• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

Presidential Detailed: 2009 Nissan 370Z

presidential_detail

CQuartz FINEST Installer
I have to tell you, after working on this car for a couple days and a wonderful test ride(yes I was lucky enough to have the owner let me take it out and get a feel for how the car drives :D) I have really come to respect these new 370Z cars! This one was equipped with the automatic with paddles, these things are the real deal with very quick shift changes as well as rev-matching on each downshift, it was very fun to drive! Aside from that the car needed some love, the dealership of course left some nice swirls in it from when the owner bought it new. He couldnt live with the swirls any longer and was recommended my way, so we performed a full paint correction on the car.

Wash and Decontamination Process:
ONR Two-Bucket Wash
Meguiars "Mild" Clay Bar with ONR as clay solution
TWO Cobra Blue Micro-Chenille Wash Mitts
Adams Metal Polish #2 on Exhaust Tips
Blow Dried/Cobra Guzzler WW Drying Towel

Wheels:
P21S Wheel Gel
One Cobra Blue Micro-Chenille Wash Mitts(dedicated to wheels only)
E-Z Detail Brush
Swissvax Autobahn Wheel Wax

Interior:
1Z Einszett Cockpit Premium
Meguairs APC+
Craftsman Vacuum
Invisible Glass Glass Cleaner

Front Compartment/Engine Bay:
ONR Wipe Down
Meguiars APC+
Various Brushes
Zaino AIO On All Painted Surfaces
Meguiars HyperDressing On All Hoses and Plastic Surfaces

Paint Correction:
3M Automotive Performance "Green" Tape
M105/ProperAutoCare.Com version PFW via Makita Rotary
M105/Orange via Meguiars G110(Yes, I said M105!)
Zaino AIO On All Door Shuts
50/50 of 91% IPA/Distilled Water
Dragon Fibre Microfiber Towels

LSP:
TWO coats of Blackfire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant

Befores:
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After performing an ONR wash on the entire vehicle and claying, I began testing which products I will be using. I tried M205/Orange and while it removed SOME swirling, it wasnt cutting enough to remove the RIDS the dealership left behind.

I ended up using M105/PAC PFW for the initial correction work. Some areas requiring a 2-3 passes to fully remove all RIDS at 1500rpm on the rotary.

Before.
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50/50
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After M105/PAC PFW via rotary followed by M105/Orange via DA.
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The engine bay was fairly clean, however there was some accumulation of dirt here and there. I opted to wash the engine bay with ONR to remove any dirt and wiped down the plastics with Megs APC+ before applying Megs hyperdressing(matte finish).

Finished.
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The exhaust tips were also quite dirty, coverd in sut from the exhaust. I used Adams Metal Polish #2 with some #0000 Steel Wool to clean them up.

This is the best before picture I took..
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After.
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Closer.
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The end of day 1, all rotary work complete. Now were getting somewhere! :D
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Day 2. I spent the next morning final polishing the car. I typicaly use M205 for this process and it was giving me problems for some reason, and for some reason a name popped into my head..Kevin Brown. What does Kevin always claim to use and get great finishes with? Thats right! M105! So I decided to give it a shot, on a orange pad no less, using the G110 DA. Well, some may be skeptic, but Ill let you guys decide this further in the write-up. ;)

Some in garage shots before pulling outside into the sun for the true results. Pre-LSP.
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Getting there..had to wait like 20 minutes for the full sun to peak out of the clouds..so I snapped a few real nice reflection shots while I waited.
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Still behind the clouds..
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Is that..what I think it is? :D
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So after inspecting the entire car for several minutes in full sunlight, I was happy with the results. I pulled the car back inside and had lunch before applying the first coat of Blackfire.

Cant beat a Publix Sub with M105 sauce and a nice cold water! You could say I live, eat and breath M105 :lol:
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While eating, I noticed this...maybe this is why M205 was acting up. :crack:
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I then removed any tape, polishing residues from crevices, applied Z-AIO to the door shuts and worked on the interior which didnt need too much work besides a good wipedown and a vacuum while the first coat of Blackfire was let to cure.
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I let the first coat of Blackfire cure for about 3 hours before applying the second coat, this was all the time I had.
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I pulled the car back outside to do a final inspection..
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Oh WOW WOW WOW again. I love the reflections on the final pics. It is a privledge to witness your excellent craftmanship and high work ethics. The hard part for me would be driving these works of polished art and watching them get dirty again!!!! I did refer you to a friend of mine in Bradenton who has a Ferrarri 599 and looking for a high caliber detailer. Hopefully he will call you soon. I also referred him to your web site. Perhaps we can do my vette and his 599 together in the near future. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Wow... that is amazing work. My vette is black and its got lots of scratches and chips... I really need to give it a good polishing but I don't have the orbitial yet. and I am not doing that by hand... :)

Gotta ask... what is up with the tape? What is the purpose?
 
Oh WOW WOW WOW again. I love the reflections on the final pics. It is a privledge to witness your excellent craftmanship and high work ethics. The hard part for me would be driving these works of polished art and watching them get dirty again!!!! I did refer you to a friend of mine in Bradenton who has a Ferrarri 599 and looking for a high caliber detailer. Hopefully he will call you soon. I also referred him to your web site. Perhaps we can do my vette and his 599 together in the near future. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I really appreciate that! Ill be looking forward to that phone call! Would love to work on your Vette for you as well! ;)
 
Wow... that is amazing work. My vette is black and its got lots of scratches and chips... I really need to give it a good polishing but I don't have the orbitial yet. and I am not doing that by hand... :)

Gotta ask... what is up with the tape? What is the purpose?

Plastic and rubber molding/trim gets to be VERY expensive when you have to replace it from burning it with the buffer. The tape prevents this. A lot of people skip this step, either bc its their own car and they dont know any better(and no one else to blame if they do mess it up) or a detaler who just doesnt care and most likely will not be willing to pay to have the piece fixed if anything were to happen.

Two words, CHEAP INSURANCE! ;)
 
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