My new (to me) project car

**mattmann** · 02-21-2018, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the kind words. I am a COMPLETE new guy at this. I’ve always kept my rides clean and what not but it was with dish soap and a mop bucket with rags

. Now that I know more about the proper steps and the art that is detailing, I don’t know how I survived lol. I have a LONG way to go but I am pleased so far. I look forward to trying HD speed soon.

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**xtina** · 02-21-2018, 04:29 PM

That parking brake looked pretty happy to see you.

**mattmann** · 02-21-2018, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by xtina

That parking brake looked pretty happy to see you.

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**pilotpip** · 02-22-2018, 12:27 AM

Nice job! With all the effort you're putting in, it will be worth taking the wheels off to clean the backside. I don't know how similar the Z paint is to my wife's previous car, a white rogue, but it really needed a chemical decontamination too. I'm sure with how poorly the previous owner maintained this one, you'll need something like iron-x. Add a couple pads here and there as you go, and you'll soon have enough to do the whole car without stopping and a clean pad every panel will give you the best results possible.

**mattmann** · 02-22-2018, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by pilotpip

Nice job! With all the effort you're putting in, it will be worth taking the wheels off to clean the backside. I don't know how similar the Z paint is to my wife's previous car, a white rogue, but it really needed a chemical decontamination too. I'm sure with how poorly the previous owner maintained this one, you'll need something like iron-x. Add a couple pads here and there as you go, and you'll soon have enough to do the whole car without stopping and a clean pad every panel will give you the best results possible.

Thanks man! Yeah I ALMOST bought some iron-x but didn’t. I will order some up along with pads. I never knew it takes as many pads as I used though! What’s not going to be fun is my expedition xl platinum!!!

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**LEDetailing** · 02-22-2018, 09:23 AM

Wow, great buy on a cool car!

Nice work, I’m most impressed with those seats and underside of the hood. Obviously the last owner isn’t a member on AGO

**mattmann** · 02-22-2018, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by LEDetailing

Wow, great buy on a cool car!

Nice work, I’m most impressed with those seats and underside of the hood. Obviously the last owner isn’t a member on AGO

No he definitely wasn’t. I sent him before and after on the seats and he wants me to do his work truck

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**JeffsPureBrilliance** · 02-22-2018, 03:48 PM

Wow! Very impressive even if you are a newbie. I'd love to find a project car like this, especially one from the 80's or 90's.

**pilotpip** · 02-22-2018, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by mattmann

Thanks man! Yeah I ALMOST bought some iron-x but didn’t. I will order some up along with pads. I never knew it takes as many pads as I used though! What’s not going to be fun is my expedition xl platinum!!!

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I have an F-150 crew cab and explorer. Buy. More. Pads. Over the course of the last couple years, I've waited for good sales and buy a 6-pack every time. I'm up to about 30 and it's so nice to just pull one off the plate, toss it in a bucket of pad cleaner, and let it soak while I work, then go clean them really good when I finish up. It also makes doing test spots with multiple combos easier. After friends and family see how nice your rides are, you're going be in demand. I do my in-law's cars every year too, but that's a good trade for child care!

I use McKee's 360 and it works great for me. Use that in the spring, then in the fall I'll hit both with a good sealant (I really like McKee's Hi-Def because it's affordable, and a little goes a very long way). The explorer was pretty swirled out when I bought it and it's going to need something more aggressive this spring, but once it's done right it's not hard to keep it up with the proper goods and technique. Once you get it down, and outlay the initial expense, it will only gets easier and less expensive. Oh wait, what am I saying... after you get the paint looking good, you'll want the trim to look good, and you'll want the interior looking better, and...

Take the time to tape around the plastic trim on the ford. Cleaning product off of it is a PITA.