Obsessive detailing - what have you done?
 

I thought I'd start a thread to see some examples of what some may call obsessive or even pointless detailing, here's mine to kick it off.

When I recently took my rear bumper off to re-install one of the aftermarket parking sensors I had fitted that had come loose, I took the opportunity to thoroughly clean and polish the bumper's inside. It's something that will never be seen, I can't even use the excuse that it will prevent corrosion as its plastic, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that the whole of the bumper sparkles rather than just it's outside and looks as good as when it left the factory.

Looking forward to seeing your examples of what you've done to yours.

(Apologies for the large size of the photo, its the first one I've ever posted)

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...1&d=1514862899

Nothing wrong with that Jim :} I suppose you could ask the same about engine cleaning as 99% of the time no one else will see what's under the bonnet. I obsessively try to keep mine clean(ish), personal pride I suppose ;)

I take off my wheels, clean the inside of each one AND the tyre rubber on the inside.

And I'm running Crowns at the moment so it's not as if any of my effort is on show !

Happy New Year all

John

All sounds very sensible to me :icon_lol:.

I take all 4 wheels off every 4 weeks or so to clean the backs, as well as the arch liners, calipers etc. The battery box gets taken out twice a year so I can clean enderneath and around it.

What we do may seem obsessive to some, but that's why it's called detailing I suppose :icon_lol:.

Cliff

You can tell a car that's been detailed over a car that's been valeted.

Your car and if it makes you happy (I find it very therapeutic) then its great plus keeping a modern classic in tip top condition

Everything behind the front bumper

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...scur5vfah.jpeg

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...su0rzegw0.jpeg

Nothing wrong with an obsessive hobby. If it makes you feel good do it. If you really want to feel good get those photos posted up so we can all gloat and wish we had done the same as you. Its great to read and here about how folk look after their pride and joy.

Any excuse for a few photos :icon_lol:.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4358/...c4b3025a_b.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4235/...a15863ed_b.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4215/...f2ba3a4c_b.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4264/...f8d01654_b.jpg

Cliff

And engine bay in general

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...pslxu0tevt.jpg

Even the daily gets it

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...psaypjefb5.jpg

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...pscypky2eu.jpg

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...psgao9fjto.jpg


http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...psuosuzocy.jpg


http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...psfxvzxe7c.jpg

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...psvdoxbnml.jpg

Lovely, just as it should be! :icon_lol:

Very impressive :bowdown:

Cliff

Love those photos, let's keep this thread going with more examples.

I too just like Les with his V8 polished up the crash bar at the front when I had the bumper off there, next time I take the bumper off I'll take a photo and post it. It had a dull, mottled, oxidised look, now it gleams! Another one of my pointless (but hugely satisfying) detailing results that I had partaken on my 1.8 which is why I've just taken the decision to withdraw from sale, I've put so much into it.

I've started doing the same to my newly purchased 2.5 which has had a harder life and will take a lot more effort, I can and have improved her a lot but still a long, long way to go.

Autoglymed the inside of my newly refurbished wheels before the tyres were fitted (much to the disgust of the tyre fitter, struggling to keep a hold of them!).:icon_redface:

Some photos of my ZTT, the photo with the header tank in the original yellow plastic was not long after I got my ZTT before I started the proper detailing.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...p.jpg~original

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...t.jpg~original

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...d.jpg~original

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...f.jpg~original

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...a.jpg~original

For Les4048
What do you use to get windscreen grille panels so shiney?

Autoglym plastic and rubber cleaner then a light spray with silicon to get that lovely shine

I forgot to add one photo, showing the brake calliipers and rear wheel spindles which I have painted.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...1.jpg~original

OK, today I washed in between the framework of the fuel filler flap with a toothbrush, after first removing it from the car, this was after removing all of the external chrome trims, wheel arch liners, bumpers and front wings, in order to give the car a good clean.

On the interior, I removed the door cards so I could vacuum inside the doors, and remove the side glasses to clean the parts you normally can't see.

Oh, and I removed the drivers door lock, took all of the tumblers from the barrel, washed and reassembled it, finishing off by polishing the stainless spring loaded flap, then refitting the escutcheon.

