FXR500

I took "Vanessa" out for a run to Shiner, Texas with the wife today. Beautiful day with my beautiful wife and a fast car. When we got home, I had to give her (Vanessa, not the wife) a quick bath in some Adams. About an hour later, I'm thinking a little Brilliant Glaze in the garage would be a good idea. Next thing you know, we have a nice new coat of Patriot and Vanessa looks dripping wet.

What a good day.

Wow, if I was going to start over and get them in order, that would be tough. Here's my list:

1) shampoo, got to start off clean

2) APC, more clean in the rest of the places. This stuff cleans the trim, wheel wells, under hood, anything.

3) Leather conditioner. This stuff smells incredible, and I'm addicted.

4) Detail spray, assuming you've waxed it, this stuff works as a drying agent or a Detailer.

5) SVRT takes care of all the rubber, trim, and plastic. There's no sling and it looks great.

Now your naked, clean, and the basic trim covered, it time to shine:

6) HGG, not in order of application, but this will give you a sealant and shine quick and easy. If you buy more of the list, do this later.

7) Glaze, if you don't machine polish this will still bring out the shine.

8) full machine assult. I would get the two step polish and finishing polish with pads and machine (biggest investment). I've done the hand polish, and gotten results, but they don't compare to a machine. Get the best you can and practice. Lower end machines just take more time and patience.

9) Liquid Sealant. Once you've polished, it only makes sense to finish the job.

10) Quick sealant, this covers 90% of the rest of it. I do wheels, grilles, and random trim/under hood with the Quick Sealant.

11) Wax. I've used them all. The Patriot is awesome, but only my garage queens get that. The outdoor rides stop at sealant and a rare buttery wax.

I just realized that I didn't mention microfiber. You have to have good microfiber, or you are wasting time from the beginning. Make that a prerequisite.

I have all the Adam's stuff. There's not a bad product in the bunch. I just tried to put them in "budget order" if there is such a thing. Sooner or later, you'll just buy them all. Have fun!

Yup, I've mixed up the Total Interior Detailer and Glass Cleaner before. It all worked out.

I can't really add to The Shine Doc's wisdom, but I prefer the wet method too. On my F150 Screw, I usually only make it about halfway though. I get the hood, roof, and only part of the vertical surfaces before it gets too dry. I have taken to a quick dry on the sides, then the HGG on the hood and roof using the wet method. Then I come back with the dry method for the sides.

All the Mustangs are small enough, I get them all done wet.

FYI - my truck is black and I live in Texas, so YMMV.

[Two tries to get my wet/dry right...]

That looks great. I think the blue looks deeper and richer than most of the GB I see. I'm also a fan of those wheels, are they the 702's?

So I tried this on my black F150 DD. I'm convinced this stuff is awesome. Not only did it go on quick and easy, making a great shine, but it seems to repel the recent rain water better. I'm having fewer spots and better shine on a "dirty" truck. The follow up washes are quicker, and the dirt is sticking less than with the other two sealants. This is going to be a regular on all the cars that sleep outside. Glad I bought the gallon.

True, but I was really feeling the love when my son and I washed two cars this morning and it was 70* and sunny out. I'm glad I don't live in Buffalo.

It isn't perfect, but I cleaned up the engine bay of my daily driver F-150 this morning.

I used APC full strength and some old brushes. It took a couple of passes to get the majority of the grime off. Once it was clean and dry, I hit the big plastic and hoses with some VRT milk.

Welcome. I like the cars too. I haven't seen too many grabber blue with the performance pack. I'm looking forward to seeing more after a detail.

GTO Judge

... and for the finale, we gave her a coat of Quick Sealant to keep the shine going...

That's about all the patience my son had before he just had to hit the streets.

... then on to the good part, a two bucket strip wash with Adam's Car Shampoo and a little APC, a clay session with the new Clay Bar, and then another quick two bucket wash with the Car Shampoo...

and then on to Deep Wheel Cleaner, APC for the tires and wheels wells...

I was amazed that there wasn't any bleed out, I even tried some on the trunk, and nothing there.

I cleaned up the engine bay first...

We picked up a new Mustang for my son, an early graduation present.  We convinced the salesman that we really didn't want them to clean it up for us.  We were lucky that it had just arrived, and although it was covered in mud and dust, it had never been subjected to the power wash and brush that normally happens.

Here are a few of it before the 1st wash.

Good luck, and thanks for all the great tips and tricks.

Hall pass

True.

The next person is planning a trip to Vegas.

13" round tvs, black and white of course.

quart  oil cans with the stick in spout.

Firestone red line tires.

Goodyear blue streaks.

dimmer switches on the floorboards.

starter switches on the floorboard.

$.25 cigarettes.

ovaltine.

chrome wheels with baby moons.

Even my kids like the ovaltine. That stuff rocks.

Welcome. I'm a fan of white for a daily driver that sleeps outside. The trick is Adam's. That'll make it pop.

Shown around

Around town

Out back

For now

Plate lunch