1997 Jeep Cherokee

**DARK HORSE** · 11-14-2010, 08:43 AM

I know this is nothing fancy or anything cool, but I just realized that it's been a long time since I've done a write up. With winter fast approaching, this was probably the last opportunity I would have until spring. Besides this lady was very happy w/ what my son and I were able to do for her.
I was approached by the owner of this vehicle and asked how much I would charge her…… to as she put it “clean up her 1997 Jeep, including shining up the paint and waxing it for winter”. She indicated that the vehicle had never been waxed since she owned it, and was concerned that the paint was in bad shape and deteriorating quickly. She wanted to know if there was anything I could do for it. After I told her what I could do and how much I typically charge for a full detail including paint correction, she started asking questions like; how much for just this or just that, no interior, no polishing, etc. Typically I won’t do a job unless I can do it full bore (basically free reign to do what needs done). However being that I know her well and she is a single mom, without a lot of extra coin. My son and I agreed to just wash, clay, and seal the vehicle for her at a fair price for that amount of work. Well we decided to do a few extras for her. Here’s what we were up against and here’s what we did (I know, I know, kind of a drab color and hard to capture in photos):

Wash: Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo and GS-50 Sheepskin Mitt.
Clay: Clayed with DP universal detailing clay, using ONR mixed a 1:32 with distilled water for clay lube.
Tires, Wheels, and Wheel Wells: All cleaned with ARO and various brushes. Tires dressed with DP Tire Gel. Wheels sealed with PB Wheel Sealant, Wheel Wells dressed with spray on rubberized under coating.

Paint Correction:
Step 1 = m105 and several cyan hydrotech pads (91% IPA wipe down).
Step 2 = m205 and several tangerine hydrotech pads (91% IPA wipe down).
(PakShak microfiber “Ultra edgeless white towels” were used for polish removal and PakShak ultra plush towels for IPA wipe downs).
LSP: Wolfgang Deep gloss Paint Sealant (Removed sealant and buffed with PakShak Ultra Plush MF’s).
Here are some before, during, and after shots of the polishing: (Unfortunately it was cloudy, no sun out when we started polishing. Fortunately the next day when we finished the sun did come out for pictures):

**DARK HORSE** · 11-14-2010, 08:47 AM

Check out these scratches…

And viola

And some paint transfer for removal:

Headlight Restoration: Headlights were corrected using 3M’s headlight restoration system and sealed with Klasse HGSG

**DARK HORSE** · 11-14-2010, 08:48 AM

Interior: Door jams, Carpet, and floor mats were all cleaned with APC+. Dash board, door panels, and trim were all cleaned with DP total interior cleaner and protected with DP interior surface protectant. Leather was cleaned with Pinnacle Leather Cleaner and dressed with 303 AP. Instrument panel and stereo face were cleaned and protected with Plexus.

Exterior trim, Glass, Exhaust, and Hitch: All exterior trim was treated with PB World Trim Restorer. All glass was polished with Stoners Invisible Glass. Tail pipe and trailer hitch was sprayed with high temp black engine paint.

Here are a few more shots of the final project:

Thanks for looking…

**CEE DOG** · 11-14-2010, 08:51 AM

Incredible work Tad I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Great job hooking her up. Karma will be back to see you.

Love the trailer hitch and difference in headlights.
Of course the paint was quite the turnaround Great work there!

Oh, and the interior as well! You really rocked it out for her Tad man!

**vet** · 11-14-2010, 09:29 AM

Great job! I'll bet she was really plesed with the turn around.
By the way, I used to make Kelly tires.

**ColorsDetailing** · 11-14-2010, 10:41 AM

looks good man! I have a question? How do you take your before and after pictures? It seems like you have the camera in the same exact spot for the before and after. Mine always seem to be in a differnt positions from the before and after?

**WRAPT C5Z06** · 11-14-2010, 10:58 AM

What a turn around, Tad!! Excellent work(as usual)! Great write-up and photos! Thanks for taking the time to share.

**Dubbin1** · 11-14-2010, 11:17 AM

Nice job Tad man

**LightningTeg** · 11-14-2010, 01:00 PM

Awesome. Like new

**rwright** · 11-14-2010, 01:13 PM

I don't have to tell you that you did an awesome job, because you already know this! But the interior carpet, wow! That was truly impressive my friend. Oh yeah, that ARO bottle was cute, I'll bet the wife wasn't too pleased!

Ok, all jokes aside buddy, excellent job!

Oh yeah, thanks for the direct sun shots!