97 LX450 Polish Job

[COS80]

I bought my 97 back in August, sight unseen, from a Mud member in WA. I bought it because it looked like a good one, and I was pleased to see that I actually got a nice one. One thing led to another, and despite the fact that this is an off roader that I actually take off roading, I decided to see just how nice I could get it looking... after all, I have all the equipment, so why not?

First I clay barred it, because it was the roughest paint I'd ever felt, and then I gave it a five-stage polish and wax job, polishing with my Griot's Garage BOSS system and finishing with Wolfgang sealant. I was shocked to find that while the gray trim is base/clear, the black is single-stage. I haven't polished single-stage paint in over 20 years.

I am beyond pleased with the results!

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

Can we have more pictures of the roof rack please..

 

[ChargedSHOTaco]

How about some before pics?

 

[COS80]

Can we have more pictures of the roof rack please..

Like what? It's just a Prinsu.

 

[COS80]

How about some before pics?

Before pics don't tell much of a story... "shiny" is a hard thing to photograph.

During, though... I think this shows the change.

Left is before; right is after the first stage. There was a layer of that whitish crud over the whole thing.

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

Like what? It's just a Prinsu.

The attachment to the drip rail and the decking..

 

[reklund5]

When can I drop mine off? Yours looks amazing!

 

[COS80]

The attachment to the drip rail and the decking..

 

[COS80]

When can I drop mine off? Yours looks amazing!

Thanks.

 

[DIRTBIKEUSA]

Thanks!

 

[COS80]

I found this good "before" pic today.

 

[COS80]

Well that didn't take long.

 

[greentruck]

The white on the LX is also said to be single-stage. Mine may be in for some TLC soon.

 

[COS80]

The white on the LX is also said to be single-stage. Mine may be in for some TLC soon.

Better scratched and shiny than scratched and dull, I say.

 

[greentruck]

The above is a good view of the distinct "no lip" rack design that worries me. Prinsu does this as well as others. I have a Bowfin Crusiers rack that was similar. Don't get me wrong, these are good racks and you shouldn't solely rely on a rack lip to keep your top-end goodies from departing the truck. But I also think you shouldn't do without a lip IMO. Here's what the inside of my Bowfin Cruisers rack looked like after I modded it to lower the bars about an inch and a quarter.

To accomplish this, it will generally be necessary to get the rub rails off the roof so there's enough clear coat all patyusand then to drill pairs of new holes about 1" lower than the adjustment slot provided.

 

[COS80]

I've yet to figure out what to even put up there, so modding it is not in the cards anytime soon.

 

[ajordan1975]

shiny paint causes stress

 

[COS80]

shiny paint causes stress

False!

Shiny paint causes joy.

 

[ajordan1975]

False!

Shiny paint causes joy.

false!

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

I have mine in to get ceramic coated right now. Pick it up early next week and can't wait to see the results! Its amazing what a good detailer can clean up.

These are the only two pics I have right now: