Extreme detailing is what I do!

[Nick Winn]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

I was relieved to see my post is still here! I've been out of the detailing business for about 5 years and haven't been on the forum since. I'm toying with doing some detailing for extra income and came back to the site to see what's new in products. I have no idea what I've done with the original pictures so I'm hoping I can save the ones I posted to show potential customers.

I would definitely agree that was an extreme makeover! Do you remember what you used? You should have no problem saving the images, provided you are on a desktop/laptop computer.

[Etouchup]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

And you do extreme detailing very well! Awesome

[montanajem]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

I was relieved to see my post is still here! I've been out of the detailing business for about 5 years and haven't been on the forum since. I'm toying with doing some detailing for extra income and came back to the site to see what's new in products. I have no idea what I've done with the original pictures so I'm hoping I can save the ones I posted to show potential customers.

[supercharged]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

I've seen some nasty interiors, but this one takes the cake!

[montanajem]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That's a lots of work, and you did great job to restore truck.
Its more like re-conditioning work than detailing, I guess some people don't take care leased vehicles.

That's very extream!

Yeah, I guess that's why our shop signs aptly say "Recon Center"! I can see why the work trucks get the way they do, it's the cars that I don't understand. I suppose people practically live in their cars, judging by the high miles put on some of them but to me it's a lack of appreciation for getting to drive a nice company car - all the maintenance and insurance paid for. I just don't get it.....

[cafemoc]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That's a lots of work, and you did great job to restore truck.
Its more like re-conditioning work than detailing, I guess some people don't take care leased vehicles.

That's very extream!

[ShowCar]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

Good explanation and great work. Its also good to know about the PINK Mary Kay Cars. Thanks.

[montanajem]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That truck looks great. Hopefully they paid top dollar for all the work. Did you charge them for all the supplies you have to throw out now after use, like towels, vacumm filters etc.?

I work for a dealership that takes lease returns so there's an average overhead factored into the retail price of each vehicle. However, when we first get them from the leasing companies, the extreme dirtiness becomes a negotiating point in our favor. There's more time and money invested to make them salable.

Or for another example, we get Mary Kay Cadillacs. They are pink and since it's Mary Kay's trademark color, we cannot sell them that way. They get a complete repaint. The leasing company knows this and has to cut our purchase price accordingly. Makes my job of exterior finishing REALLY easy! :-)

[ShowCar]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That truck looks great. Hopefully they paid top dollar for all the work. Did you charge them for all the supplies you have to throw out now after use, like towels, vacumm filters etc.?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That was a very time consuming process. The results speak for themselves. Once again fantastic transformation.

[montanajem]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

1. Open all windows
2. Drive into nearest large body of water until completely submerged
3. Wait 10 minutes
4. Drive out
5. Allow to air dry for 1 week
6. Take "after" pictures

You know, I've been tempted to do just that... only a quarter mile from the river...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

First thing was clean out the junk, jack and tools, pull the sill plates, kick panels, seats, and mat. Then lots of time with the vacuum and air compressor blowing out vents, dash, speaker grilles, headliner etc.

Wouldn't it be a lot faster to just use a shovel??

Great work - amazing that it can actually be cleaned up that well.

[Hemin8r]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

Wow what a transformation. Great job on that interior.

[gb387]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

1. Open all windows
2. Drive into nearest large body of water until completely submerged
3. Wait 10 minutes
4. Drive out
5. Allow to air dry for 1 week
6. Take "after" pictures

That was along the lines of what I was thinking...

Great transformation.

[montanajem]

Re: Extreme detailing is what I do!

That was my thought exactly!

I would really like to know more about your process. Did you really do the miracle, or just photgraph a new truck? I truly do admire your work, and what you accomplished there.

Bear with me, this post is kind of long... as the process was long! :-P I'll abbreviate it!

First thing was clean out the junk, jack and tools, pull the sill plates, kick panels, seats, and mat. Then lots of time with the vacuum and air compressor blowing out vents, dash, speaker grilles, headliner etc. Sprayed down the engine, wheel wells and jambs with degreaser. Sprayed tires with Bleche-Wite (a miracle worker!) and wheels with Meguiar's Wheel Brightener (GREAT stuff if you haven't tried it) and pressure washed it all. (This was after I had spent about an hour hosing off the mud underneath and cleaning out the utility boxes.)

Wiped down floor pans, door panels and dash with the fine overspray from the pressure washer. I think I pressure washed the bottom of the driver's door panel too, since shampooer wouldn't touch it. Gave it a good scrub with what used to be Meguiar's Wash 'n Wax top to bottom. Wiped out jambs and under hood. Used Comet on any chrome - great on these work trucks.

Went thru the interior with LOTS of #40 (Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner), a detailing brush, scrub brush, more air, 000 steel wool and LOTS of towels. I know steel wool sounds harsh, but this is fine stuff designed for detailing and it's great for removing black scuff marks from door panels, etc. and doesn't do damage if you know what you're doing. I hit all the rubber around doors and windows as well. Washed windows. Used APC on headliner.

Had driver's seat reupholstered. Cleaned all seat hardware with APC. Other vinyl seats got #40 and steel wool treatment. Put it all back together! :-P Used 3M Adhesive Remover on engine hoses that didn't come clean, APC on other places. We don't dress our wheel wells, tires or engines, so what you see is what you get! Clean!

I think exterior got an app of #83 (DA Cleaner/Polish) and then probably #9 (Swirl Remover). It's been so long I don't remember. The finish wasn't bad on the truck and we just want to clean and shine them up a bit.

I love seeing the "makeover" on these trucks but it took me a long time to NOT make them perfect, as is my inclination. They are, after all, work trucks, not show cars and we don't spend much time on the body. But we get nicer vehicles too so we still break out the buffers and have fun!

I can't remember where this truck came from or what company - too long ago and hundreds of vehicles back! Since we deal only in fleet returns, it amazes me how some companies take great care of their vehicles and others don't seem to care a bit.

Much of what we do is way more drastic than most people will ever have to do. Drastic dirt calls for drastic measures. Sometimes I wish we only had nice "maintenance" type details, but I think I'd get bored!