'95 Trans Am-New Trick for Clay

[richy]

I got this 1995 Trans Am to do last weekend. It looked pretty dirty when I got it but I thought that it would clean up well enough and with clay would be just fine..boy was I in for a surprise. It still looked dirty after I washed it. I broke out my most aggressive clay and started to go at it. After doing a small section, the clay was dirty as can be and it looked like tar on it. It was improving the paint however so I stayed at it..but it was taking a long, long time. I ended up taking 2.5 hours just claying it! Finally after doing about two-thirds the car, I decided for sh!ts and giggles to spray some DG 471 (bug and tar remover) on it while claying...VIOLA!! Did that ever make a difference! It really sped up the process and worked better than the clay alone. It was very hard on the clay however and basically ruined the piece I was working with. My point with all this rambling is that if you have one that has a lot of nasty, hard to get-rid-of tar: use the DG 471 with it.

The Process:
Wheels and barrels with SC Beyond Steel (took a lot of work..nasty brake dust)
Wells with 303
Tires with ARO
Foam entire car
Wash 2 bucket method
Clay as above
SIP with green LCC , using rotary
DG 501 with white LCC pad using rotary
DG 601 by hand
DG 105 by hand
AW after curing time
Wheels cleaned with XMT 360 followed by JS 109
Exhaust tips cleaned with Blue Magic
Engine with 303(sorry, no pics)
Exterior trim with Mothers back to black followed by DG531
Glass with IG
Carpet mats with Folex and 303
Interior plastic with 303 Aerospace

BEFORES:



My Little Helper:









AFTERS:

[BLUELINE 1]

Nice job! The Trans-Am looks great. Glad to see you had the helper.

[Stephan]

I clay in a similar way with Poorboys Bug squash, gives the clay an extra kick in getting rid of someof that heavier junk...

	Poorboys World Products Poorboy’s has made a name around the show circuit for fantastic products at great prices! Its ever-growing popularity is due to word-of-mouth testimonies from novice detailers through auto enthusiasts about the brilliant results no matter what your level of expertise. You’re going to love Poorboy’s!

[CharlesW]

Looking good.
Rather than hi-jack your thread, I'm going to start one with some questions about acid washing.
Might have saved you some time and effort.

[Redwings97]

Wow - great job - Owners have to be happy with that detail!!

[9D4E420]

Looks good to me Rich, keep up the great work!

[richy]

Originally Posted by BLUELINE 1

Nice job! The Trans-Am looks great. Glad to see you had the helper.

Blueline..thank you very much..I'm lucky to have my enthusiastic helper!

Originally Posted by Stephan

I clay in a similar way with Poorboys Bug squash, gives the clay an extra kick in getting rid of someof that heavier junk...

That's a great idea; I wish I'd either heard about it or thought about it earlier.

Originally Posted by CharlesW

Looking good.
Rather than hi-jack your thread, I'm going to start one with some questions about acid washing.
Might have saved you some time and effort.

Funny you say that, I'm looking at hte Value Guard products, this would have been an ideal job for them I think.

Originally Posted by Redwings97

Wow - great job - Owners have to be happy with that detail!!

Yes, the hot looking owner was quite pleased!

Originally Posted by 9D4E420

Looks good to me Rich, keep up the great work!

Thanks very much!

[Reddwarf]

Sounds like you had a tough one there with the clay job. I never thought about adding a cleaner like that. Good idea!

[richy]

Originally Posted by Reddwarf

Sounds like you had a tough one there with the clay job. I never thought about adding a cleaner like that. Good idea!

Thanks Reddwarf..I just wish I thought of it sooner..could have saved some time. If I don't end up getting some acid wash, I'll definitely use that method again if needed.

[Clean Dean]

Nice job !!!

[budman3]

Nice transformation. Just don't try claying with or after Stoners Tarminator ... Make sure you wash the panels you use Tarminator on before claying. If you don't the results are nasty - it seems the clay disintegrates or melts onto the paint and is 10x harder to remove than the tar itself. Not fun. I'll have to keep the DG and PB Bug removers in mind if I needed something stronger than clay by itself.

	Poorboys World Products Poorboy’s has made a name around the show circuit for fantastic products at great prices! Its ever-growing popularity is due to word-of-mouth testimonies from novice detailers through auto enthusiasts about the brilliant results no matter what your level of expertise. You’re going to love Poorboy’s!

[NALegacy]

Originally Posted by budman3

Nice transformation. Just don't try claying with or after Stoners Tarminator ... Make sure you wash the panels you use Tarminator on before claying. If you don't the results are nasty - it seems the clay disintegrates or melts onto the paint and is 10x harder to remove than the tar itself. Not fun. I'll have to keep the DG and PB Bug removers in mind if I needed something stronger than clay by itself.

Good thing you brought this up..I was going to try the Stoner's I have on the next car I need to clay..If I hadn't read this, I would ahve been doing this ---->

[richy]

Originally Posted by Clean Dean

Nice job !!!

clean dean..thanks a bunch

Originally Posted by budman3

Nice transformation. Just don't try claying with or after Stoners Tarminator ... Make sure you wash the panels you use Tarminator on before claying. If you don't the results are nasty - it seems the clay disintegrates or melts onto the paint and is 10x harder to remove than the tar itself. Not fun. I'll have to keep the DG and PB Bug removers in mind if I needed something stronger than clay by itself.

budman..thanks for both the compliment and the warning on tarminator!

Originally Posted by NALegacy

Good thing you brought this up..I was going to try the Stoner's I have on the next car I need to clay..If I hadn't read this, I would ahve been doing this ---->

No kidding!! The internet can be a fabulous tool.