Wes_R x GTR (82 pics)

[Wes_R]

Hey Audiziners,

It's been awhile since my last write up here http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/409498-Wes_R-Testarossa-126-pics but I have been a little busy.



I had spoken to this owner over the span of a year and we had finally set up a date to 2 stage polish this Solid Red GT-R some time in the beginning of August. The car was a garage queen and the swirling was not so bad... actually one of the better condition GT-Rs I had worked on but we wanted to get a 9, 9.5 out of 10 correction so we agreed on a 2 stage polish.







Moving on to the write up here is the first walk around the car.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/2.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/3.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/4.jpg

Already noticed a buffer trail that needed to be corrected
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/5.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/6.jpg



As usual starting with the rims, I cleaned the face and behind with a microfiber wash mitt
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/7.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/8.jpg

Used my brush to clean the calipers
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/9.jpg

A stiff brush to clean the tire wall
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/10.jpg

And my EZ Brush to clean the inner barrel
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/11.jpg



The wheel wells were cleaned also with APC and a curved handle brush
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/12.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/13.jpg



The exhaust was not to bad and was sort of an easy clean up
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/14.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/15.jpg



Moving on to the engine, it was not at all in bad shape but just a little dusty and could use a quick clean up and dressing to make it look new again
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/19.jpg

Dusty
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/20.jpg

All clean and dressed up
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/21.jpg

Artsy Fartsy shot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/22.jpg

Stop lying
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/23.jpg



I pulled out another detail brush and took care of the tight areas like the vents etc
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/18.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/16.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/17.jpg



Finally getting onto the wash stage the car was foamed down
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/24.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/25.jpg

While the car was foaming I realized I had forgotten to clean the gas tank
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/29.jpg

[Wes_R]

I 2 Bucket Method washed the car with my natural sea sponge
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/26.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/27.jpg

And rinsed off my sponge in the water only bucket after every panel or half a panel

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/28.jpg



Then dried the car with a plush microfiber towel
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/30.jpg



Brought the car in to clay
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/31.jpg

And it was not in bad shape at all
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/32.jpg



After the claying I measured the paint to see what levels I was working with
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/33.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/34.jpg

I found a section that was repainted and learned that the car had come with a huge scratch from the factory and this section was repainted under warranty which I guess also explains the buffer trail I first noticed
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/35.jpg

repaint
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/36.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/37.jpg



I masked all the rubber trim
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/38.jpg



And now could begin polishing. The combo I opted for was Menzerna SIP with a Orange Lake Country Pad on a Makita rotary. Here are the befores and afters of a few panels

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/39.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/40.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/41.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/42.jpg

A quick shot of yours truly polishing
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/43.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/44.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/45.jpg

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/46.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/47.jpg



I alcohol wiped down the car and begin to prepare for the 2nd stage of polishing. The paint was already shining very well but I wanted to push the gloss a little higher so I jeweled the paint with Menzerna Po85RD a white Lake Country pad and my Flex3401.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/48.jpg

Here is a the gloss I was achieving with this combination
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/49.jpg



I gave the paint a 2nd and final alcohol wipe down to clean off the polishing oils then unmasked the car
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/51.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/52.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/50.jpg

[Wes_R]

After unmasking and cleaning off the polishing oils I inspected the paint with my 3M Sun Gun which omits the same spectrum light as the sun.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/60.jpg

Perfect
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/61.jpg



I had to take another shot of the gloss, and this was with no wax on, only polishing
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/62a.jpg



Wax of the day was Swissvax Concorso
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/53.jpg

Applied
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/54.jpg



While the wax was curing I attended to other areas like putting Poor Boys Wheel Sealant on the rims and exhaust
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/57.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/58.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/59.jpg

Here are a couple after pics of the exhaust
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/55.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/56.jpg

And I cleaned the windows with my Glass Master Pro.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/62.jpg

[Wes_R]

Unfortunately it had rained but I got a small window to quickly take a few after shots which I don't think turned out that bad and actually it was kind of cool to still see the paint looking very glossy on a cloudy day

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/65.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/66.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/67.jpg

The gloss was looking very nice in this pic
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/69.jpg

Some nice reflections
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/75.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/68.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/74.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/72.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/73.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/71.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/76.jpg

I liked the reflection in this shot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/77.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/79.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/78.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/81.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/80.jpg

And to complete the walk around
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/64.jpg



Finally my last 2 favorite pics
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/70.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/domsgtr/63.jpg



Not wanting to push my luck with the rain I quickly put away the GT-R in the garage.

Hope you enjoyed the write up and seeing the different steps of the detail.

Best regards!
Wes