobra'ed there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaSSon Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Looks like my old car, but slower. :-) nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 outstanding work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRD2BDF Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Great work! I hate detailing so props to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2pointslow Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Can someone help me, im having trouble... I cant decide if thats a cobra or a gt???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
04SVT Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Sweet!! Now can't wait to do mine. Wondered if the claybar would help mine. Now I know it will. Thanks for the thread! Needed to see that!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForeverMaker Posted September 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 thanks for all the comments. Great job, Ryan. And to think, I remember way back when you bought your first buffer ........ lol yes I still have that in my arsenal. Sweet!! Now can't wait to do mine. Wondered if the claybar would help mine. Now I know it will. Thanks for the thread! Needed to see that!! Yes clay-barring will help to prepare the car for polishing. This car had been done recently, so it wasn't a huge step, hence why I didn't take any pics of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Car looks great, I am so ready for a nice car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buelliganx1 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Thanks for washing my car man, seriously other than the wheels my car looks just like that. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to get mine out and treat it to a nice wax job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tripleskate Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Would you recommend the Sonax for cars with a soft clearcoat, or is it better suited to Euro/American tougher clears? (Asian car) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyster101 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Wow that looks great. Nice work. How long did it take you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKilbourne Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 I felt sorry for the car before the work. That thing looked beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattsv8 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 now if you could buff that sucker into a lower stance. the 4x4 look just dosent do the clean paint justice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Damn nice transformation for sure. I did that with 2x the surface area being it was our minivan. Definitely a labor of love. Well, love on a Cobra, not so much love on a van other than I have to drive it now and then. The good news is if you keep good care of it, the next go-round won't be much at all. I plan to hit ours again before winter just so come spring it's not a bitch like it was this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcz06 Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Looks good, now watch it all fade away as you drive down the street. I think black looks the best when it's cleaned up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Jones Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Wanna try your hand on 110k mile old Brilliant Black ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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