Today I did some detailing...

Cass · 01-07-2021 2:48pm

At 17 years old the expression "putting lipstick on a pig" comes to mind but after i resprayed my bumper I decided to give the old girl a bit of a detail.

A simple paint correction with a medium cutting compound, followed by finishing stage, and gloss. In some places I used a more aggresive cutting compound (Menzerna 400 or 1000) but overall there were no major issues.

The bonnet does need a respray. The stone chips, while some say they're subtle, are an eyesore to me so like with the bumper I'll respray the bonnet to remove them properly.

Due to being a fat git, and having a slight disability I'm limited at getting to some areas (kneeling/sitting) so be gentle.

myshirt · 01-07-2021 4:49pm

Looks really really well Cass.

punisher5112 · 01-07-2021 5:11pm

Cass that's looking very fresh, I know I know a lot including myself put down Opel's but they did do some cool cars....
Favourite been the 3.2 V6 omegas
Vectra OPC and vxr Sri was nice too
Astra OPC
These were cool cars to drive.

Wrote of an ex rental 1.8 standard Vectra, Christ the handling on it was so bad it would lose its tail on roundabouts not even pushing it, that should have given me the warning but hell black ice took it out down in Wexford, not one of the 8 airbags worked.... Car destroyed.

Vegeta · 01-07-2021 5:18pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

not one of the 8 airbags worked

Holy crap that's mental :eek:

ILikeBoats · 02-07-2021 9:10am

punisher5112 wrote: »

Cass that's looking very fresh, I know I know a lot including myself put down Opel's but they did do some cool cars....
Favourite been the 3.2 V6 omegas
Vectra OPC and vxr Sri was nice too
Astra OPC
These were cool cars to drive.

An Astra OPC passed me yesterday in that blue colour, still looks good

Cass · 02-07-2021 2:25pm

Never an idle day.

I had some paint leftover after doing the bumper so I took the notion to take off the rocker cover and paint it black. I also took out the battery cover and air breather cover, but due to the "stippling" nature of the covers I washed them with degreaser, then isopropyl alcohol and when dried used a plastic regenerator.

I finshed it with some clearcoat I also had mixed after the bumper so gave all three items a few coats of clear to prtect them.

In hindisght I think I should have gone through the trouble of sanding down the battery/air breather so they were as smooth as the rocker cover but I can tackle that at another day.

I recently changed the front suspension (shocks, tie rod ends, drop links, springs, control arm, bushes) so with the new top mounts showing I also cleaned the engine bay. Washed it down with a mixture of degreaser and APC (using a hand pump washer sprayer rather than power hose) and gave all areas a good cleaning to remove dust, dirt, etc.

It cleaner, but the black, while I like it, seems to make the other hoses seem old and tattered. Not sure if I'll clean them or replace them with either new hoses or not. Not really into the "fast & furious" type engine mods that are purely aesthetic (chrome, braided, etc) so might just go standard hoses, but new.

traco · 05-07-2021 3:07pm

I was going to say a quick wash but thats not possible with this thing. Thorough two bucket was, some Auto Glym Aqua wax. bit of a window polish, hoover and proper clean of the wheels. Knackered after it.

punisher5112 · 05-07-2021 3:14pm

traco wrote: »

I was going to say a quick wash but thats not possible with this thing. Thorough two bucket was, some Auto Glym Aqua wax. bit of a window polish, hoover and proper clean of the wheels. Knackered after it.

Looks smashing

BlakeS94 · 15-07-2021 2:12pm

Recently acquired this mk4 Ford Mondeo, been wanting to give it a run over with a DA polisher for a while, weather was teasing rain but I went at it anyway, started to rain 2 minutes after I applied the wax, which has to cure for 30mins. Photos below. All products used were Autoglym, used they're super resin polish it's a good 'All in one' polish I find. Process used was as follows. Didn't turn out bad for an 11yr old bus

Wash,Dry,Clay bar,Polish,Wax

(And while wax was trying to cure in the rain I put some bumper and trim gel on the sections of trim, and used a performance tyre gel to give the sidewalls some depth of colour again)

BlakeS94 · 15-07-2021 4:20pm

Paintwork is in good condition, no swirls or anything

slave1 · 29-08-2021 6:23pm

Wrecked today after long DIY day yesterday, but the weather was absolutely perfect being cool breeze and heavy cloud for a 5hr overdue session.

Vacuum inside followed by all glass polish inside and out. Alloys hand washed and waxed, tyres treated. Panel by panel two bucket wash and then wax all over.

Just the one photo as I've the driveway dug out and I ain't standing on muck.... wrecked afterwards.