2007 Imperial Blue TBSS Detail

[jon_we4]

I picked up this 1SS 2WD Imperial Blue 2007 TBSS back a little over a year ago with barely 4,000 miles on it. It has 12,000 miles on it now and it's been through a pretty rough winter. It's my Wife's daily driver and it needed to be cleaned pretty bad. So far it's only got a small door ding that we need to have pushed back out, but otherwise it has potential to be a clean badass ride.

I detailed it this spring and found the rear doors were sandblasted, something that is common on the TBSS models. I was lucky to find a dealership to paint the rear doors under warranty and apply the 3M clear film as per a chevy TSB. I was even luckier that they did a pretty darn good match!

This is the first detail it's received after being at the dealer a few months ago.

The pre-wash photos showing what I started with...

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss001.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss002.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss003.jpg

After a quick wash and claybar (I'll pull each wheel off later to detail them one at a time)

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss004.jpg

This is the quality of the finish that we are working with. The finish looks good, but under the lights we can see some swirl marks and it has this weird purple-ish haze to it.

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss005.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss006.jpg

I did one test panel with my FLEX 3401 dual action buffer. (http://www.carcaredepot.com/magento/flex-orbital-polisher.html) I started with PB's SS1 (http://www.carcaredepot.com/magento/exterior/swirlpolish/poorboy-s-world-ssr-1-0.html) and a LC Orange CCS pad (http://www.carcaredepot.com/magento/bufferstowels/bufferkits/lake-country-mfg-orange-6-5-ccs-smart-pad.html). Worked that in, and then moved to PB's Black Hole Glaze (http://www.carcaredepot.com/magento/exterior/swirlpolish/poorboy-s-world-black-hole.html)with a LC White CCS pad (http://www.carcaredepot.com/magento/bufferstowels/bufferkits/lake-country-mfg-white-6-5-ccs-pad.html).

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss007.jpg

I'm happy with the results on this panel. I'm going to back to watching the 24 hours of Le Mans now and get ready for a buddy's wedding tonight. Tomorrow I'll finish the rest of the panels, go over it again with a sealant and wax. Then I'll remove each wheel, wash them, seal them, and apply a tire dressing.

[Deggy]

Amazing job!

[jon_we4]

I really hope I can get the rest of the panels busted out tomorrow morning, then do the wheels in the afternoon. Watch for more photos tomorrow!

[AmesVette]

Is it possible to use the PB's SS1 and then put Zaino over the top? What would you recommend for a red car to get rid of swirls? I was about to order some towels from you and thought I would try to get the swirls out.

Also what would you do on a red Vette to get it to look good at shows? I've been using Zaino...

[jon_we4]

SSR1 will work. On a corvette it's a little trickier because of the hard clear coat. It might be easier to do a lite swirl remover and then something that would help fill them like a glaze and a wax. You could put the Zaino sealant over.

Menzurna is pretty popular for the vettes but it can be a little temperamental with humidity. I would just go with a SSR1 and a polish and just see where that gets you and it should be a good base to then glaze, seal, and wax - to fill the rest of the swirls and protect.

[jon_we4]

Passenger side door....white pad with SSR1 followed with BH. (Still needs more work)

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss008.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss009.jpg

[nismodave]

Looking good....Can the average shmo, like me, use that buffer without risk of harm to paint?

[jon_we4]

Looking good....Can the average shmo, like me, use that buffer without risk of harm to paint?

Funny you should mention that. I've been using it carefully and there was, what I'll call a buffer hologram, by the rear door handle. I was perplexed, I didn't use anything too aggressive and I was taking my time with the job.... how did I do that? Then I noticed the identical thing on the other side of the truck - a side I havn't even touched yet. Since the body shop did both rear doors I have to lay the fault with them. I'm lucky it's barely noticeable and should be able to be rectified by said body shop.

If you take your time, and start with lesser aggressive combinations, it is very hard to do any harm. Its a random orbital that does not generate the heat of a rotary buffer.



http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss010.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss011.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss012.jpg

[jon_we4]

I popped the wheels off. I would normally scrub the wheel barrels with a brush during each wash. I must have slipped as lately and the barrels are pitted.

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss013.jpg

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss0135.jpg


Whiped them up, applied PB Wheel Sealant to the wheel faces, and applied Tropi-Care White Perl Tire Dressing. While its not perfect and clean as my vette, its pretty freakin clean for a daily driver!

http://www.buickwe4.com/pictures/tbss014.jpg

[PureSound15]

Nice work, Jon.

[Holeshot]

Shit Im dropping of the GTO tomorrow. The keys Ill leave with Shadow. Call me when its done Jon

[jon_we4]

Shit Im dropping of the GTO tomorrow. The keys Ill leave with Shadow. Call me when its done Jon

I'm not lying..... I could have spent a week on the truck. I just knew it was going to get dirty again soon, and I just wanted to clean it up a little.

I don't think I could cut it as a detailer. At least not on daily driven vehicles. I know your GTO is always clean - wash and a fresh coat of wax should be good ;)

[Holeshot]

I'm not lying..... I could have spent a week on the truck. I just knew it was going to get dirty again soon, and I just wanted to clean it up a little.

I don't think I could cut it as a detailer. At least not on daily driven vehicles. I know your GTO is always clean - wash and a fresh coat of wax should be good ;)

yeah I need to give you some money. Maybe a shopping spree is in order.

[lordairgtar]

I detailed it this spring and found the rear doors were sandblasted, something that is common on the TBSS models. I was lucky to find a dealership to paint the rear doors under warranty and apply the 3M clear film as per a chevy TSB.
I too have an Imperial blue car. My HHR Panel. These exhibit the sandblasting on the rear quarter bulge. Chevy from the start has placed a plastic trim piece there or a 3M film. This over a short time will be sandblasted too. The only thing they (Chevy) told me was to order the running boards. Mud flaps won't even solve this problem. I really don't like the look of running boards on this car. Is it me or does it seem that modern paint isn't as durable as the older paints were?

[jon_we4]

The 3M film is used (normally) on the front of cars to prevent rock chips. I agree that over time the film will show hazing/wear .... but under normal circumstances it would be a long time. You mention a plastic trim piece or 3M film, I would agree a plastic trim piece would look beat up after awhile!

I know the TBSS guys feel the running boards are the alternative solution. Its just a solution I can't bring myself to. The truck looks too good to do that to it :(

Modern paints are water-based (environment friendly) and are not as durable. Some manufactures use extremely hard clear coats like used on the corvette and Mercedes Benz line.

[Karps TA]

Now owning a TB I can truely appreciate the work you did. That's alot of car to detail. I've spent a couple nights on mine and still only have a couple panels done. I'm pretty sure this thing is going to be an automated car wash only vehicle.

[BAD LS1]

Nice work! My 08' TBSS had the sandblasted rockers and doors after 1 winter and got them repainted by the dealer while they were repairing all the other paint issues. My fix for it is that i had them install factory front splash guards painted to match the body, they seem to blend in pretty well and look like they are meant to be on there i think. I guess we will see after this winter. Im still amazed at just how much water these god damn trucks hold after you wash them! I spend 10 min with a leaf blower after that!

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii173/LS1builder/IMG_1527.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii173/LS1builder/IMG_1528.jpg

[HP ADDICT]

What dealers are you guys going to that are willing to paint the sandblasted area? My vette has some nicks on the rear panels by the brake ducts. I would like to get this corrected and under warranty if possible.

[jon_we4]

EVS did mine under that TSB.