detailing for car show that requires drive

[PhantomR/T]

so, the Mopar Southern Nationals (where I am defending my 1st place trophy) is in Valdosta, GA. That's about a 3 hr drive from my place and the roads are all in the woods/country area. It is going to be love-bug season so I know the full day or 2 I spend prior to te show will be wasted by the tie I get there. Now here's the question...

Assuming I cant find anybody to trailer my truck up there, how shoudl I go about retouchign my truck up without any known carwashes around in the area? I'll be bringing NXT spray wax and instant detailer, shoudl that be good enough on top of the whole 5 step system? How should I go about trying to protect my truck on the drive up there? AAARRRGGGHHH. and the paint will JUST be out of he curing process by this time too, so this will most likely be th efirst full detail on the new paint job.

[Murr1525]

DO you think you may be able to take a long a bucket, and/or gallons of water, maybe you can at least get a little sop on the front end. The QD everything.

You also may want to stop half way, or twice, while bugs are fresh if all you can, and QD.

[Godiva]

Don't forget the NXT glass cleaner and lots of towels.

I'd put a few coats of NXT wax on it. Detail it and wax it, wait a day, another coat.

[PhantomR/T]

I will be claying it, then #9, then #80? then #26 or NXT wax on top of that. Then the QD and the NXT spray wax when I get there. Sound good?

[Mark2]

After the 3h drive, I would wash it with QEW. You will only need 2 buckets, a mitt, and some MF towels to dry, and about 5gal of water. It's not a Meguiars product(sorry). There are treads about it here on MOL, but you will find more info on Autopia.
After the wash with QEW you can QD the car, use the spraywax, glass cleaner and so on.
Good Luck

[OctaneGuy]

You might consider taping up the front end of the car using Blue Painters tape. We do these when we take our cars on the track. Consider it a temporary bra.



A portable Bug Sprayer is good too--no, not for killing the Love Bugs but better than just using water from a bucket since you can pump it to get some pressure--around 40psi.--typical pressure from a house is around 100psi.

You would have to spray on a cleaner first to loosen the insects before washing them away.

As was mentioned Quick Easy Wash might be a good solution. But it's primary purpose is to clean off your car where water is limited and since you apply it a section at a time, then dry it off, it doesn't leave water spots.

You could also fill up a 5 gallon bucket, put Meguiars Car Wash soap in it, and sponge off any of the really dirty areas, use the bug sprayer to rinse it off, then use QD on the rest of the car.

Richard

[tgfhatch]

I'm going to agree with Richard. He already beat me to the best possible solution (in my opinion). I use to deal with this sitution every long distance show I would take my civic to. I'd have to put up with bugs and rock chips, which ruined my front bumper by the time I got to the shows.

Now I just use the green or blue painters tape, tape the entire front part, and lower part of the hood, along with the side view mirrors (they seem to attract a lot of bugs). Then when i get to the show, it easily pulls off without taking paint or leaving residue, a QD is all that is needed, and I call it a day!

best of luck at the show!

[PhantomR/T]

i'll definately try the tape for this one, thats a great idea! WHere do you get the painter's tape at? A painter supply store?

[Dragpakmach]

Painters Tape

Go to Target they carry blue painters tape in hardware next to the light bulbs.My car show list of products goes like this,
1. 2 QD bottles,one for you and one for helper.
2.Glass cleaner for windows and rims,and chrome pieces.
3.water magnet ,incase it rains.
4.Tiredressing,put it on at the show otherwise sling all over the side of vehicle.
5.Painters tape for the front if needed.
6.lots of Microfiber towels.
7.Meguiars duster for touch ups.
8.Good quality chair to sit back and admire youre Ride.
9.Put all this in a bucket witha wash mitt.
10.2 gallons of water just incase you need to do a small wash,or if you break down.
That should cover it,Good luck.

[tgfhatch]

you hit it on the end. they also sell the tape at any paint distrbutors.

my list usually:

meguiars qd
meguiars tire dressing
meguiars nxt chrome polish
meguiars mf towels
meguiars nxt glass cleaner
meguiars nxt interior tech
meguiars banner to display proudly in front of my car (new for this year)
nice lawn chair to sit in all day.
camera to take plenty of pics of hard work
cooler full of sodas, water, beer, etc

then I thoroughly enjoy the rest of the show!

[OctaneGuy]

Paint and Body stores are great for variety--that is Target won't sell the ultra thin 1/16" stuff---but for your purposes--"protection" you really don't need anything that fine...for taping off for detailing, that's a different matter.

Also consider places like Home Depot. I bought some 3" rolls as well as 3/4" and 1" tape recently.

An important tip. Especially for a freshly painted car. When you are removing the tape, especially around panel edges, don't just pull the tape off. You don't want to be pulling off tape at a right angle to the panel, but you want to pull it directly back on itself or at a slight angle in the same plane as the panel, otherwise you might lift off paint as you're removing the tape. This is more likely to happen around the edges than in the center of the body panel.

Also pull tape slowly!
Screen shot from the ShowCarGarage.com 1960 Corvette DVD


Finally, when you're taping the car, realize that when you arrive, you're going to have to peel off the tape. Finger nails can be a horrid thing--you will find scratches all over your hood--I made the mistake at a track event of letting other people help me remove the tape--never again.

If you want to be ultra careful, get a "Lil Chizler". It's a small flat piece of plastic with beveled edges. Vinyl sign guys use it to lift off vinyl off painted surface without causing damage. Costs a measly 75cents. It will get the tape started so you can remove it more easily, and if you get several and give them to your helpers, it will eliminate the risk of unwanted fingernail scratches. Actually by googling that above quote--I found a place that sells a 12 pack for $4 making each one 33cents. =)

Richard

[tgfhatch]

As Richard said, paint shops sell a variety of sizes. I can't remember but I bought one real thick and one real thin when I went.

But those are some great little tips about the removal process. I never even considered what a fingernail might do to paint while trying to pull the tape off!

thanks for some useful tid bits richard!

[Pats300zx]

meguiars banner to display proudly in front of my car (new for this year)

Can you tell me where you go yours?? I have been looking for one for a while now.

[PKassin]

I Hate OPEC-

Hey man, Im a student here at Valdosta State University. If you need some supplies and a place to work on your car, I have everything but a DA polisher.

Let me know if i can help, I'll probally be at the car show so....P.M. me if you need to talk to me.

Patrick Kassin

[the other pc]

If you plan your taping a little and start or end every strip on another piece of tape you won't have to be digging fingernails or anything else into the finish.

I also fold the very ends of some strips over on themselves for handy "release tabs". Just don't make any tabs so big they flap in the wind. (If you're really AR you can tape off whole sections with only one tab.)


PC.