Detailing your rig

[Trunk Monkey]

Maybe one for the FAQ, how do you detail your truck? I know some of you leave the mud on 24/7, but I also see plenty of very well detailed trucks in the ROTW. I've always been jealous of the "you can eat off it" engine bays.

So, what's your process and gear?

 

[Doc]

That reminds me, I need to clean my engine bay.

 

[Box Rocket]

First off I rarely do it to the cruiser but I try to keep the DD fairly clean. I don't go all out by any means, but this is the basic process I use. Works good for someone without a nice PorterCable random orbital buffer/polisher.

Exterior
1: Wash car (preferably by hand, but I end up using the powerwasher at the local carwash more often than not).

2: Mother's Clay Bar.

3: Meguiar's Deep Crystal System Polish

4: Meguiar's Gold Class liquid wax.

5: Mequiar's Gold Class Instant Wheel cleaner.

6: Meguiar's Hot Shine High Gloss tire coating.

7: Windex the windows and occasionally use a thing coat of wax on the windshield.


Interior
1: vacuum

2: using a warm damp microfiber to wash all leather and trim/dash bits.

3: Armor-all non leather trim/dash peices. I really should use something better, but this is what seems to be in the garage most of the time. Don't use this on leather.



that's typically all I worry about. I'm sure there are guys that go far more in depth and use superior products to these but this is a decent "poor-man's" approach.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Have you noticed any film on the inside of your windows from the Armor-all? I used to use it on an older car I had and would get a light haze on the inside of the windows.

 

[Box Rocket]

No because I don't use the spray. I get the "baby-wipe" style canister.

 

[stevezero]

Use Stoner "Invisible Glass" instead of windex. That stuff is the bomb.

Here's my process when I get motivated. I have a POS $89.00 pressure washer I bought at Harbor Freight 6 years ago.

Simple green the engine bay. special attention paid to rad, trans cooler, oil cooler, condensor. Wash off using the widest spray pattern on the pressure washer (I can hold my hand in front of it, so its not painfully powerful)

Start truck and let idle while washing rest of car. Make sure door is unlocked prior to closing running vehicle.......

Some form of wheel cleaner. Spray on, let it sit while spraying other wheel on that side. Rinse wheel/tire with pressure washer. Spray inner fenderwell and move on to next wheel.

Go over entire vehicle with pressure washer to remove bird crap, bugs, schmap, etc..

Wash vehicle with rain-x car soap (had it for a while, it works pretty well).

I start at the roof, then windows/windshield, rinse

hood grille/bumper then rinse

side panel then rinse

rear panel then rinse

Use seperate mitt and go over wheels and rinse

Drive vehicle down 2 lane road at speeds at or around 60....this gets ride of most of the water. also gets it from the handles, door jambs etc. plus you get cooled down from the exercise..

dry off remainder of vehicle with absorber fake chamois.


I did the mothers clay bar thing for the first time last month. i was highly impressed.

Used mothers carnuba cleaner wax/polish that came with the kit. Has held up well. I have a crappy old orbital buffer. I do use fresh bonnets and wipe with a new microfiber cloth.

Eagle 1 tire wet on tires, running boards (need em for short wife/kid)..

Stoner "Invisible Glass" on all windows. Stuff is awesome

2 coats of Rain X

303 protectant on the dash and plastic trim. Stuff really works great on removing small scratch lines on the clear dash guage cover.

I've used Meguiars Leather wipes on my seats/trim. It worked ok.....


Here's mine after it got its trip to the beauty shop(aka the garage).

 

[Lka1988]

How 'bout the engine bay? I've pressure washed it several times this past week and STILL can't get all the mud out of it.

 

[slinger5150]

Processes, brands and gear will vary based on experience and preference. Most people will use random orbital buffers. There's less of a chance of burning the paint applying product with these. One thing to consider is size for manueverability and weight since you'll be holding this thing up along the side of the vehicle for some time. Some will use straight direct drive polishing wheels( NOT recommended unless you have alot of experience ). Also, have plenty of soft cotton towels/rags on hand.

