[vertigto]

Fresh restoration and the local Good Guys show is coming up this weekend. My first car completed to this level. Trying to determine the best products and processes to get the car ready. I realize I may be overthinking this.

Exterior - the paint has been cured for maybe a year and a half...never washed with water. Although I will be driving this car regularly, I'm thinking to continue with a waterless detail spray/mist to avoid water /moisture getting into all of those places. I have Griot's Speed & Shine and Mequiar's Quick Detailer. Basically float any dirt and debris away using the sprays and wipe in one direction using microfiber towels. For wax I have Mequiar's Gold Class Carnauba Plus liquid wax. Does anyone wax chrome/stainless pieces or headlights/tail light lenses? Also have Speedway glass cleaner.

Wheels & Tires - thinking the Mequiar's Quick Detailer will work for the US Mags Rambler wheels and have Driver's Choice Tire Shine. Also have Mother's VLR and Back to Black that perhaps could try on the tires.

Interior - I have Surf City Garage Dash Away interior detailer (plastic parts) and thinking the VLR for vinyl. I think I might have an old spray bottle of Lexol somewhere.

Anyone have recommendations for better products and/or techniques to ensure the best possible outcome/result? I'm all ears.

[gtokid1968]

No expert here Always use Meguiars for everrthing.
Never any complats. I can say what you suguest looks good to me.
I dont use tire shine because sometimes it comes off and puts spots all over the car.
Good luck with the show, When I go to a show I just go for the fun sometimes I dont even clean the car!

[Greg Reid]

I dislike shiny tires. I like the results I get from the "no touch" foaming type tire cleaners. You just spray the foam on, let it run off and it leaves a nice, black satin or eggshell finish.
As for any interior upholstery and vinyl top I use 303 Protectant.

[Formulabruce]

IMHO, if paint has gassed off after a paint job. Polish it with a polisher, clean it with alcohol and water, then use a Graphene based ceramic coating doing a 3x3 section at a time. Do it right and will last 7 years and gives a Huge UV protection for around 120 bucks. Water is SCARED of it.... Im serious, its That hydrophobic..

[vertigto]

Agree on the 'not too shiny tires' comment.

Gonna try to keep this car out of the rain, hence the request for waterless detailing products and tips.

[Verdoro 68]

For a long time I only used Adam's stuff. I like their Detail Spray and Brilliant Glaze and still have a have an older tub of Americana Wax I use.

More recently I've been using Chemical Guys for polishes and cleaning products. Their product line is a little more complicated to figure out, but I've had pretty good results with their clay bars, swirl correction polishes (P4 and C4) and waterless wash. If you want a natural look on your tires, their Natural Shine dressing is pretty good.

I also have a couple of Chemical Guys top coat sealers and waxes too, but I keep going back to the Adam's Americana. I go through those Costco yellow microfiber towels like nobody's business. I haven't gone down the ceramic or graphene coating rabbit hole yet, but I'll be there soon as I've been thinking about it for the T/A.

I think this pic below was after Adam's polish, glaze and Americana a few years ago.

[1965gp]

Great topic. I agree on Adams and chemical guys. I was really into chemical guys but the adams two step compound (blue) and polish (white) is really, really hard to beat. Top that with a nice sealant or wax and your good to go.

Chemical Guys jet seal is fantastic as well as Zaino. The two part Zaino and their gloss enhancer will make you wonder how Meguires is in business- and I’m a fan of their stuff

[1965gp]

Adams compound:

https://adamspolishes.com/collection...g-compound-8oz

Adams polish:

https://adamspolishes.com/collection...nishing-polish

Zaino ZFX system (add to their wax)

https://www.zainostore.com/product/ZFX.html

Zaino gloss enhancer:

https://www.zainostore.com/product/Z-6.html


You said you have a buffer? Which one? Keep us posted on your progress!

[Jeff Hamlin]

Within a few years of finishing the '66, I moved into the Meguiar's camp and have used nothing other since.
She was painted in 1995 and with these products still holding her own.

[ts3189]

Adam’s graphene once a year and graphene detail spray. Once you go ceramic you will never wax again!

[1965gp]

This is adams compound/polish with chemical guys ‘blacklight’ wax on 12 year old Maaco paint on my TA.

[65madgoat]

Nothing on tires is best. 303 has spf protection and worthy on plastic/vynil. Try Turtle Wax Ice Seal & Shine spray. Cheap, and works great. Any quick detail spray will do. Basically all are the same and just labeled by companies.

Consider getting the car ceramic coated. Avoid hand applied waxes, polishes on paint by yourself.

Good luck at the show.

[KS circutguy]

Used to sell Adam's 20 yrs. ago as side gig.
Give this a try yes Turtle wax new line of detail products stuff at Walmart.
I can't believe the results for 8 bucks a bottle.
The new sprayers are the bomb as well.
The new Minute Wax in this line and the Quick detailer are amazing products.
Both are Ceramic products.The Leather conditioner - cleaner and Glass Cleaner are as well.
Turtle Wax is a 70 year old American company that has their own chemists team.
Trust me, try the stuff.
I also like Mequiar's "Ultimate" line of Liquid wax ,and Compound - Polish and use the Turtle stuff as a topper.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...=browseResults
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...e&athbdg=L1600
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...e&athbdg=L1600

[KS circutguy]

If you have old plastic headlights that need restored try this Cerakote product it works.
Lifetime warranty, made my old 1997 BMW 328I headlights like new.Just follow 3 easy steps no other tools need.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/CERAKOTE-...=searchResults
https://www.cerakote.com/

[Formulabruce]

Why I like 303.......>> 303 has SPF protection . Many years of Boating and protecting Gell coats taught me how great a product that 303 really is.
Why it's important.. 80% of ALL Rubber used in Tire production is GMO Rubber. Designed to grow fast, but cracks early on in life as a tire. Carlisle Tractor tires will prove this easily.
Even though BFG is a Michelin owned company, the Rubber is completely different....
https://www.amazon.com/303-Dust-Lint...115051209&th=1

[KS circutguy]

Agree,303 is great stuff.
BTW; all the Turtle Wax new products have UV protection as well.

[Terry M. Hunt]

The marketing blitz built around ceramic seems amusing to me. Ceramic enhanced glass cleaner? Ceramic enhanced everything it seems. I wonder what happens when paint that has been slathered with ceramic whatever is damaged and needs to be repaired/repainted. Is that a problem?

[vertigto]

Good stuff.

Any tips on waterless spray application, aside from saturate the surface well, wipe in one direction very lightly, and don't let it dry?

I've never cleaned/detailed a car without using water/conventional soaps. Since this car will likely never see rain (if I can help it), I thought it would be better to avoid washing with water and having any water/moisture collect in drainage areas.

Maybe a better question would be how much dirt/dust is too much for a waterless cleaning? Don't want to scratch the paint.

Who here uses waterless washes exclusively?

[KS circutguy]

All the Turtle products apply - remove the same way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEWJGZRqlzU

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by Terry M. Hunt

The marketing blitz built around ceramic seems amusing to me. Ceramic enhanced glass cleaner? Ceramic enhanced everything it seems. I wonder what happens when paint that has been slathered with ceramic whatever is damaged and needs to be repaired/repainted. Is that a problem?

Good questions; I ceramic coated a couple of older cars and motorcycles (including one with 1-year-old paint) as test runs before I did my expensive car. Based on the wear characteristics, I'm thinking I won't do the nice car in ceramic; I'll stay with wax or black car polish.