Ideas on Polishing My F150

DC Larson · #1 10-01-2002, 09:53 AM

Hello,

I have a 2000 F150 4x4 Lariat Ex Cab. Bought it new. It's Wedgewood Blue in color. It's been garaged all its life but I do use it outside a lot....hunting, camping, road trips. About 28,000 miles it. I drive another car to work. I haven't put only about 3 coats of that New Finish stuff on it for wax since I've owned it.

I want to shine it up the best I can before winter hits and then hopefully keep it maintained. The rest of the truck is well maintained.

Can anyone give me some tips on what to do? I've heard of this clay brick thing. I'll do it if I need to. Everything from a good prep job to the final shine. I wanna know. Product name and numbers and order of use would be greatly appreciated. I've got a messed up back, which is why I haven't kept up with it much. But I want to do it right, from the start, and keep up with it. If it takes a weekend....fine. I maybe stoved up the rest of the week, but I'll do it. I live in Montana also, so I would like to use a product to handle the winters.

Any help would be appreciated

DC Larson
00 F150 4x4 Lariat SC
5.4L w/ Diablo Sport Chip
WMS Velocity Tube
Sway Bar on Order

Intel486 · #2 10-01-2002, 09:58 PM

The clay will make the paint on your truck smooth again.

For a good shine you'll need to work in a polish. Meguiar's #9 applied with a foam applicator will work. Work it in back and forth motions until it becomes tacky, then buff it off to a nice shine using 100% cotton towels. You may have to work the panel over multiple times.

A cleaner wax can also be used, which is a wax that has polishing and cleaning abilites.

DC Larson · #3 10-02-2002, 09:16 AM

What is the clay brick and where do you get it? How do you use it? After the Meguiars 9, do I put on anything else afterward? Thanks for your help.

Green_98 · #4 10-02-2002, 02:01 PM

Theres hundereds of things you can do to make it shine and protect. Follow these steps and you cant go wrong--
1) Wash entire truck with dawn dish soap to remove oldwax/polish.
2) Wash entire truck with good car wash soap (meguiars)
3) Clay bar (not sure how to use but its easy)
4) Liquid Glass polish--you get it at autozone. Its a little pricey but shine pays off big time!! I would perfer to use 2-3 coats, allowing an hour or so b/t coats for curing time.
5) 1-2 coats of Meguiars highly reflective wax, #26 wax, or carnuba wax--theyre at autozone too
6)Meguiars Quick Detailer--its a spray and shine mist that you spray on, wipe in quickly with a 100% cotton rag only, turn rag over, and wipe any excess moisture off.
7) Eagle One Glass cleaner, then buff with newspaper. Nothin better.
ALSO:

-If you have chrome, get Turtle wax chrome polish in little white bottle with red cap and use just like wax on your chrome. Wipe on, let haze, wipe off quickly. Makes chrome shine like nothing else.
-If you have painted wheels, wax those same as body of truck. If you have chrome wheels, do like chrome bumpers or grill.
- Good dash and plastic cleaner and protectant, perferabliy Black Magic plasticizer. Good stuff!
-Armor All Detailers Advantage tire shine--just dont let any excess stay on wheels.

--You wont need a buffer with any of the polish or wax, which is a good thing. Any more questons, post em and we'll try to answer them.

Intel486 · #5 10-02-2002, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Green_98

3) Clay bar (not sure how to use but its easy)

Yep, it is really easy to use. Pepboys and Autozone should have clay. If not, then places online sell it. Peboys carrys the Mother's Clay kit, which contains the clay, lubricant, and a sample of cleaner wax. It is is a red box.

Quote:

4) Liquid Glass polish--you get it at autozone. Its a little pricey but shine pays off big time!! I would perfer to use 2-3 coats, allowing an hour or so b/t coats for curing time.

Should leave atleast 4 hours between coats.

Quote:

6)Meguiars Quick Detailer--its a spray and shine mist that you spray on, wipe in quickly with a 100% cotton rag only, turn rag over, and wipe any excess moisture off.

Get Meguiar's #34 Final Inspection if you can. Meguiar's Quick Detailer in the purple bottle contains silicone, which can smear and streak your paint.

Quote:

7) Eagle One Glass cleaner, then buff with newspaper. Nothin better.

Pro's AGC-18 Glass Cleaner and a YoSteve microfiber towel. Nothin compares! Fool Proof combination. Can be used in direct sunlight w/ no streaks.

Green_98 · #6 10-02-2002, 09:14 PM

well now that intel486 has ripped my advice apart.....lol jk
Yea combine my advice with intels and you cant go wrong dude
-Patrick

Intel486 · #7 10-03-2002, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Green_98
well now that intel486 has ripped my advice apart.....lol jk

Sorry

Green_98 · #8 10-03-2002, 11:41 AM

no prob dude im open to new ideas too
-Patrick

01 XLT Sport · #9 10-03-2002, 12:20 PM

How about I interupet this love fest and recommend ZAINO from Zainobros.com

Sorry had too, you two were having too much fun

dlf · #10 10-03-2002, 02:23 PM

Then find someone to help you..........lol

DLF

DC Larson · #11 10-07-2002, 09:14 AM

Thanks a bunch guys...I haven't been on line for a while...been sick as hell. Supposed to have a nice weekend coming up. Middle 60's maybe along with a three day weekend....I should get'er done. This is just the advice I was looking for. Now I gotta figure out how to print it out!

Green_98 · #12 10-07-2002, 03:10 PM

hey hope your better. Good luck with the truck too! Theres nothing to make you feel better than washin the old F-1