1. Wash the vehicle good.
2. I use plain old $3-$4/gallon mineral spirits paint thinner to remove road tar. It cuts down the tar and has never removed paint. Laquer thinner, however, will most definitely remove your paint. Don't mistake these two.
3. Light duty paint cleaner to remove oxidation and scratches. Some use claybar. Again its a matter of preference.
4. Either a swirl remover or a polish to restore gloss and remove fine scratches.
5. Carnuba wax or paint sealant to seal off the surface. Again a matter of preference. I prefer paint sealant. On hot days you can see wax shifting on metal surface when you dry your car. Paint sealant tends to bond to the paint better. Don't forget to wax the doorjams.
6. Wash tires good with soap and water and apply any high gloss tire dressing of preference. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes and just remove any heavy excess. Usually the thicker the dressing is, the less likely it is to spray all over your rig as you drive away.
7. There's all sorts of dressings for dashs and seats. I prefer non-greasy stuff. That gloss can be blinding on the dash when it reflects off the windshield, and I don't like getting my arm all greasy on the center counsel. DO NOT apply any of these dressings to the plastic on your instrument cluster. That plastic scratches extremely easy.
8. Vacuum the seats and carpet. Then use a carpet shampoo or cleaner with a brush. Remove with wet-vac.
9. Don't forget to vacuum headliner. They do get dirty over time.
10. I have used engine cleaner @ power washes on the engine compartment before. I always bring along baggies and tape or aluminum foil. Any plugs, electronics, coils, distributor cap. Make sure you cover it. Otherwise you may be sitting at the carwash for a few hours waiting for whatever you got wet to dry out. Otherwise, I'd use plain old 409 or some other degreaser to clean up under the hood. You'll also need a couple of rolls of paper towels. Then you can go over stuff with Armor All if you want. Anything you armor all will attract dirt and dust like a magnet though.
11. I also wax all the painted metal under the hood. I'm really anal, but it makes cleaning it much easier down the road. You can just spray it down with water usually.


Again, I'm sure others will tell you differently. I didn't mention brands because there are lots of great products and equipment out there. Choose what works best for you and your budget.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

I pressure wash and use a Scotchbrite pad on the stubborn limb marks and scuffs.

 

[slinger5150]

Have you noticed any film on the inside of your windows from the Armor-all? I used to use it on an older car I had and would get a light haze on the inside of the windows.

The plastic used on dashes in cars give off some type of gas in the heat which causes that film on your windows.

 

[bkfj40]

I pressure wash and use a Scotchbrite pad on the stubborn limb marks and scuffs.

do you like the medium or fine scotchbrite pads?



bk

 

[TiredIronGRB]

The fine ones, the medium ones take off too much paint.

 

[OGBeno]

Uh...are we talking about Land Cruisers?

Detailing??????!!!!!!!

Umm.....aren't these supposed to be the most rugged vehicles around? Detailing is for pansies....

Rhinoliner for the inside; Rhinoliner for the outside. End of story.

 

[slinger5150]

Uh...are we talking about Land Cruisers?

Detailing??????!!!!!!!

Umm.....aren't these supposed to be the most rugged vehicles around? Detailing is for pansies....

Rhinoliner for the inside; Rhinoliner for the outside. End of story.

Don't let CDAN hear you saying that after all the work he just put into purtyin' up his rig!

 

[whosthecoolguy]

That's halarious.

Uh...are we talking about Land Cruisers?

Detailing??????!!!!!!!

Umm.....aren't these supposed to be the most rugged vehicles around? Detailing is for pansies....

Rhinoliner for the inside; Rhinoliner for the outside. End of story.

 

[OGBeno]

Don't let CDAN hear you saying that after all the work he just put into purtyin' up his rig!

I just visited and saw the rig. It does indeed look showroom/off-the-assembly-line beautiful.

That said, Cdan's got his own rig to love and detail. I have mine.

Right Dan?

 

[97lexus]

Do Not Use Armor-all It S####, Try Lexol Vinyl Spray On Man Made Surfaces, And Lexol Leather Conditioner On Leather.

 

[jgordon]

oh man, you 80 guys crack me up...

 

[Trunk Monkey]

oh man, you 80 guys crack me up...

And the 60's threads today are ALL tech. A sampling:

Any idea where I can get replacement "wood"
Where is the turn signal flasher? Any pics?

And peeps that can't use Google:
Phone number for Performance Radiator?

And racists:
White 60 owners... I need your help.

And 80 series wannabes:
FJ80 Tranny and X-fer into 62
Can we get a rig of the week, month? ROTW,ROTM?


Back to polishing . . .

 

[jgordon]

Hey man - if your wood went missing one day, you're telling me you wouldn't try to see what you could to about it?

And you guys have leather!