Detailed: 1996 Chevy Corvette Convertible - Black

[Marc08EX]

Wheels/Tires:
Meguiar's Multi-piece Wheel Cleaner and Cleaner Wax on wheels
Meguiar's APC on tires
Meguiar's Hyper Dressing on tires
Swissvax Wheel Brush

Wash:
Gilmour Foam Gun
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Gloss via Foam Gun and 2BM
Meguiar's Microfiber Wash Mitt
Meguiar's Interior Brush for the convertible top

Clay:
Meguiar's OTC Clay
Meguiar's Last Touch

Paint Correction:
Flex 3401 VRG
Meguiar's G100 / 3.5" and 5" LC Backing Plates
Meguiar's M105 / LC Orange Pads / Meg's Polishing Pads
Meguiar's M205 / LC White Pads
Craftsman 500W Halogen Lights

LSP:
Menzerna Powerlock / LC Blue Pad (left 12 hours to cure)
Autoglym HD Wax

Interior:
Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer
Meguiar's APC+

This car was brought in to have the multi-step detail process. The owner basically wanted the paint to look its best. I was excited to get my hands on this car because it's a CORVETTE!!! In addition, the paint color's black so the difference will be noticable.

The car came in worse shape than originally anticipated. It's ok since it's a chance for me to showcase my detailing skills. This car presented 2 challenges. First, the car had different paint jobs throughout the car therefore different techniques were used to attack each section. Second, the car originally had a leather bra in the front bumper and as a result of this, it scuffed up the bumper pretty bad. I will let the pictures do the talking. :)

Before:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVhhD54JI/AAAAAAAAAZo/sWLtEgDH7B4/01%20Before.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVhtlUDqI/AAAAAAAAAZs/H5XLeVPHAXA/02%20Before.JPG
As you can see, the leather bra left the paint looking bad. You can see the scuff marks underneath the turn/park lights. Also, the brand of the leather bra indented itself to the paint through the accumulated dirt in between the bra and bumper.


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVhsaToUI/AAAAAAAAAZw/dGfpWKFmtNg/03%20Before.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVh_5wFCI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/vVJD-gEAFzs/04%20Before.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVhyZMseI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/cc-du2bI18o/05%20Before.JPG

Wash:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVwZVovXI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/cvjk3mJuDO0/06%20Wash.JPG
Dirty Wheels

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVweox2RI/AAAAAAAAAaA/aro4K_uAWvI/07%20Wash.JPG
Clean Wheels

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVwhxjmHI/AAAAAAAAAaE/PYlQjOEPba8/08%20Wash.JPG

[Marc08EX]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVwjsVBYI/AAAAAAAAAaM/90gy-5HJPxA/10%20Clay.JPG
This is from claying 1/4 of the hood. The paint wasn't as contaminated. The rear section was the worst part.

After claying the car, I performed an IPA wipe down to see the true condition of the paint. The paint had a ton of swirls...

Before:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqVwkrkAtI/AAAAAAAAAaI/djuIvSme998/09%20Wash.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqV_CQpUgI/AAAAAAAAAaU/cDBbB4ML-ds/11%20Pass%20Door%20Before.JPG
Passenger Side Door

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqV_POhZNI/AAAAAAAAAaY/0neC_b0BHMI/12%20Pass%20Front%20Fender%20Before.JPG
Passenger Side Front Fender

I always start with the least aggressive method to get the job done. The car being more than 10 years old, I wanted to be as fragile as possible. This was the result after hitting a panel with M205.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqV_YLAj1I/AAAAAAAAAac/XdU6MQIY1N4/13%20Pass%20Front%20Fender%20M205.JPG

This method was still leaving some swirl marks behind. I wasn't happy with the results because I promised the customer a "swirl-free show car finish". I stepped it up to the M105 and finishing it up with M205 after. Here are some 50/50s.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqV_bEMWHI/AAAAAAAAAag/FUQjlX9vLSk/14%20Pass%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20Half.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqV_ewaguI/AAAAAAAAAak/NA990JtLsYw/15%20Pass%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20Half.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWNpRLAyI/AAAAAAAAAas/TUadAdmDH8c/16%20Pass%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20After.JPG

Above is the passenger side rear quarter panel after finishing it with the M105/M205 combo. The paint's reflection and depth were amazing. Not to mention it being swirl free. There were still a ton of RIDS that are too deep for me to remove.

