Eidolon Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I'm still using the Gen4 pads and older polishes, but they still work like a charm. Started before 11 AM today, wrapped up just before 8. I'd washed the car last night with APC + Adams car wash solution to strip any wax left on the finish. This morning I treated the rubber and plastics with SVRT and then clayed it using DS as lubricant. That was followed by a polish with FMP and the Flex using the Gen4 pads. I only had to break out the SHR for a few deeper scratches on the hood, plus a few random other spots. I'd only put 5000 miles on the car since the last polish, and I use the two-bucket wash method and keep it waxed relatively regularly, so it was in decent shape already. After the polish, I then topped it off with some Machine Super Sealant. I still intend to coat it with Brilliant Glaze and then Americana, which is why the side markers and grilles and whatnot aren't in; so I suppose these pics are a bit premature, but I loved the results and wanted to share, dangit!So without further ado... As always, thanks all for the help to get this stuff right. I used to use WAY too much polish and wax, such that it soaked all the way the through the polishing pad and soaked the polisher backing plate. Not even close this time, and the results were much easier to achieve. I'll follow up with more pics once I get the glaze and wax on and get the interior cleaned up! Mongosg8, Chewy, Redbeard and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Car looks great, but what's with the grill........or lack of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SYMAWD Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Car looks great, but what's with the grill........or lack of? From the first post: I still intend to coat it with Brilliant Glaze and then Americana, which is why the side markers and grilles and whatnot aren't in; so I suppose these pics are a bit premature, but I loved the results and wanted to share, dangit! Car looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDuff Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 G8 looks great Kevin. Man taking out the grille, side markers and hood pieces is getting really serious. Are they difficult to get out? I have thought about doing it in Spring when I bring mine out of storage, but I am afraid of breaking things or loosening them and they won't stay in tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eidolon Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) G8 looks great Kevin. Man taking out the grille, side markers and hood pieces is getting really serious. Are they difficult to get out? I have thought about doing it in Spring when I bring mine out of storage, but I am afraid of breaking things or loosening them and they won't stay in tight. Thanks! Removing the side markers is easy. They've got a plastic spring at the front and a hook at the back. Grasp the marker gently with both hands, slide it toward the front of the car, then pivot the back of the marker away from the car. Then disconnect the wire harness and you're done! It doesn't take any force at all. Removing the grilles is hard for some people, easy for others. Just depends on the car. Grasp the honeycomb firmly with both hands, then pull straight out away from the car, in the direction the car is pointing. Don't pull up and out in the direction the honeycomb is facing; straight out, in the direction the bumper surface is facing. For the hood scoops, you'll need to open the hood and pull the rubber covers off underneath. They just snap in via little molded hooks on the rubber itself, so they're easy to remove and reinstall. The hood scoops are harder. They're made of plastic, and they snap in with metal snaps that are slid onto the plastic tabs in the rear. So they latch in up front, rock in, and snap in the back. So you'll need to come in from underneath and press up with a finger while prying from the top. Honestly, the grilles and side markers - especially the side markers - are the low-hanging fruit that are worth bothering with. The hood scoops you can leave, since they're pretty easy to avoid. I removed them just because I could, knew how, and had done it before. Edited September 16, 2013 by Eidolon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eidolon Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 Alright, all done! Unfortunately, I ran out of light on the final exterior pics, so they're a little dim. The job wasn't perfect. A few tiny scratches left here and there. It's about the best I can do in my apartment complex garage, where I have three feet free on each side of the car. I need a house with a proper garage to do better, specifically with better positioning the lighting. Interior: Americana application in progress. Rear bumper and trunk are the only things left here. All done! .G.., Redbeard, ForceofWill and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris@Adams Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 She looks real good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksell87 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 A few tasteful mods on my dream G8. Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blcksilv08 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Very nice work, good looking g8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mongosg8 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Kevin it came out awesome man! Like I said in the other forum .. for being limited on space you did a kick *** job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Looks great Kevin! What's funny is I spend hours upon hours detailing my car and I don't enter it into the car show. My car is NO show car though. It's a driver. I do it because I like looking at it. lol I'm hoping we have another GONE next year... My car will be in a MUCH better place. lol We'll see you on Friday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Looking great! The G8 is still such a standout car IMO... wish the new Chevy SS looked a little more like the G8 did. Periodic, Redbeard, Ryans09G8 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE Mook Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Red is popping now! Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksell87 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 P.S. - What camera are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eidolon Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) Thanks, all! Looks great Kevin! What's funny is I spend hours upon hours detailing my car and I don't enter it into the car show. My car is NO show car though. It's a driver. I do it because I like looking at it. lol I'm hoping we have another GONE next year... My car will be in a MUCH better place. lol We'll see you on Friday! I do it for both, really. To show it off and because I like it clean. I can see clearly out of the front windshield now! It's great! Events like GONE give me the kick in the pants I need to get it done. Yup, see you on Friday! P.S. - What camera are you using? Canon 5D mkIII through a 50mm f/1.4 lens. Edited September 16, 2013 by Eidolon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Adam's Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Looks fantastic Kevin! A 5D mkIII?!? That's serious business! I have that lens and LOVE it, but it's on peasant-grade body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Stin Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Man, thats looks so good!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stenguyen1 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 i'm so jelly, which i had a gxp and had my paint like that. maybe after i get my front end fixed i will get myself a flex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GXPaycheck Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Looks good! You can do mine next ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnster Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Like the shine! Looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CooperS7777 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 That looks great man, such a beautiful car and an amazing job detailing it! Ive always had a soft spot for Pontiac! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDuff Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Kevin, is the gauge cluster above the center vents aftermarket? You gotta love the G8's especially when they are cleaned up and shining like this! I love mine!!! THE Mook 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garsnow Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Terrific job, it looks flawless. I love the look of it lowered on the OEM rims. The only thing I would change is to black out the front grille. Otherwise wise, it looks perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewy Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Kevins car is beautiful. He's got it lowered on a Pedders setup 2nd to none. I can only hope my car is half as nice as his in the future! Kevin is also a super cool down to earth guy which is always refreshing to see! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eidolon Posted October 7, 2013 Author Share Posted October 7, 2013 Thanks, all! Kevin, is the gauge cluster above the center vents aftermarket? You gotta love the G8's especially when they are cleaned up and shining like this! I love mine!!! It's sort of aftermarket. The gauge pod is imported from Oz through a guy named Paul (you can find him on GRRRR8.net or G8Board.com as HSV-GTS-300), and is made by Holden Special Vehicles. So it's OEM, but not stock. The gauges themselves are just Aeroforce Interceptors plugged into the OBDII port. Terrific job, it looks flawless. I love the look of it lowered on the OEM rims. The only thing I would change is to black out the front grille. Otherwise wise, it looks perfect Thanks! The ride can be punishing at times, but I, too, love the look. I've thought about blacking out the grille. I could try plastidip for a first go, I suppose. But long-term I'm just never happy with the look of plasti-dip. So that would mean going to a more permanent solution, and THAT's one of the things that keeps me from doing it. Chewy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now