Does that count as excessive to anyone :shrug:

Brian :D

I knew you were a stickler for doing things right Bri, but have you been spending too much time with Stu?:D:D:getmecoat:;) No offence Stu lol

I bet you never cleaned behind the wheel nuts ! Tut tut Brian, a bit slack lol

Nope, definitely not, the standard we should all strive for! That is what detailing is all about. I wish I had some of you guys' confidence and ability to really take things apart and know they'd not break or would go back in the right place properly, then there'd be no stopping me.

Keep those posts coming please, with photos if possible, they really inspire me and I'm sure others.

:eek: I wouldn't have used a tooth brush - way too harsh. :D

Cliff

Obsessive
 

Did this a couple of years ago to the front end of the ZT

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/...o.jpg~original

and also had the slam panel stipped and powder coated

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/...e.jpg~original

Stu

I know exactly what you mean. Engine cover, air cleaner and battery box is about as far as I dare go in the engine bay :o:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/...2fcabcce_b.jpg

It all helps though, and every 6 years I pay a visit to Lates to get the belts done. While he's doing them, I take the opportunity to clean some of the parts that get removed in the process :}.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4396/...29ddba41_b.jpg


That's stunning and is something I'd love to do. I've wet sanded and polished mine, but the paint seems very thin and to do a proper job needs your approach :bowdown:. Getting it off would be no problem, but what about alignment with the bonnet catches when refitting? I'm fearfull that the bonnett would close, never to re-open :o.

Cliff

Obsessive
 

Cliff

Quite easy, just mark where everything is with a bit of masking tape first, and measure height of crash beam before removing. Hardest part when I did mine was removing the little bolts from the radiator clips had to cut the plastic clips, then was able to get a set of mole grips on them and got new clips and bolts, and when re-assembled, put copper slip on them, and also used the old that were in slam panel, and put them back in panel that way the bolts were done and did not have to re-tap the threads. I am possibly going to get the ZTT slam panel and all the underside brackets on Gruple done in the next few months

Stu

PS that engine bay of your looks better every time I see it

Cheers Stu. Who knows, maybe when the warmer weather is here I'll be brave and have a go :}.

Cliff

No, I did that today Les, after I took the tyres off to clean the wheela ;)

However the parts I ordered last week arrived, so you can guess what is next on the list for the ZT :getmecoat:

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...1&d=1515090908

LINK

Brian :D

On the subject of clean cleaning,just purchased some interior sandstone panels, Gave them a clean ready for fitting,not looking too bad,but what would be recommended for really, really, cleaning.:} Don't want to use something too harsh.

Baby wipes are a good start.

Vanish soap bar is good for interior stuff:cool:

I have seen Vanish soap bars mentioned a few times but can never see them in the shops.
Can somebody please post a picture so that I know what I am looking for?
Cheers.

One of the things I have used on hard vinyl to remove stubborn marks with success if conventional cleaners haven't worked is a Flash Magic Eraser from Poundland or Poundworld, can't remember which, for you guessed it, a pound!

Pink and blue box with the word “ Vanish” on it. They do loads of products but I think the Magic Eraser is the one most people talk about

Wow,

What do you use to clean under the arches?

I use an All Purpose Cleaner, Surfex HD from Bilt Hamber, diluted at different strengths (dependent on what it's being used for) and sprayed on, left to dwell for 5 minutes and worked in with a soft bristled brush, then rinsed off.

As well as the wheel arches, it can also be used to clean and degrease engine bays, door shuts, behind the fuel cover etc. and is safe on paintwork as well as plastics.

If your arch liners are badly scratched or stained and don't clean up as well as you'd hoped, another trick is a quick coat of Halfords tyre paint after a thorough clean. I wouldn't use it on my tyres (much better products for that), but it will make even the tattiest of arch liners look good. :}

Cliff

Be very careful with Magic Eraser sponges. They are highly abrasive at a microscopic level so over-enthusiastic use can cause damage.

I use Autosmart G101, spray it on, use a small long handled brush i got years ago from Adsa to clean them then jetwash off. Dress the plastics with either Autosmart finish or fusion. Once a year, normally March or April wheels off to give a deep clean.

Now this is what you want for a detailing day :drool4:

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/a...1&d=1515612760

Brian :D

Nice Mini........shame about the sponge :D

Thanks for that!
I have ordered now off the Bay after having no luck at Asda, Tesco, Wilko and Home Bargains.

