Started some paint restoration today on my '97.

[BlackCat914]

So today I was bored and started doing some minor paint restoration to my Desert Dune '97. My truck is in VERY good shape for being a 16yo Midwest 4runner, but the paint had quite a few swirls and was generally dull looking. So today I washed it, clay bared it, used the Porter-Cable with some top shelf Menezerna Final Polish, and applied one coat of Pinnacle Natural Brilliance wax. The difference is incredible. Today, I just got the hood, left front fender, and drivers door done, so I'll be adding more pictures over the next few days as I progress on the rest of the truck. Both of the pics I posted are of the hood. I could look in the reflection of the hood and read the wattage of the bulb on the ceiling, that's how awesome it looks.

 

[madbomber08]

I have heard a lot of clout about the Porter Cable dual action polisher. It isn't cheap though. How much did you buy your's for? Also, what kind of cutting pads did you buy/use with the polisher? How much did you spend on the whole deal?

I did a lot of research last summer on getting my paint back into tip top shape, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $100+ dollars on a PC DA polisher to use on 15 y/o paint. That's also not including the price of the correct cutting pads and such.

 

[BlackCat914]

I have heard a lot of clout about the Porter Cable dual action polisher. It isn't cheap though. How much did you buy your's for? Also, what kind of cutting pads did you buy/use with the polisher? How much did you spend on the whole deal?

I did a lot of research last summer on getting my paint back into tip top shape, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $100+ dollars on a PC DA polisher to use on 15 y/o paint. That's also not including the price of the correct cutting pads and such.

My dad is this maniacal detailer, he just brought his stuff to my house, so it didn't cost me a dime, other than purchasing some micro-fiber towels for wiping and such. I'm not sure what pad it is, I'll find out though. I still think it would be worth it, the difference is incredible.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Do you have any before pics? Show before then after.

 

[BlackCat914]

I finished the drivers side last night, I'm really impressed with how it turned out.

The B-pillar before:


After:

 

[Dous]

Wow, nice job!

Did you just run the polish over the B pillar to bring out that shine?

Mine are so dull and nasty looking.....

 

[BlackCat914]

Wow, nice job!

Did you just run the polish over the B pillar to bring out that shine?

Mine are so dull and nasty looking.....

Thanks! I'll have to get some better pictures out in the sunlight, but it's been so rainy here. I also only work on it at night after work, so the pics kinda suck. Ya, that was just one quick buzz with the porter-cable and polish. I'm going to go over it a second time tonight and see if I can get it to look even better.

I've REALLY been toying with the idea of doing a rear-mount turbo like Clownmeat. We got a brand new Miller welder at work that is calling my name for some custom exhaust work.

 

[wanta4runner]

nothing better than a new wax job. one of the best i've seen

 

[tee-bone]

FYI - if you want to learn some very interesting detailing tips, check out the forums at Meguiars online.

I think any of the popular dual action orbital buffers (the Meguiar's, the Porter Cable, or the Griot's Garage) can work great (I know folks with each of them and they like them).

I went with the Meguire's stuff, basically because they had such great advice on their forums that it made it seem pretty foolproof, even for a fool of my magnitude (not unlike t4r.org). To give you an idea of how good a job this stuff does, I was able to remove my roof rack including the supports that go across the roof, and polish it to the point that you can't tell there was ever anything there (while not burning through the paint or shine).

Anyway, tons of good info there and good luck.

 

[BlackCat914]

FYI - if you want to learn some very interesting detailing tips, check out the forums at Meguiars online.

I think any of the popular dual action orbital buffers (the Meguiar's, the Porter Cable, or the Griot's Garage) can work great (I know folks with each of them and they like them).

I went with the Meguire's stuff, basically because they had such great advice on their forums that it made it seem pretty foolproof, even for a fool of my magnitude (not unlike t4r.org). To give you an idea of how good a job this stuff does, I was able to remove my roof rack including the supports that go across the roof, and polish it to the point that you can't tell there was ever anything there (while not burning through the paint or shine).

Anyway, tons of good info there and good luck.

Ya, autogeek is a pretty good forum too, they have a lot of good info as well. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of detailing, so I don't spend a whole lot of time reading up on the latest and greatest stuff. The old man just happens to know quite a bit, so he gave me some pointers and off I went.

 

[BlackCat914]

Do you have any before pics? Show before then after.

To be honest, the truck is almost always spotless, unless I take it to the local ORV park and thrash it. It's just a toy for me, I have a company car and don't drive it much. I know it's hard to see from cell phone pics, but before the polishing, it had some water spots, swirls, and rail dust that was irritating me.

This is before, lol.

 

[BlackCat914]

well, the majority of the paint restoration process is done, I still have to do the tailgate, but whatevs. I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out.