'67 Chevelle SS Convertible, extensive exterior detail - Rasky's Auto Detailing

[RaskyR1]

This car went through a thorough body off restoration about 2 years ago and the owner of the vehicle has been in contact with me for about a year now. He had originally found me through the DI blog and was inquiring on how to tackle some issues he was having with water spots on the new paint as well as some etching on his high polished aluminum wheels. I had given his some advice which had helped, but he still wasn't seeing the results he had hoped for. Since it was late in the summer when we last spoke and unfortunately my busy schedule would not allow for me to take the car on anyway, we had decide to wait until this year to do the car. During that time the owner had sourced another (closer) detailer to remove the water spots and when he called me a few weeks ago he just wanting to get it freshened up a bit and have the wheels taken care of. After evaluating the car though it was clear there was much more work to be done then the owner had thought.

Car as it arrived...looks good out of the light and the color does hide things well.





Close up shows etching from an improper cleaner being used....once.


All emblems were removed for two reasons, to remove all the wax/compound from "the other" detailer, and to ensure all swirls/scratches are fully removed around and under them.




There were actually several areas where the other detailer left behind his signature...

Wheel well trim...these were loosened to help get the wax/compound out.












Emblems themselves had compound in them...these were NEW after the car had been painted and wet sanded!


All taped up and top protected.



Holograms were over the entire car from either the body shop of the other detailer.


One of several test spots...holograms removed but pig tails were then revealed....


The entire car had lots of deep pig tails through the paint from when the body shop had originally wet sanded it. The paint has since hardened, very hard actually, and their removal was difficult and time consuming. Several areas still had visible sanding marks too...




After making two passes with M101 on the rotary with a wool pad, it was clear this paint was VERY hard and I actually ended up wet sanding these areas with 3000 grit to help with their removal.


Even after wet sanding it still took multiple passes with M101 and a wool pad, but I was able to remove close to 99% of the defects.


Many of the edges had sanding marks remaining....


after


Carefully removing more sanding marks near the edge with a 3" MF pad.


There was a deep scratch above the trunk which easily caught my finger nail


Improved but not removed....I'm sure I could have pushed it further but it simply was not worth the risk of a strike though and I had no idea how much clear was used or that remained.


Raised car to clean wheel wells and to polish wheels


before


After


Etched wheel after polishing with Blackfire and Meguiar's aluminum polishes.




We had 100 degree temps the entire time I was working on the car so I hung towels to keep sunlight out...my A/C is way undersized for the garage but it still kept temps around 78 degrees. Here is the car complete as I left for the day...I arranged for the owner to take the car to a local park for better pics the next day.

[RaskyR1]

Finished pics






I picked up a Circular Polarized Filter to try out as it's supposed to help reduce glare and many pros photographers seem to recommend them for shooting cars....not sure if I like it or not but I'l play around with it more. The pic before is about the same shot without the filter.












Love his plates! the SS in MUSSCLE almost lines up with the emblems.






I love the cloud reflections in these next ones.











My first attempt at panning






Not the best light for an engine pic...I just wiped the engine bay down and polished the chrome.





Thanks for looking!

Rasky

[Mike Phillips]

A text book example on how to properly buff out a car and undo all the damage inflicted by those that have gone before you.


Isn't it fun working on and then sharing classics Chad?


I mean new cars are nice for transportation but a convertible Chevelle is definitely a SIV or Special Interest Vehicle.


Nice work buddy and you know the owner is now proud of the "entire" car having a big block 396 Chevy engine plus being a convertible is all frosting on the cake.

[68bowtie]

Sweet car and great job.

[RaskyR1]

A text book example on how to properly buff out a car and undo all the damage inflicted by those that have gone before you.


Isn't it fun working on and then sharing classics Chad?


I mean new cars are nice for transportation but a convertible Chevelle is definitely a SIV or Special Interest Vehicle.


Nice work buddy and you know the owner is now proud of the "entire" car having a big block 396 Chevy engine plus being a convertible is all frosting on the cake.

Thanks Mike!


I agree 100%!!! If I had it my way I would be working on nothing but classic cars. While I do appreciate exotics and other new cars, there is just something about classic muscle and other pre 70's cars that I love! They all have a story to tell and they bring me back to my childhood memories with my father.


Cheers!
Rasky

Sweet car and great job.

Thank you! Nice ride in your sig too! The wife and I would love to get a '69 or '70 ourselves in the next few years.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

The before and after of the sanding marks in the corner, how in the world did you remove those??

You're the man!!!!

[shoeless89]

Amazing work as always!

[Mobile detail]

Awesome work bud! It looks beyond perfect. How did you do the vents on the front hood?

[Attn2Detailz]

Excellent! Care to elaborate on your emblem removal method?

[RaskyR1]

The before and after of the sanding marks in the corner, how in the world did you remove those??

You're the man!!!!

Thanks Mark!

I started doing it by hand with M101 but ended up propping the hood up so that I could use the rotary on it without hitting the edge fender.

Amazing work as always!

Thanks Shawn!

Awesome work bud! It looks beyond perfect. How did you do the vents on the front hood?

Thank you!

The vents were in good shape and I just used some KAIO on them by hand.

Excellent! Care to elaborate on your emblem removal method?

Thanks Joe!

Well the first thing I did was call the owner and get his permission and explained why I wanted to remove them. The emblems themselves were all easily access able from the back side of the panel and were held on with speed nuts....just be sure not to over tighten them when you put them back on. They varied in size and type depending on which emblem they were on. I used a nut driver and/or 1/4 ratchet to remove and reinstall them.