ECS Detail - From Fast to Fast and Shiny

Discussion in 'Show and Shine' started by agentf1, Feb 9, 2010.

  1. agentf1

    agentf1 Jedi Nuba

    As promised here is another one of my recent details.

    This is Chris from ECS East Coast Supercharging in Cream Ridge NJ's car. Here is a little plug for you Chris. You can contact them @ 609 752-0321 ;) :lol:

    For those of you that may know Chris I am sure you can back me up in saying he is NOT a waxer. This car is incredibly fast and gets plenty of use on the street and track, both drag and the twisties. Chris definitely enjoys his car and it shows. The car was in definite need of a detail and looked as if it had not been done in a while. The red was very dull and dirty and was covered in swirls and even some water spot etching on the trunk and roof as seen below.

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    Car was covered with severe swirls.
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    And scratches and hard water etching.
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    The interior was also in need of attention.
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    I compounded the panels with the water spots first since the water spots did not look too bad. Once I put a shine back on the panel the water spots seemed to jump out at me and looked much worse. Wet sanding was not really in the scope of this detail but they looked so bad I figured let me try to lightly sand the panels with 3000 grit to help minimize the big dull spots all over. This helped to put a shine on the center of the spots but still left the rings etched into the paint. I am not sure if it is worth trying to wet sand these panels with a higher grit and see if it can be fixed or if he would be better off having them re cleared to fix this issue. I recomended the latter as the car would be perfect once this is done. He is also debating doing a carbon wrap on the entire top of the car. Chris, if you decide you want to try to the wet sand route let me know, if you cover my gas and tolls I would even do it pro bono for you. It will probably take most of the day for those two panels, no guarantees.

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    On all the bad areas I used 3m compound on a yellow meguiars pad and my rotary. Used wool pad first where I lightly hit it with 3000 grit.

    Most of the car was hit with a rotary first. Then I went over the entire car with my Flex 3401 set on 5 1/2 with a green LC CCS pad and SIP, followed by PO106FA.

    Here are a few after shots.

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    I had to use 0000 steel wool dipped in Mothers Billet on the exhaust tips, they must have had 1/4 of carbon built up on them, NASTY. I also polished the mufflers with Mothers Billet and sealed them with Rejex Sealant. They came up really nice as they looked like they were polished stainless steel.

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    The wheel wells were scrubbed with Spray Nine and coated with Z16.

    I also did the wheels with one of those cotton wad metal polishes (can't recall the name) and finished them with Simichrome. The tires and weatherstripping was also coated with Zaino Z16.

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    I went over the Carbon Fiber hood lightly with the Flex ROB and some PO85RD at speed 4.5. I was a little cautious on the CF hood although I suspect it is just like any clear coated part. Something about CF that makes me want to be real careful, maybe it is the high $$$$$. :lol: Luckily it was not bad and did not need much.

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    I vacuumed the interior, then went over it with Spray Nine to clean it. Finished it with 303 Aerospace. The seats and roll bar made it a REAL PAIN in the butt to clean. I also had to use masking tape wrapped around my hand to get the little stuff off the seats and carpet. Windows were done with a mf and window cleaner.

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    Of course after the polishing I took it outside and washed it with dawn to remove any polishing oils and inspect my work and then went over all the nooks and crannies removing all and any polishing splatter in preperation for the final touch, Zaino.

    I first went over the entire car with a german foam polishing applicator or pad and some Zaino All In One. Then I followed up with two coats of Z5p utilizing one of Zaino's cotton applicators. I then went over any areas that looked like there was any streaks or spots I missed wiping off with Z6 (there was not many) and then did the entire car with Z8 using one of Sals Blonde Micro Fibers. These towels really make the Z8 go a long way and stretch this product out, I love them.

    Here are some close ups of the now swirl free panels.

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    I spent most of the day in the bay next the the ECS crew and was kind of watching what they do and how they treat their customers and their cars and I have to say I was impressed. They were very knowledgeable and took incredible care of their customers cars. I would not hesitate to bring either one of my cars to them and let them work on them. They took great care in keeping the cars clean and to prevent any swirls or scratches. I am guessing most of you guys that are already ECS customers already know this but I thought it was definitely worth mentioning. :cool: :cheers:

    The were also a bunch of incredibly cool cars in there lot waiting for the ECS treatment. I wish I had snapped a few shots of them but did not think about it when I was there.
     
  2. Twisted007

    Twisted007 Banned

    oh so your not too far from me lol who was there doug or chris or mike or rob?
    they do great work high dollar stuff.
     
  3. agentf1

    agentf1 Jedi Nuba

    I am actually like 1 1/2 hours away from them but since Chris is a friend I went to the shop to do the detail.

    The whole crew was there that day. Actually I think Doug came in late since his wife just had the baby.

    Yes, they do incredible work. Watch out for that Mike, he is a wild man.
     
  4. Twisted007

    Twisted007 Banned

    lol that's cool you went there they get some impressive cars that run thru the shop. wow baby i have to go there an catch up time goes by fast i haven't been there for like 11 months so busy with stuff. i have to drop by glad you come up so far to hang with them did you use to live down this way?
     
  5. RNickolas

    RNickolas Obsessive Detailer

    looking good!
     
  6. pushtiulk

    pushtiulk Guest

    great job
     
  7. Pats300zx

    Pats300zx Official DB Moderator

    Awesome job Frank. That is how red should look :)
     
  8. agentf1

    agentf1 Jedi Nuba

    Never lived down that way. I met them and a lot of people from that area on some of the Corvette Forum events and have become very friendly with a lot of the people. I usually try to go to the Great Adventure Cruise Nights on Friday nights in the summer also. Unfortunately my area is not real big on the car events like north and central NJ or NY.
     
  9. cnut

    cnut Guest

    Great job on the vette!
     
  10. Twisted007

    Twisted007 Banned


    that's sucks you should organize your own car night i'm sure it would be a big turn out. i keep ya posted maybe this summer we can meet up at a few private shows i go to i think you with like it. where you living now?
     
  11. agentf1

    agentf1 Jedi Nuba

    Cool, sounds good. I am in Garnet Valley Pa which is right on the Pa/Del border near Claymont or Wilmington.

    Do you have a Vette or something with a LSX motor in it?
     
  12. Twisted007

    Twisted007 Banned

    lol nah i got a few trucks an older cars i'm always buying an selling stuff never keep it to long. i got family in few places in pa. small world.
     

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