TimH

Just a quick tip, if you are not sure or if it is a bigger item look up the parts you plan on debadging and make sure there is no hole behind it. If you don't do this, you're gonna have a bad time.

 

Oh and 20-pound test fishing line wrapped round a couple of pencils can help get badges off after you heat them up. Just get it under the badge and move it in a sawing motion. It takes time but is fairly safe from causing damage to the paint below. Anything left can be removed with a little heat and APC.

Thanks.....Im gonna wait for it to warm up a little bit then give it a go.  

Having not seen the interior, it's hard to recommend anything. APC is really meant for harder areas of the car. I'd use LIC and the carpet and upholstery cleaner and see where you end up.

Carpet & Upholstery cleaner is good stuff!!

Will do.....This first order is going to be a few hundred dollars I'm afraid..........

Steam the bejesus out of it!

 

If you need any motivation for gross cars, look at the write-up I did HERE

Mine is dirtier than that.......I haven't found any spider eggs, wasp nests or frogs yet though.

The truck is a 2011, so the badges and stickers have been there a bit.  The truck has previously been kept in a garage but who knows how difficult it will be.

Never considered using a clay bar to help soak up the adhesive.  The eraser wheel just scares me to look at.  Heat gun......heck no....wouldn't trust myself.

She doesn't live here.....hasn't for sometime.

So would you just get after it on the inside with the all purpose cleaner to do the initial cleaning?  1:1 or dilute it ?  Same with all the vinyl surfaces?

All the videos show cars that are already very clean.......I didn't think it would necessarily apply.

Alright.....3 X Sierra, 1 GMC badges, 1 dealer sticker and 2 Z85 stickers.......Ill get my hair dryer, fishing line and goo gone ready.....

I'm looking for tips/products and ideas as I begin attempting to reclaim this vehicle.........and learn a little bit about detailing.  I thought this would be an excellent vehicle to start with because if I did mess something up it couldn't really be any worse than it is right now.  On the interior (the exterior is a another post......good lord  ), the vinyl dash and doors has a textured light grey and black coverings.  In most spots the light grey matches the black......the seats have ground in dirt, the console between the seats is a health hazard (seriously around the emergency brake is something to behold) and the vinyl floor is a heck of a mess.  There used to be mats on the floor but they disappeared and the dirt is just ground in especially on the drivers side.

I need to get passed being pissed off because that is doing nothing..........the car has set in the garage almost undriven since August.  My wife will drive it some but not that often.  I can't because I only get mad when I open the door.   I just don't get it.......we are very neat and tidy people.    I would post pics, but I am to ashamed.

The Element is a 2007 with less than 60,000 miles on it and runs like a top.  

Any thoughts, tips etc would be appreciated.  

Thanks....looks great.  Btw.....I'm digging on that hitch cover....

I'm interested in your thoughts on debadging my truck.  I absolutely hate the Z85 stickers on the Sierra.  I also thought maybe the truck would have a much cleaner look without the Sierra logos on the doors and tailgate. The truck is a daily driver, so it's no big deal but I just thought I would throw it out there.  Thanks.

  What an awful fate you've suffered ending up in Bloomington.  

It's not so bad.............sometimes.  I did graduate from IU and came back to town about 10 years ago. 

Welcome Tim. I see another addiction developing.

Let's see, I finished cleaning out the upstairs garage so that I could pull my vehicles in and wash them inside .......gonna put the drain  and the hot/cold running water to use.  I also had my security officer get me a key and and the code for the auto shop at the career center......lots of room, compressed air, power, water and two vehicle lifts in there.  Uh, i now have active user id's on three detailing forums......I have orders pending at all three of the sites as well.......hawking discount codes.  Two bucket washes?  Who knew?.....apparently everyone but me since I've watched a ton of videos.......one was a 5 part video on just washing your vehicle.  I've read extensively on the  Porter Cable 7424XP........addiction?.........naw.......issues?.......probably.

New lurker from Bloomington, IN.  Have always been somewhat particular in keeping my vehicles clean and serviceable.  Interested in learning how to reclaim a 2007 honda element (50,000 miles)of ours that my daughter abused for two years and keeping my 2011 Sierra daily driver looking good......black with the chrome package......I really like my truck.  I keep a few motorcycles, mostly dual sports.....I like them too.

I enjoy Junkman's videos, as much for the entertainment value as for the educational component.  Plus, I'm prior military and I think I read that Junkman is in Louisville, KY and I'm originally from Bardstown, KY. so there are just somethings he says that makes sense and are entertaining to boot.  

I would like to learn how to not only maintain the finishes of the vehicles but improve them as well. I enjoy reading all the posts here and watching the videos......probably gonna pull the trigger and start buying some products and getting started.