Trashed Trailblazer 2: Work in progress

[Hoytman]

For those of you wondering what ever happened to my http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/41661-trashed-trailblazer.html project you may have wondered what happened. I must say that it's been quite the journey. For those that may have missed part one, simply click on the link above to find out the particulars of how this transformation began. You can also click here >>> http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/57437-need-help-black-trashed-trailblazer-project.html to get more of the particulars.


As you read through the above links and the words below, and see the pictures below, please keep in mind that my only goal was to make this SUV shine. No more...no less...make it shine. Period!

I really had no doubts that I could repair the fenders, doors, and back hatch, but the hood and roof concerned me to a degree. I already knew that those areas may be past the point of no return and to a degree they were, but I did make them look somewhat better.

Keep in mind this isn't your typical show car show-n-shine. This is a daily driver...a very neglected daily driver...from garage fire embarrassing to drive...to something that I'm actually proud to drive...even though I know it'll never be as it should be unless its repainted.

Here's proof that anyone can do it...here's proof that you too can learn from Mike Phillips via the internet forums and video's. (Check out the first link for pics at the beginning before starting the transformation.)

All 161 photo's can be found here Trashed Trailblazer - AutogeekOnline Gallery (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=1589)

Before

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_24.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_25.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_30.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/medium/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_31.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_44.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_45.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_46.jpg

More to come...

[Hoytman]

More before pics...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_26.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_42.jpg




Check out these stains where the luggage racks had been left in one location all the time.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_43.jpg




The original test spot using a G110V2 speed 6 with an orange Lake Country pad and M105...didn't phase it really.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_50.jpg




Seemingly a little progress here
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_51.jpg




Indoors with camera flash on. Now you can really see how bad it is.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_67.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_80.jpg

More to come...

[Hoytman]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_77.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_78.jpg




Outside
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_82.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_87.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_90.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_95.jpg


More to come...

[kochdalton87]

Wow, great results so far! Looking forward to the rest of the photos. Keep up the good work.

[Hoytman]

Two sets of 3-4 section passes (area 10x10) with rotary, wool, and M105. Now we're getting some where...but what you can't see yet is there's much more to do.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_101.jpg




http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_102.jpg




Watch the light bulb...original oxidation
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_106.jpg


This rib is after two sets of section passes with wool and M105 on the rotary
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_105.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_105.jpg

[Hoytman]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_107.jpg



At this point I was so excited of our progress...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_108.jpg




Haze
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_112.jpg




Haze gone, now swirls...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_113.jpg



Nothing left but dust and some defects that won't come out...but the swirls are now gone too. Check out the hair on my arm.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_114.jpg

[Hoytman]

Oh yeah...I forgot to tell you guys there's something else special about all of this thread.

My first time...
Posting a project with pictures.

My first...
Detail on paint...and black paint no less.

My first...
Using a rotary on paint.

Got the :Picture:to prove it too. :buffing::buffing::buffing:

[Hoytman]

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_115.jpg

Gotta get into those tight areas too...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_116.jpg



Used a 3" yellow Buff-N-Shine pad on the rotary to remove these defects.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_117.jpg


Defects gone...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_119.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_120.jpg

[Hoytman]

Light at a little different angle.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_122.jpg



More to do for sure, but progress none-the-less.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_123.jpg



Let's be smart and work backwards. Huh? Yep. I decided to pull the racks completely off. Might as well do it right...but next time I'll take them off first. Besides, at this point the tape on those racks had been on there for a few days and would hardly come off.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_124.jpg


From this...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_26.jpg

And this...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_42.jpg


To this...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_125.jpg

And this...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_126.jpg

There are some defects that can't be fixed, and I'll show them on the roof in a bit, but you can just imagine how I felt after roughly 25-30 hours on that roof. Of course that's going slow and taking my time with the rotary.

[Hoytman]

Now the hood on this SUV was real questionable from the beginning. I'm still not satisfied with even year after the photo's below. Something's going on with that I haven't quite put my finger on.

Onward in the journey...Ooohhhh that's nasty.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_127.jpg


Three (3) test spots. One of those faint test spots was with Duragloss 501 that didn't even come close. Didn't think it would, but with the thought of using the least aggressive method first, we then proceeded to more aggressive approaches.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_130.jpg



I think (been over a year now...maybe approaching 1 1/2 years) the picture below was with my G110V2 dual action polisher on high with an orange LC pad with M105.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_131.jpg


With the halogen and not satisfied...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_134.jpg



Resorted to the rotary, w4000 wool pad, and M105. Left some tracks (holograms). Only needed one set of section passes with wool on each section of the entire hood.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_138.jpg


This is after an intermediate step with Dyna-brade DA attachment on my rotary paired with a Meguiar's yellow polishing pad and M105.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_140.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_141.jpg


More pictures to come...

[Hoytman]

I like what I'm seeing at this point...no pun intended.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_145.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_146.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_148.jpg


Hood is not without defects though...
Solvent pop, maybe?
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_147.jpg

Looks much better though.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_149.jpg


At this point I am pleased with the progress on the hood. I'm also concerned that the striations in the earlier photo's will return. Good reflection picture below, but if you look closely at the light bulb reflection you can see some dots...bubble like defects. I think it's solvent pop, but I'm not real sure.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_150.jpg


Another look at the reflection and deeper defects. I'm almost certain at this point that the hood has been repainted.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_152.jpg



Begging for a sun shot...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_153.jpg


Remember what I said earlier about the roof not being perfect either?
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_155.jpg

More to come...

[Hoytman]

Somewhat blurry photo of some perminent defects.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_157.jpg


Real sad these defects will remain. Much of the paint has turned out real nice.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_161.jpg


Garage fire deformed the third brake light on the hatch.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_162.jpg


If I had time (getting ready to take the wife home from work) I would have cropped this picture. It shows something wierd going on with the paint on this hood.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_173.jpg


Be back in a little while with more pictures.

[Vegas Transplant]

Hate to interrupt but

:goodjob2: .

Excellent :Picture:.
The last time I saw it I was like...:coolgleam:

Stay warm...holla atcha!

[detailer25]

WOW! Lookin' Good!

[Hoytman]

First stage of oxidation and water spot removal on the drivers door. Notice the 4" Lake Country CCS pad and my extension on the rotary.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_180.jpg



Here's one reason why this is still a work in progress. I still need to fill these nicks with some touch-up paint, though I've thought about leaving these defects alone. You'll see why in a minute...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_182.jpg


...and here's why I thought about leaving the defects alone in the above picture. Look below and you'll see that someone sprayed a clear coat of paint over rock chips. I couldn't believe when I first saw it, but here's the evidence of just what you might come across on any given detail.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_186.jpg


Different view of the same cleared over defects.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_187.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_193.jpg



http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_195.jpg




Far from perfect, but lots better. Take a look at this orange peel.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1589/800_Trashed_Trailblazer_196.jpg

More pics to come...