I'm giving the underside of the SS the once over this year. It's been two years, two trips to Bowling Green, a number of car shows and two trips to the body shop (stripes & a new roof) since the underside has been cleaned properly.
I've finished the front end, so far.
Here's some pic's. They're not the greatest, but they'll give you an idea of what my 5 year old SS looks like.
Looks great. Actually looks a lot like mine after I clean it. Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
Ok John, are you *trying* to shame the rest of us?! Posted by 30thSSNerd (Member # 2155) on :
Wow thats clean! Getting ready early for the OCC Nationals I see Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Looks great John, what are you using to get everthing so shiny?
Posted by ss_rs_z (Member # 1888) on :
Looks positively wonderful. Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
goodLORD that's clean!! Posted by MaryandRalph (Member # 244) on :
Very nice job John!
Posted by HotWheelSS aka HTWLSS (Member # 117) on :
Posted by 01ss87iroc (Member # 1763) on :
Wow, that is clean! Posted by blkragss02 (Member # 1801) on :
POR-15?
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
quote:Originally posted by DaddySS: what are you using to get everthing so shiny?
Thanks everyone.
Well Rich, here's my cleaning formula (I know it's a little anal, but it works for me);
- first wash everything down with a J-cloth & water with car wash soap (seems to work well getting rid of dirt & brake dust). - then rinse with a another clean cloth and dry with a towel. - touch up the rust spots with POR-15 semi-gloss black (this is a fairly good match for the GM black suspension pieces). - the rubber hoses & brake lines, and plastic inner fenders, wire sleeves & splash shields get a coat of Zaino Z-16. I use a good tire dressing to brighten the rear wheel wells & factory undercoating. - plated parts (calipers, tie rod ends, etc.), & aluminum & stainless tubing get a good rub down with 3M metal polish. - and finally all painted suspension parts and the body underside get a coat of RainX spray wax. This wax also cleans & seems to last fairly long, it's easy to apply (one coat) and doesn't streak or leave any white residue in the welds and metal joints. I use RainX wax on my Jeep. It doesn't have the Zaino gloss but the rain (and snow) seem the wash the dirt right off. It has had the same effect on the underside of the SS.
It's taken a long time (3 1/2 hours just to clean from the front bumper to the wheel wells) but for me it's a labor of luv. Posted by 30thSSNerd (Member # 2155) on :
You and me are going to have to get together sometime soon Mr.! Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
quote:Originally posted by 30thSSNerd: You and me are going to have to get together sometime soon Mr.!
For sure! Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
Okaaaaayyyyy.....the blonde has some questions:
1) What is POR-15? 2) What is a J-cloth? 3) Do you clean inside every single little nook & cranny? (like under the calipers and on the backside of the springs?) 4) How hard is it to take wheels off? (remember who you're talking to here...) 5) Are you coming to Texas anytime soon?
Thank you, sir! Posted by DaddySS (Member # 848) on :
Thanks for the tips John, great stuff! Posted by Happy_Dan (Member # 118) on :
I hate cleaning the undercarriage. The worst part of cleaning the car.
Looks great John!
Posted by 30thSSNerd (Member # 2155) on :
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle: Okaaaaayyyyy.....the blonde has some questions:
2) What is a J-cloth?
They don't have them down in Texas?? Its a disposable cloth, most commonly used for washing dishes but you can use em wherever. They last a while too. You can get a good month out of one washing dishes. A box has 8 and is worth about $3.70 Cndn. Maybe we should sell them on Ebay eh!
[ 09. April 2004, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: 30thSSNerd ]
Posted by NATESS (Member # 982) on :
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle: Okaaaaayyyyy.....the blonde has some questions:
1) What is POR-15? 2) What is a J-cloth? 3) Do you clean inside every single little nook & cranny? (like under the calipers and on the backside of the springs?) 4) How hard is it to take wheels off? (remember who you're talking to here...) 5) Are you coming to Texas anytime soon?
Thank you, sir!
the wheels are not hard to take off. losen the lug nuts of the front wheel that you want to take off. (you can't losen them at first when the car is in the air, because the wheel would just spin around. you need the weight of the car on the tire). then jack up the car and losen them the rest of the way.
POR-15 is a coating that can cover up bare metal and protect it from rust. a lot of members here use it on their rusty suspention and rear end components. it comes in grey too.
[ 09. April 2004, 10:33 PM: Message edited by: NATESS ]
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quote:Originally posted by 30thSSNerd: They don't have them down in Texas?? Its a disposable cloth...
hmmmmmm......never heard of 'em.....is this it??
.....must be similar to this:
quote:Originally posted by NATESS: the wheels are not hard to take off..... POR-15 is a coating that can cover up bare metal and protect it from rust.
Having NO experience and no one to show me, it's a little intimidating....but you make it sound like something I could handle....thanks!!
[ 09. April 2004, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: cytruffle ]
Posted by 30thSSNerd (Member # 2155) on :
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle:
quote:Originally posted by 30thSSNerd: They don't have them down in Texas?? Its a disposable cloth...
hmmmmmm......never heard of 'em.....is this it??
.....must be similar to this:
There ya go !! Posted by 67&02 (Member # 1570) on :
Where is the pic of you cleaning dirt from your eyes! Looks Great! Posted by vyto2 (Member # 2265) on :
WOW! You could eat off those parts!!! Posted by blkragss02 (Member # 1801) on :
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle: Okaaaaayyyyy.....the blonde has some questions:
1) What is POR-15? 2) What is a J-cloth? 3) Do you clean inside every single little nook & cranny? (like under the calipers and on the backside of the springs?) 4) How hard is it to take wheels off? (remember who you're talking to here...) 5) Are you coming to Texas anytime soon?
Great job!
Posted by Mike2001SS (Member # 2088) on :
Looks great John maybe someday I can get mine looking like that. I guess I will get Greg to help at the next show I see him. About cleaning the back side of the springs and such. Yes all that needs to be done as well but you really need a lift to get it all done well. My neighbor down the street has a garage with a pit on one side like service stations used to have for oil changes and a lift on the other side. I pit the car on his pit and wash all I can reach with soap rags and soft brushes and the a low power pressure washer take air hose blow it down and then put it on the lift to pull and clean the wheel welds and polish the inside the rims while off the car.
Millie you can do it ask my wife Cindy. She scored a 998 platinum at the Nationals with her car and at Superfest in 2002 she got a perfect score no deducts and did it all herself.
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
quote:Originally posted by cytruffle: Okaaaaayyyyy.....the blonde has some questions:
3) Do you clean inside every single little nook & cranny? (like under the calipers and on the backside of the springs?)
Yep! I use an old toothbrush to clean out the welds and the other hard to get places. I also use an shop light with a regular 100 watt light bulb to find all the dirt. It really shows up the dirty areas. I'm a brute for punishment. Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Man, you need to get a hobby! Posted by poSSum (Member # 119) on :
I'm not worthy of parking in the same lot. Posted by MY02SSLE (Member # 2178) on :
Looks Good! I did the same thing last year. Although, I never got to finish the whole thing. I plan to clean to that level again this year. Here are my before and after pics.
Before:
After: Posted by LT14SHOW (Member # 2187) on :
LLLOOOKKKKIIINNNGGG GOOD!! Posted by Camaroman_99 (Member # 1972) on :
Ditto!
Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on :
Tisk, tisk...you missed the rotor Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
Looks great John .
Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
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thats clean! Getting ready early for the OCC Nationals I see ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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