Don't forget about detailing the rear end guys and gals 😎😁😁https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...53cbb884cd.jpg

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

That really is showing off - love it. :bowdown::bowdown:

Cliff

:eek::eek::eek:

:bowdown: Rich that is truly outstanding.
As your "up for polishing" when are you coming down to do ours :D

thanks cliff :D

The ZT-T 400 isn’t too shabby underneath too



http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/...suj1ikpna.jpeg

Before the hand wash, I'd recommend Iron fall-out remover is applied to the wheels and bottom half of the body, this will remove the bonded contaminants that a clay bar is unable to remove. After claying I then re-wash the car.

Hi Cliff,

The V6 engine was recently out of its bay and a toothbrush would have come in handy detailing and scrubbing it up. Unfortunately I wasn’t there at the time. I wanted to ask you how you keep your alternator casing looking so gleaming?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...252CEA8B2C.jpg

:eek::eek: That looks scary Phil. Glad it all came good in the end though :}.

Alternator is just metal polish, wire wool, and a little bit of patience. Easy compared to what you have jus had done :bowdown:.

Cliff

Thanks Cliff :} :}

I was facing a dilemma as a result of a cracked camshaft. I could not find a used one. A new one was not available. The options were repair or scrap. As you know, I ended up getting an identical donor V6 with 30K less mileage on the engine.

One of the gurus sent a pm and said I should strip the donor engine down and transfer the parts over to the 20 year old V6 (21 in October) and if I didn’t, I may live to regret it. How does one answer a message like that? He meant well.

This week, I am having to replace tyres, brake parts and an ABS sensor. So far this year I have spent over £1000 on repairs using the club. Had the members not helped, I suspect the S reg would no longer be here.

At a recent classic car show saw a mini owner cleaning the inside of the exhaust, and black the tyres even on the tread, anybody else done that ?

It was this car:

https://i.imgur.com/HUdOOVqh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Jr6NLDgh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sOJQEM9h.jpg

Nice engine bay on this Jag too:

https://i.imgur.com/dROK2MXh.jpg

why oh why did I poke my nose in here, off to have a look on DW now

I have recently started proper cleaning on my car which I have owned for just over a week. The passenger door was the culprit. I opened it to clean the chrome trim on the sil and looked at the hinges. To my horror they were covered in thick black nastiness.

Out came the rags and a soft plastic brush (like a wire brush but not).
30 minutes later the passenger side was clean with a pile of dirt on the floor next to the car. I forgot to take a photo but I will and then compare to the drivers side.

Next target will be the drivers side hinges then the engine bay and my lack of knowledge on how and what to clean. I also need a new left hand plenum cover and an engine tray underneath, mine was half destroyed and filthy.

Onwards...

I once washed and cleaned a fuel burning heater in the kitchen sink at 03:00 in the morning before fitting it later that day?!?

Your crazier than I first thought Andy 😬😁

It has been said on a few occasions mate, I have a tendancy to clean unseen stuff and leave the visible parts :duh:

Was the dishwasher full then Andy? :D:getmecoat:

my word ..i need to get my ducks in a row .

your a legend .
that's incredible, i am at the fun stage of my restoration tomorrow i install the torpedo badges and d pillar rover badges :bowdown:and sort out the clear coat scratches .
now i have a bench mark .


thanks



rob

I have done that before! The dishwasher brought up a pair of KV6 cam covers like they were new.

Hence the reason we dont have a dishwasher (well not one that runs on electric)

I used to keep a bar in the pocket of my camoflaged jacket...... but I cant find it! boom boom.

I'll get my (other) coat!

I need a lesson
 

In these Corona times I've just gone through this thread...I take pride in keeping my car's clean but this is to a whole different level :bowdown::bowdown:

I've been fortunate to see one or two of these cars at shows and they are stunning.

I did get someone, I think a judge at an Essex meet pouring over my Tahiti blue 75, looked over everything,then opened the fuel filler cap...then walked off without a word :getmecoat:. I thought I was going to get a prize ��☹️

The engine bay is the one I'd really like help with. Especially getting the metal finish gleaming up like that. I've got plenty of decent product ..but I haven't got the confidence to do a machine polish either.

When we get on the other side of this I'd really appreciate it if I could visit one of you guys.
A proper valet tutorial.:}

All the best
Paul

All the information you need ( and much more!) on the " Detailing World " forums but enter at your peril !!!