2001 First Detail

Goliath · 08-15-2011, 06:40 PM

Just recently bought a 2001 Alero and decided I'd detail it. I started off by washing it with Blackfire Shampoo and paint conditioner, followed by a very lengthy clay bar! After that was done I used a Porter Cable 7424XP to lay down some Meguiar's #105 followed by Meguiar's #205. Finally I put on a coat of Black Fire Wet Diamond Sealant. I think it came out pretty nice:

Sorry if the pictures look a little bad. I just used my phone to take them. I'll take some with a real camera tomorrow and post them!

spc2125 · 08-15-2011, 07:09 PM

ive never seen silver mirrors before. nice and cleannn

jhubbz · 08-15-2011, 07:17 PM

Looks good! A LOT like mine lol. I've been wanting to save up for one of those porter cables for a looong time. how do you like it?

ps, take your door guards off!

Goliath · 08-15-2011, 08:22 PM

Thanks guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhubbz

Looks good! A LOT like mine lol. I've been wanting to save up for one of those porter cables for a looong time. how do you like it?

ps, take your door guards off!

I love it! Does a real nice job and it's very easy to use. Only con from my experience is the handle design. It's off to the side, making it very easy to torque the whole polisher (won't damage the paint, but it becomes very inefficient). I just don't use the handle at all.

Check out this website. I buy all of my supplies here. They also have some good info on detailing.

And I didn't know the door guards were removable. Are they just glued on like the badges?

spc2125 · 08-15-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goliath

And I didn't know the door guards were removable. Are they just glued on like the badges?

yea. a flat head screwdriver (or razor) and some goo gone will do the trick
just take your time

jhubbz · 08-15-2011, 08:54 PM

NO!!!!!!!! they come off easily, DO NOT use anything sharp!!! Use goo gone or something like it and a hair dryer/ heat gun. they will come right off.

be very very careful if your use something sharp. I learned the hard way

spc2125 · 08-15-2011, 10:15 PM

just use a flat head to start it then peel it off with your hand

Williamleo · 08-15-2011, 11:35 PM

ok, go ahead make fun of me for this question... door guards? Huh?

oops, sorry! Your car looks great. A clean freak myself has to love something so nice and spiffy clean!

03Sleepr · 08-15-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc2125

just use a flat head to start it then peel it off with your hand

your seriously telling him to take a flathead screwdriver to his door??

the door guards are the trim running down the middle of the doors along the car..to take them off take a piece of fishing line under the end, then pull it out far enough to grab it then slowly peel it off.

Williamleo · 08-15-2011, 11:40 PM

cool. Thank you!

Williamleo · 08-16-2011, 12:01 AM

my neighbors are looking out their windows right now saying... what the hell is that idiot doing to his car at 11 o'clock at night! lol

spc2125 · 08-16-2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Sleepr

your seriously telling him to take a flathead screwdriver to his door??

careful hands and if you know what you are doing then it wouldnt be a problem

03Sleepr · 08-16-2011, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spc2125

careful hands and if you know what you are doing then it wouldnt be a problem

if you knew what you were doing then you wouldn't take a screwdriver to your door

spc2125 · 08-16-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Sleepr

if you knew what you were doing then you wouldn't take a screwdriver to your door

different methods, same results

whiterider00 · 08-16-2011, 01:21 AM

pretty sure i used a small flathead to break thru the adhesive on the end of the trim. not using it to pry the thing up, using it flat against the door to break the adhesive. that shit can be tough to break at first.

That01Olds · 08-16-2011, 02:09 AM

Car looks great man very nice and clean.

lonnie · 08-16-2011, 07:54 AM

You missed a spot!...lol

sleepyalero · 08-16-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhubbz

NO!!!!!!!! they come off easily, DO NOT use anything sharp!!! Use goo gone or something like it and a hair dryer/ heat gun. they will come right off.

be very very careful if your use something sharp. I learned the hard way

i used a flat head with mine to remove the door gaurds, the car looks so much better without them. get a small enough flat head it will fit between the trim and the door without touching the paint. as long as you have steady hands, you'll be fine. and as spc said, start it with the flat head then use your hand for the rest of the way, then goo gone to clean up the adhesive and give a nice wax after words.

one bad thing about doing this is if the car has ever been repainted to a different color then once you take off the door gaurds you'll be in for a surprise... but im positive no one has changed the color of the car or repainted it.

very good work on the detail job btw.

03Sleepr · 08-16-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepyalero

one bad thing about doing this is if the car has ever been repainted to a different color then once you take off the door gaurds you'll be in for a surprise... but im positive no one has changed the color of the car or repainted it.

my drivers door was repainted, now I have a gold stripe until I can get it repainted again

Malibu369258 · 08-16-2011, 06:17 PM

Very nice!