'04 Saab..1st engine detail & lots of pics

[richy]

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Great turn around

Rsurfer: Thank you very much.

Originally Posted by klumzypinoy

The wide stripes are pretty cool actually, GROOVY . The Crocs are being trendy with detailing I have tried some on and they are very comfy, but they're my dad's and they're not big enough for me so I can't use em

Klum...Let's make that an AG trademark!! The stripes are being copied throughout different forums (which is O.K.>hell, I stole the ideal too!!) but the wide ones could be an AG thing..whatcha think?

Originally Posted by Reddwarf

A very fine job! That was one nasty looking Saab when you got it. What a great turn around you did. Surely you will get more work after that display of good workmanship!

Reddwarf: Thank you sir. I forgot to ask the salesperson whether her customer had seen the car prior to me getting it...it was already sold. She thought that it would lead to more jobs..that would be cool. I can always spend the $$ ha ha ha.

Originally Posted by alban61

Great turnaround on that Saab! It was looking pretty bad. Couldn't believe all those swirls and scratches, especially by the driver's door. And that door handle looked like it was thirsty for some 303! The AFTERS are awesome. Great engine detail, and those thick stripes are the best! At first I thought it was the design of the floormats. Uniform and sharp lines! Too cool!

Alban611..I appreciate your comments! I found the paint on this car to be VERY SOFT. It was actually a PITA to do b/c I found the MF's could scratch it very finely if I put too much pressure...had to be so careful...meanwhile I was just trying to enjoy my cigar LOL. The UCCL was able to quickly correct most things on one pass with the soft paint though, so that's the advantage there I guess. I used Mothers on the handles and exterior trim. I am not that fond of it..it's really hard to get off the paint, one needs to be so careful. I found that as much as I love the 303, it doesn't last that long on the exterior pieces. When the Mothers is done, I have some DG marine I'm gonna use on the exterior pieces.

Originally Posted by Jimmie

That is one great "first". That engine turned out great. Good job on turning around the rest too.

Jimmie..Thanks so much. I was pleasantly surprised about 1) how quickly it cleaned up and 2) how easily. I think using the 1-2 punch of ARO and 303 was the answer though.

Originally Posted by wolfpacker92

WOW...just WOW! You did an incredible job. Every part of that detail is top shelf. Again .... WOW!

wolfpacker..Thank you, I appreciate the comments. Thanks.

Originally Posted by m4gician

You said multiple touch-ups, what exactly did you do in ONLY 13 hours to make it look like it did.

Did you use touch up paint on the front end? It looks like you did, if so let me know how you did it, your method and steps to make it looks so great.

Also......ARO, I mean wow those wheels looks great, what was your interior cleaning method?

m4gician: For the touch ups, the very good looking salesperson..sorry, I digress..she brought me the 2 stage (base/clear) bottles from Saab which was great (I had asked her to). I knew I would be pressed for time so I did not take the time to do both paint stages on them. I just used a small amount of the black base to fill in the chips. And, yes, there was a shitl0ad of them!! Especially on the front air dam. The hood was not too bad for them..if there was anyplace that I would have used both paints and then wet sanded them flat, it would have been on the hood..especially if there had been big ones there.
I was a little disappointed in myself that I couldn't get it done in the 12, but I had to spread it over 3 days to accommodate my work schedule, child care requirements and the like. Next weekend's job ( a black 3 series) will be even worse for time..oh well. It takes me a 1/2 hour or so to get back into the groove I find when I leave the job and then come back to it.
As for the interior..I vacuum with an attachment with a soft brush with long bristles to get in the nicks and crannies and then treat with 303 aeropspace..that simple. 303 can be used on damn near anything I find, except fabric. I take great care not to step on the carpets after I put the stripes in, I lay cardboard down and step on that to keep the look intact. I do the stripes a little different than I used to. I used to create them with a plastic vacuum nozzle only. Now I go back over it with a nozzle that has small bristles as well..really cuts a definitive line that way.

Originally Posted by dontsleeponit

Amazing turnaround on that car, it was let go pretty bad, looks 10,000Xs better now. Your reflection shots are superb!

Dontsleep: Thank you very much for your comments.

[m4gician]

Really? I have to try that method of defining the stripe.

I like the wide stripes. Edit, Richy can I ask you something...just looking at your avatar, are you a police officer or firefighter?

[trhland]

very nice my man!!!!!

[richy]

Originally Posted by m4gician

Really? I have to try that method of defining the stripe.

I like the wide stripes. Edit, Richy can I ask you something...just looking at your avatar, are you a police officer or firefighter?

m4gician..I am a cop and have been for 14 years. I was a traffic officer for 5.5 years, now I have a cushy assignment which helps accommodate my schedule.

Originally Posted by trhland

very nice my man!!!!!

thanks a lot!