To Menz, or not to Menz?

[Gokite]

My father's work truck which is being donated to my house build arrived last week....in quite sad shape. So bad, it is unsalvageable. The transmission is shot, leaf springs nearly rusted through, etc. However, she can use a little paint correction. When I say it has never been washed, I mean it has never been washed (except for the rain).

I decided to use the GG6 and some Menzerna FG400 just to see how well it would work on paint that has had ladders resting on it while driving, tools, 1000s of coffee mugs, nails, screws, cords, mud-covered concrete boots, gravel impregnated clothing rubbing on it, etc etc etc. There are bangs, scratches down to the primer, etc. What the heck I figured.

I used Amazing Rolloff on the tires and wheel wells, Megs wash with some simple green in there to really get most of the grime, washed, skipped the clay, and dried. After all that there were some spots that beaded up like there was industrial oils/grease embedded in the paint lol. I said whatever and proceeded to hit it with Menz.

Before I post the pics, I'll say there are still paint problems obviously but the difference is amazing...not standing next to the truck, the truck looks like a different beast all together now. It looks great - and I only did half of it...

A few before shots:

http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/before01.jpg
Passenger Door:
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/before02.jpg
Hood:
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/before03.jpg

As you can see the truck is in pretty bad shape. It is safe to say she looks like a POS from any distance, near or far.

Passenger Door again before Menz 400:
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/before04.jpg

Hit the front half with Menz...
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menz01.jpg

http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menz02.jpg

Menz on the second half...not properly wiped down, nearly all scratches gondo!
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menz03.jpg
From another angle
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menz04.jpg

Quarterpanel vs the quarterpanel trim around the wheel-well. The trim actually looked BETTER than the quarterpanel prior to Menz FG400.

http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menz05.jpg

Here is a final shot of the truck washed and fleetwaxed. I did the FG400 on the hood, roof, and upper half of the cab body. I will do the lower half, the wheel well trim and the truck bed next weekend.
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menzfin01.jpg
http://chicagocadcam.com/truck/menzfin02.jpg

[arisking]

Incredible.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Yeah buddy! FG400 took care of that! What an amazing turnaround.

Thanks for sharing!

[shagnat]

Pretty dang nice! I'm glad I've got 3 different Menzerna polishes.

[aim4squirrels]

So why exactly did you polish a truck with a blown tranny and leaf springs almost rotated through?


Just because it's there?

[Gokite]

Better than sitting inside watching TV! I saw severe paint problems so I was interested to see how far FG400 would go. I thought others might want to see the results as well. Good practice with the DA and a product I never used as well.

BTW, the truck still runs but the tranny needs to be babied.

[Flash Gordon]

So why exactly did you polish a truck with a blown tranny and leaf springs almost rotated through?


Just because it's there?

I was told long ago that a truck is worth $1,000 even with a blown engine

Nice job :props:

[DetailKitty]

Excellent job!
Haven't tried Menzerna products yet. I'd like to down the road.

[Paul A.]

Those are my favorite kinds of jobs, you see huge improvements! Great work and thanks for sharing it.

[Methodical]

Huge difference. What was the look on your Pop's face when he saw the truck? I have a Ford Ranger that's my work hog. I plan to use it as a test mule, too.

[Levithan9]

HOLY ROLLER SKATING CHRIST !! DARN GOOD THING I ORDERED THE FG400 AND THE SF4500 ON THE EASTER SALE!!

I guess you could say the 'PAINT HAS RISEN' this Easter !!

Good job man.

[Gokite]

They were fairly impressed when they pulled up at first saying it looked brand new. I did most of the rest this morning before they pulled up for a little Easter get together...couple neighbors commented as well...when my dad saw the before and afters he freaked.

[Irishwoodchuck]

What did you use to lift the scratches?
I have menz products but have had some trouble on some surface scratches. What speed on the gg?

[Gokite]

I used:

GG6
Lake Country CCS Pad Orange Color
Speed of 2 to spread
Speed of 5.5 to work it:

Passes 1-2 - 0/90 degrees, 0.5" per second hand speed, 1" step over, firm pressure
Passes 3-6 - 0/90 degrees, 2" per second hand speed, 40-50% overlap, firm pressure
Passes 7-8 (or until Menz started to "clear", meaning could be another two passes) - 0/90 degrees, 3-4" per second hand speed, light pressure

That was one application of FG400.

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

Very nice results man!!!