Driver Side Rear Quarter Panel:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWNtFik7I/AAAAAAAAAaw/SOgbQgjo_i0/17%20Driver%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20Before%201.JPG
Before

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWNiMbNoI/AAAAAAAAAa0/91BHd7gajPI/18%20Driver%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20After%201.JPG
After

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWNnaKSTI/AAAAAAAAAa4/4llofOVCVpU/19%20Driver%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20Before%202.JPG
Before

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWNqq-uvI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LsG3TlDnTJ4/20%20Driver%20Rear%20Qtr%20Panel%20After%202.JPG
After

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWeNVzlOI/AAAAAAAAAbM/-G8v4UTijHM/24%20Driver%20Door%20Half.JPG

[Marc08EX]

Driver Side Door:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWeDQnMkI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/yqxvfW420jM/25%20Driver%20Door%20Before.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWu1SGHtI/AAAAAAAAAbU/2JfSXk31sc4/26%20Driver%20Door%20After.JPG

Trunk:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWd3giDBI/AAAAAAAAAbA/aVsJk-T9_5U/21%20Trunk%20Before.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWd4sYEQI/AAAAAAAAAbE/oN5nAKF-8G0/22%20Trunk%20Half.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWdztHG2I/AAAAAAAAAbI/UaH0gYj6Zng/23%20Trunk%20After.JPG
Those 2 RIDS were pissing me off... :(

Rear Bumper:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWu2SxNtI/AAAAAAAAAbY/6lo0Oy1fvRE/27%20Driver%20Bumper%20Before.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWu9V42MI/AAAAAAAAAbc/K6Hx7SBYktc/28%20Driver%20Bumper%20After.JPG

Front Bumper:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWvDtaouI/AAAAAAAAAbg/SAcj7No3-8Y/29%20Front%20Bumper%20Before.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqWvEdnP9I/AAAAAAAAAbk/JECax0ZcgeQ/30%20Front%20Bumper%20After.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqW2ZszOpI/AAAAAAAAAbo/QR_0rN9d75g/31%20Scuffs%20Before.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLqW2TIHUpI/AAAAAAAAAbs/9CxGpFuuG5s/32%20Scuffs%20After.JPG

[Marc08EX]

After applying Menzerna Powerlock left to cure overnight and applying a coat of Autoglym Hi-Def Carnauba Wax the next morning. I couldn't believe how wet and slick the paint looked after. You be the judge...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtpvuGppOI/AAAAAAAAAb0/0X2dgXjdm7I/33%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtpv8JqybI/AAAAAAAAAb4/wGCsjdURjuc/34%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtpwKH6NUI/AAAAAAAAAb8/W3ekDzTgwzA/35%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtpwDcDTxI/AAAAAAAAAcA/rby4yy2b9Gs/36%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtpwaygjmI/AAAAAAAAAcE/qv1uowOuPDI/37%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtqECmSMZI/AAAAAAAAAcM/51RfoH2IQJw/38%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtqEEVDlvI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/6FZ58zJ2fnI/39%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtqEXxNn4I/AAAAAAAAAcU/Ym3DeRcTZro/40%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtqETCEAoI/AAAAAAAAAcY/4fvyCjdNUvc/41%20Photshoot.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bjudXycjqGc/TLtqEwde6BI/AAAAAAAAAcc/vWcDIKm7XVg/42%20Photshoot.JPG


Sorry I didn't have the garage pictures to show how wet the paint looked.


Approximate time: 18 Hours. I need to learn how to become more efficient.

What do you guys think? Opinions, comments and criticisms are welcome!

[Rob T]

Wow, very big improvement! How long did this job take? (edit, I see it took 18 hours, I was posting while you were still adding pictures and another post)

How did you remove those scratches from the bottom of the front bumper?

[Marc08EX]

Wow, very big improvement! How long did this job take? (edit, I see it took 18 hours, I was posting while you were still adding pictures and another post)

How did you remove those scratches from the bottom of the front bumper?

Thanks Rob! I used M105. I wish I sanded it down but didn't want to mess with it too much since it's single stage paint.

[Rob T]

My first thought was that you may have wet sanded that area. I am impressed that the M105 removed as much of those scratches as it did.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I think the C4 body style is ugly, but you did a great job!

What ratio did you dilute hyper dressing on the tires?

[Marc08EX]

My first thought was that you may have wet sanded that area. I am impressed that the M105 removed as much of those scratches as it did.

Yeah I was blown away. It wasn't perfect but it was a whole lot better!


I think the C4 body style is ugly, but you did a great job!

What ratio did you dilute hyper dressing on the tires?

I agree, the C4 isn't the best body style but hey it's still a vette. Its every kid's dream. :) The C5 esp the C6 like yours is just phenomenal.

Actually, the owner said it was a '97 so I researched what body style it would be and sure enough it was the first year the C5s were made. I was really excited at the time. When the car pulled up, my excitement turned to disappointment because it was just a C4.

I always use 2:1 ratio in hyper dressing.

[Shane731]

That's some yummy looking black paint! Great job! :dblthumb2:

[Marc08EX]

That's some yummy looking black paint! Great job! :dblthumb2:

Thanks Shane!

[C. Charles Hahn]

Very nice work! I wasn't aware C4s had single stage paint, though.... interesting.

[Marc08EX]

Very nice work! I wasn't aware C4s had single stage paint, though.... interesting.

Thanks! Well I don't think it was the original paint job. It was only the hood and front bumper that had single stage paint. Weird.

[jpegs13]

Great job, I'm sure the owner was thrilled.

[J Z06]

Man! that looked like the car from hell! I am sure the owner did a double take when He saw it re-conditioned!:dblthumb2: