40th Anni 370z - wash/clay/wax

adalsky · 03-20-2010, 03:44 PM

Hi folks. Was finally able to spend some time with the car. This process was done over three days after work before the sun went down.

I got the FinishKare "ABC" decontamination supplies delivered. I found the process a bit intimidating...so I only did the first step. I think I'll try all three on a different car.

Here's a shot of the step 1 mixed 4 parts water to 1 part #1119. If it's hard to see the liquid, it's because it's white like milk. It's petroleum based, so use a dedicated wash mitt if possible (I say this because the one I used now smells like gasoline...even after two laundry sessions).

I did maybe two panels before rinsing it off thoroughly. I then washed it 2 bucket style which resulted in these two pics:

and

I then dried and applied my Meguiar's Gold Class paste wax.

After removing the wax, I tucked it into the garage for the night:

Day 2

I bought wheel locks with the car, but hadn't put them on yet. So I thought it was a good time to pull the wheels. Once off, I cleaned the wells with water and an old mf. I then dressed the plastics with 303 Aerospace. I waxed the calipers. I washed, clayed, and waxed the wheels.

The rear wheel dirty and without any locking lugs:

Wheel removed:

Dirty plastic:

Dirty caliper:

Wheel well and components all clean:

Dirty wheel... I wasn't impressed with the "paint-job" on these wheels. The face is painted the same as the car. The inside is painted black and you can see they didn't paint the back of the spokes or inner rim. Seems lazy :sadwavey:

Meguiar's Wheel Brightener dwelling (don't let it dry!):

Wheel clayed and dried. Super smooth since they only have 30 odd miles on them:

Wheel waxed and ready for install:

Wheel installed with locking lug:

Day 3

Dirty front wheel well:

Clean:

Wheel washed/clayed/waxed and installed with locking lug:

Cleaned up the engine
Before:

After (I know, subtle difference):

Next up...clear bra installed. Pics will follow.

Thanks for looking!

djpathfinder · 03-20-2010, 04:10 PM

Super clean and shiny! Don't you wish it could stay like that forever?

LiquidZ · 03-20-2010, 04:41 PM

Nice attention to detail!

adalsky · 03-20-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

Super clean and shiny! Don't you wish it could stay like that forever?

Yes I do! That's mostly the reason I'm trying this "clear bra" thing. I'm going to get it covered door sill to antenna.

djpathfinder · 03-20-2010, 06:32 PM

At this year's local car show one vendor's booth had a black GT-R completely covered with that 3M stuff. Another option is vinyl wrapping, which will protect from light scratches but with such a nice quartz color, it's such a bad idea. :-)

LateralG'z · 03-20-2010, 06:38 PM

nice ride

djpathfinder · 03-20-2010, 06:46 PM

You'll turn a lot of heads driving up to a location shoot for sure...I'm a photographer as well. The only thing that'll suck is not having much room to bring much more than the basic lighting gear to a shoot in the 370z. Itlooks like trunk space is less than a 350z with its higher load floor. Part and parcel for such a car. But you'll look awesome pulling up anyway. :-)

mick · 03-20-2010, 06:51 PM

wow. i am so impressed with the work you did on the wheels. such a perfectionist

adalsky · 03-21-2010, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

You'll turn a lot of heads driving up to a location shoot for sure...I'm a photographer as well. The only thing that'll suck is not having much room to bring much more than the basic lighting gear to a shoot in the 370z. Itlooks like trunk space is less than a 350z with its higher load floor. Part and parcel for such a car. But you'll look awesome pulling up anyway. :-)

Funny - I'll try to leave the strobes at home. Just roll out with a tripod and a bounce. Everything else will be left up to luck. - Adam

dropped1 · 03-21-2010, 07:22 AM

Wow...looks great. Awesome job on the wheels! You just used gold class on the wheels as well?

radio5boro · 03-21-2010, 08:40 AM

damn this thread is reminding me of how lazy ive gotten with my z.

cdawg410 · 03-21-2010, 09:40 AM

Hell, I don't even was my body if I have that little dirt on me, let alone wash and wax my car if it has that little dirt on it. You my friend, are OCD...... and I like it!!! Looks great.

adalsky · 03-21-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropped1

Wow...looks great. Awesome job on the wheels! You just used gold class on the wheels as well?

