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Author Topic: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread  (Read 10053 times)

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Offline Critterman

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How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« on: January 18, 2009, 01:25:30 PM »
Great write up Mike, the only suggestion I have is that you emphasize that ANY dishwashing soap should only be used for prepping a car for detailing, it should never be used to wash a car any other time.
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Offline GXPinKC

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How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2009, 01:33:07 PM »
This thread has my vote to be a "sticky" thread.
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Offline MomsSol

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How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2009, 01:36:24 PM »
Superb detail on detailing Mike!  :thumbs:

By any chance do you have an approximation for each of the BOLD steps?

Since you say it takes a week to accomplish this 'rags to riches' car, a general time frame for each step might be helpful for planning.

Thanks for putting this all together!
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Offline MomsSol

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2009, 01:54:20 PM »
Here is a link to Mike's How To Detail thread

How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car

Moved all discussion here to leave the "How To" topic clean.
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Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2009, 02:08:35 PM »
Quote from: Critterman on January 18, 2009, 01:25:30 PM
Great write up Mike, the only suggestion I have is that you emphasize that ANY dishwashing soap should only be used for prepping a car for detailing, it should never be used to wash a car any other time.
Done.

Quote from: GXPinKC on January 18, 2009, 01:33:07 PM
This thread has my vote to be a "sticky" thread.
The first thing I did after posting it!  :thumbs:

Quote from: MomsSol on January 18, 2009, 01:36:24 PM
Superb detail on detailing Mike!  :thumbs:

By any chance do you have an approximation for each of the BOLD steps?

Since you say it takes a week to accomplish this 'rags to riches' car, a general time frame for each step might be helpful for planning.

Thanks for putting this all together!

Probably about the same amount of time as it took me to write the whole thing!   :gaah:

Seriously though, it all depends on your expirence level and how bad your car is to begin with.  It's kind of like the difference between me doing my car and Critterman doing his car - Two completely different times. 

Now, if I did Critterman's car and he did mine (:gaah:), they might equal out, a little...
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Offline MomsSol

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2009, 02:30:33 PM »
Quote
Now, if I did Critterman's car and he did mine (Gaah), they might equal out, a little...
Nah ... you'd get done first and STILL have to do yours.  :lol:
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Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2009, 03:08:30 PM »
 :agree:
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Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2009, 03:44:21 PM »
The first full (8-hour) day, usually gets me started in the Scratch and Swirl Removal phase.

Day 2 (about 4-5 hours) starts off by finishing the SSR phase and gets me through the first coat of sealant.

Day 3, 4, and 5 (about an hour each) gets me another coat of Sealant in each AM.

Day 6 (4-5 hours) starts out with a coat of wax.  While that sits drying, I get my interior detailing done.

Day 7 (6-7 hours) starts with the tires then another coat of wax.  After that I hit up the rest of the exterior stuff.


So, for me, roughly 25-30 hours spread out over 7 days.   But like I said that's for me.  Critterman has had his for around 3 yeas no and he's still on step 1. :thumbs:
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Offline Critterman

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2009, 04:44:52 PM »
Quote from: MomsSol on January 18, 2009, 02:30:33 PM
Nah ... you'd get done first and STILL have to do yours.  :lol:

Damn it Mom I was going to challenge him.
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big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
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Offline MomsSol

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2009, 04:46:11 PM »
Quote from: Critterman on January 18, 2009, 04:44:52 PM
Damn it Mom I was going to challenge him.
Oops ... sorry .. :D
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Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2009, 02:46:12 PM »
So, Critter, have you made it past the first step yet?
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Offline Critterman

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2009, 10:55:33 PM »
step one is buying the gear
step two is using it

I'm at 1.5 trying to figure out which end of the towels to use
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GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2009, 11:00:18 PM »
Step one was "Now, get a couple of beers and a snack so you can take it all in"

:rofl:
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Offline Critterman

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2009, 11:02:20 PM »
Actually my car is still clean from last november, I was going to do my wife's civic today but wore myself out working in the yard and on the house yesterday.
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GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2009, 11:07:01 PM »
Oh well, I guess there's always next year... :thumbs:







 :lol:
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Offline Critterman

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2009, 11:11:40 PM »
Will you be back that soon?
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GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #16 on: April 06, 2009, 04:48:46 AM »
Looking at July, but I only have 30 days of leave! :lol:
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Offline Critterman

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #17 on: April 06, 2009, 10:50:46 AM »
and only have 3 vehicles :)  30x24=720 hours, plenty of time, and you might actually have time to sleep.
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GONE: (but not forgotten) 2006 Cool named IXABEL (BISH-AH-BEL) Mayan for "Good Roads"
DDM StageIII intercooled Supercharger, Wisco ceramic coated pistons, Carrillo rods, superTech valves and Springs, Ported and polished head, Exedy Stage II Clutch,
big brake kit, slotted/drilled Rotors w/Porterfield pads & blue juice, Backbone, Probeam, Cross Strut Brace Underhood, trunk, & door Lights, ZOK suspension
JPM Center console, door inserts, & dash Seat bolster & lumbar support
Focuztech Tri-Y Header & hi-flow cat, Solo Performance SQR-2, Norm's Rear facia, Heated Seats, Blackface gau

Offline Go-N Def

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #18 on: April 06, 2009, 11:35:00 AM »
Sleep?  What's that????
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Offline WillBeck

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #19 on: July 07, 2013, 11:44:22 PM »
Just an observation, I clean the top and windows first, then the hood, then the trunk, quarters and doors. I do the front bumper, and rear bumper last. I wash/polish the exhaust tips before I even do the wheels because it takes more time.

General rule of thumb is to wash from the top down, which is why I don't worry if I'm doing the doors/quarters in any particular order.

Where I differ is in the order of washing. I do one panel at a time, and I rinse each panel as I wash.

I leave the rear bumper for absolute last because of the contaminates it picks up from the slip stream.

I leave the front bumper for second to last because of bugs etc. Bug pieces can scratch the paint, and they're hard to get out if the fine particles of a wash mitt.

Also, I use one bucket of water/car shampoo, and the other bucket CLEAR water. No soap etc. this makes it easier to check that everything lifted from the paint has been rinsed from the mitt/sponge etc.

Just my opinions :)

Edit: I know this is an old thread, I don't care :)
« Last Edit: July 07, 2013, 11:47:57 PM by WillBeck »
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Offline Gentleman Jack

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Re: How to: Go from Daily Driver to Show Car Discussion thread
« Reply #20 on: July 08, 2013, 09:28:23 AM »
No worries Mate.
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