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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
I have Spring fever and am getting my cleaners ready for bringing the car home out of storage, tomorrow. It snowed 2" today. Thought the Franklin fireplace was a good backdrop for my mood.
I like Chemical Guys for shampoos and microfiber towels, and they sell the gallon size! I like Mr Pink for every day, and red Citrus Wash for deeper cleaning and when I’m near the end of the wax and want to remove it (look around, it’s hard to find “red”). I also use their microfiber wash, their detailing spray, and their two stage leather cleaner/conditioner (always use a 2 stage).
I use two big waffle weave towels for drying (I use an Absorber for glass only, first), grey ones for detailing/polishing, green all-purpose, blue for windows, yellow for interior, the microfiber wash mitt, and assortment of applicators.
I use Black Diamond (Blackfire) paint sealant and wax along with their tire gel. I would have preferred Zaino, but I didn’t want shipping for one product. No one company makes a good/complete line of all products. 3M glass polisher, Black Wow for black trim, and 303 spot remover for carpet round out the list (non-soap, soap will attract dirt).
I keep the chemicals in a smaller plastic bin, all the clean towels in the larger bin, two buckets for wash, and a decent fire nozzle.
I've been using their Smartwax brand for a while but recently switched to the Chemical Guys brand. The products are really good and do work as they demonstrate on their You Tube videos. I used my 2001 Explorer Sport as a test bed before using the products on my Camaro. Very pleased on how my interior came out. Also helps that their warehouse/manufacturing store is about 15 minutes from my house.
Funny you post this. I'm up in the North and just itching to detail my car. Picked up some additional toys this winter. MATADOR BLACK, some real nice heavy microfibre for polish and lap removal. I cut my car last fall an am going to do a final polish and sealant this spring. I use Menzerna waxes, polishes and compounds but tend to swing to Chem guys for my other products.
Not yet I'm actually just picking it up tomorrow. I have t heard or seen a bad thing about either of them. Unreal for detailing especially your engine bay, door jams and carpets.
Same here have not heard anything negative. I just put my order in for the tornador black. 219 cdn with free shipping from oldetown auto spa in Niagara. Interested to try it out.
I use Adams mostly. But I have a cabinet full that looks like the detail section on the back wall of Advance Auto Parts . Always looking and trying out new products.
Cool I'm out in Ottawa almost every other week for work. I usually stay in Kanata. If you ever wanna hook up and chat about detailing or F bodies lemme know. It's quite boring living the life of a sales guy in as hotel away from home.
Got the Matador tonight. This thing is awesome!!!! I didn't have a ton of time but wanted to play with it quickly. Does it ever pull the fine sand and grit out of carpets and stains out of seats. Did and re all quick job on my work vehicle with spray nine as I'm picking up some more APC tomorrow.
BEFORE
AFTER
I did a little bit of playing with the door jams and such. WoW talk about easy and clean. I can't wait to detail the engine on the TA
I use Adams mostly. But I have a cabinet full that looks like the detail section on the back wall of Advance Auto Parts . Always looking and trying out new products. Attachment 290362
What's your opinion on gloss enhancers in a car shampoo. The reason I use the CG Citrus Wash (red) is that it has no gloss enhancers. I think a shampoo should clean and not leave anything behind. On the other hand, there may be something to slicker lubricants in washes - prevents scratches.
Opinions?
6 years ago my painter suggested Synthetic Sealer once every 3 months and Race Glaze once a year. The car has never seen wax of any kind. Synthetic Sealers will not give you as much of the nice deep look that wax will but it will turn your car into "Glass". Some like it some don't.
Also some Meguiars "Supreme Shine" inside the car and in the engine bay.
Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; Apr 26, 2015 at 04:51 PM.
It honestly takes several years to be "locked in" with detailing products. There are a TON of awesome products out there. Anothe vote for Adams, amazing products!
Blackbmagic how do you find that nanoskin pad for the DA? Is the minor marring any worse when done? I have nanoskin pads in blue and red and find they don't leave marring as long as your lube is good. I had heard that the DA pad left a bit and I was hoping you could answer.
There new, but I just use a little Dawn with a damp cloth and lightly wipe and then go over them with a nice wet cloth and dry.
Here's how they looked before with after photos.
Those and the new front parking lights really finished it off.
= https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/afte...l-bottles.html
Are you Adams guys using a DA with the polish/wax products or just using good ol fashioned elbow grease?
I picked up a DA last week and was looking at going with the Meguiar's Ultimate line but all those products + a few others and the price of the DA and pads I'm at the same price as the Adams complete exterior kit.
. Always looking and trying out new products. 