Yeah, I'm trying to slowly improve my collection. So maybe some Poorboys wheel sealant autogeek when I get the money.

Ni55anPat · 03-21-2010, 11:39 AM

who u taking ur car for the clear bra?

adalsky · 03-21-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ni55anPat

who u taking ur car for the clear bra?

I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning. Tim at MotoFX (formerly Plastic Surgeons...get it?). I'll do a right up of the results with before and afters. Stay tuned

03-20-2010, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
adalsky Base Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 53 Drives: 10 370z 40th Ann. Rep Power: 15	40th Anni 370z - wash/clay/wax Hi folks. Was finally able to spend some time with the car. This process was done over three days after work before the sun went down. I got the FinishKare "ABC" decontamination supplies delivered. I found the process a bit intimidating...so I only did the first step. I think I'll try all three on a different car. Here's a shot of the step 1 mixed 4 parts water to 1 part #1119. If it's hard to see the liquid, it's because it's white like milk. It's petroleum based, so use a dedicated wash mitt if possible (I say this because the one I used now smells like gasoline...even after two laundry sessions). I did maybe two panels before rinsing it off thoroughly. I then washed it 2 bucket style which resulted in these two pics: and I then dried and applied my Meguiar's Gold Class paste wax. After removing the wax, I tucked it into the garage for the night: Day 2 I bought wheel locks with the car, but hadn't put them on yet. So I thought it was a good time to pull the wheels. Once off, I cleaned the wells with water and an old mf. I then dressed the plastics with 303 Aerospace. I waxed the calipers. I washed, clayed, and waxed the wheels. The rear wheel dirty and without any locking lugs: Wheel removed: Dirty plastic: Dirty caliper: Wheel well and components all clean: Dirty wheel... I wasn't impressed with the "paint-job" on these wheels. The face is painted the same as the car. The inside is painted black and you can see they didn't paint the back of the spokes or inner rim. Seems lazy :sadwavey: Meguiar's Wheel Brightener dwelling (don't let it dry!): Wheel clayed and dried. Super smooth since they only have 30 odd miles on them: Wheel waxed and ready for install: Wheel installed with locking lug: Day 3 Dirty front wheel well: Clean: Wheel washed/clayed/waxed and installed with locking lug: Cleaned up the engine Before: After (I know, subtle difference): Next up...clear bra installed. Pics will follow. Thanks for looking!

03-20-2010, 04:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	Super clean and shiny! Don't you wish it could stay like that forever? __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

03-20-2010, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
LiquidZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,940 Drives: Mag. Black 2009 370Z Rep Power: 704	Nice attention to detail! __________________

03-20-2010, 06:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	At this year's local car show one vendor's booth had a black GT-R completely covered with that 3M stuff. Another option is vinyl wrapping, which will protect from light scratches but with such a nice quartz color, it's such a bad idea. :-) __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

03-20-2010, 06:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
LateralG'z Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 876 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 16	nice ride __________________ 2010 Mag Black, 6MT,

03-20-2010, 06:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	You'll turn a lot of heads driving up to a location shoot for sure...I'm a photographer as well. The only thing that'll suck is not having much room to bring much more than the basic lighting gear to a shoot in the 370z. Itlooks like trunk space is less than a 350z with its higher load floor. Part and parcel for such a car. But you'll look awesome pulling up anyway. :-) __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

03-20-2010, 06:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
mick Track Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Posts: 903 Drives: Used to drive a 370z Rep Power: 16	wow. i am so impressed with the work you did on the wheels. such a perfectionist

03-21-2010, 07:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
dropped1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: VA Beach Posts: 302 Drives: SOLD 40th Z #104 Rep Power: 258	Wow...looks great. Awesome job on the wheels! You just used gold class on the wheels as well?

03-21-2010, 08:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
radio5boro Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 158 Drives: 09 MBlue 370z 6MT Rep Power: 16	damn this thread is reminding me of how lazy ive gotten with my z.

03-21-2010, 09:40 AM	#12 (permalink)
cdawg410 Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: alexandria, va Posts: 238 Drives: 2009 370z Rep Power: 16	Hell, I don't even was my body if I have that little dirt on me, let alone wash and wax my car if it has that little dirt on it. You my friend, are OCD...... and I like it!!! Looks great.

03-21-2010, 11:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
Ni55anPat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,831 Drives: Zed Rep Power: 18	who u taking ur car for the clear bra?

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