You'll need a toothbrush and Q-Tips™ for removing the last of the wax and polish. Use Westley's Belche-White™ on the tires, inside, outside, and the tread.
Car show prep
So as I work to finish my Fastback for its first, (and mine) first car show season. Want to know if anyone has tips for prepped the car for the shows? Cleaning supply tips? What do you use to clean various areas? Any tips??
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
Clean, clean, and clean. Clay bar the paint, then polish it. Use Windex in the engine compartment to clean the painted surfaces since it won't damage them. Clean your tires and get the pebbles out of them. Don't put that glossy spray on them, but if you insist on using it, don't get it all over the ground around your tires. Dust your interior, vacuum your carpeting, and set the seatbelts in a nice position so that they are straight and even. Put your front seats in the same position, too.
You can use Q-tips to get into airvents and some places in the engine compartment, too. Use a lanolin hand cleaner to clean wiring and rubber hoses. Put a little in your hands and rub it into the wiring and hoses, then wipe down with a dry shop towel. Get all the bugs out of your radiator.
Good luck!
You can use Q-tips to get into airvents and some places in the engine compartment, too. Use a lanolin hand cleaner to clean wiring and rubber hoses. Put a little in your hands and rub it into the wiring and hoses, then wipe down with a dry shop towel. Get all the bugs out of your radiator.
Good luck!
Add to that, signage in an attempt to keep people off your car. Plenty of hydration for you while you hang out in your lawn chair and your cell phone to take pictures of other cars that you like.
+1....If your going to show your undercarriage Wipe with water and micro fiber towels if the u'carriage is somewhat clean. When you get close to any oily areas, I use a greasy rag just for those areas and keep them separate in a big slip-loc bag.Clean, clean, and clean. Clay bar the paint, then polish it. Use Windex in the engine compartment to clean the painted surfaces since it won't damage them. Clean your tires and get the pebbles out of them. Don't put that glossy spray on them, but if you insist on using it, don't get it all over the ground around your tires. Dust your interior, vacuum your carpeting, and set the seatbelts in a nice position so that they are straight and even. Put your front seats in the same position, too.
You can use Q-tips to get into airvents and some places in the engine compartment, too. Use a lanolin hand cleaner to clean wiring and rubber hoses. Put a little in your hands and rub it into the wiring and hoses, then wipe down with a dry shop towel. Get all the bugs out of your radiator.
Good luck!
Don't take this the wrong way, but the success of the show-prep depends mostly upon the eyeball of the prepper... All sorts of different products can get the job done. But without a detailer's eye, the best products won't get you far.
My advice is to follow all the advice you get here... BUT, beyond that, while you're at the show, look at all the other cars until you stumble upon the top handful that are truly spotless and gleaming works of art. Focus-in on those, and see if your own standards for your own detailing job stack-up. If not, inquire with those folks as to what/how they did it.
My advice is to follow all the advice you get here... BUT, beyond that, while you're at the show, look at all the other cars until you stumble upon the top handful that are truly spotless and gleaming works of art. Focus-in on those, and see if your own standards for your own detailing job stack-up. If not, inquire with those folks as to what/how they did it.
Cleaning is everything. Maybe 15 years ago, a woman I knew who had a completely original 69 mach1 went to the Nationals. An hour before judging, her mandatory fire extinguisher burst, drenching the interior with foam. The judges waived the owner prep only provision, and a whole team of guys re-detailed her interior. She got her preservation award. She passed on just a few years later. The car is still around, still wearing the original Raven Black paint and black interior.
All of the above apply. However, the whole process can get a bit out of hand. The best. John--Las Vegas
Wow, Awesome.Cleaning is everything. Maybe 15 years ago, a woman I knew who had a completely original 69 mach1 went to the Nationals. An hour before judging, her mandatory fire extinguisher burst, drenching the interior with foam. The judges waived the owner prep only provision, and a whole team of guys re-detailed her interior. She got her preservation award. She passed on just a few years later. The car is still around, still wearing the original Raven Black paint and black interior.
I have a similar story:
At our Nationals here in Asheville in 2010, My (now passed on) father-in-law got to show his 67 Mustang(see sig) for the first time in the MCA. He had dementia. He just enjoyed sitting and watching all the festivities on that Saturday morning. We (wife and me) had our duties to make sure the show would run smoothly and wasn't able to get to his 67 to clean it. There were 3 of our club members that cleaned and detailed his 67 and he ended up getting a 2nd in the occasional driven. My wife shed some tears and thought "what an amazing group of people we have in our club". John (father-in-law) accepted his award on Sunday and had several of club and non club members stand and clap for John.
We show his Candyapple red 67 Mustang in his honor now at local,regional club shows.
I use my wife's steam cleaner to clean the engine compartment.
One more thing, clean your trunk and show it off, too.
LOL! I agree completely.All of the above apply. However, the whole process can get a bit out of hand. The best. John--Las Vegas
I generally keep my car pretty clean. Every spring I go through a four stage polishing process that is essentially my prep for the entire season.
My prep for a particular show involves driving there!
Well stated. As a Gary, Indiana native, you took the words right 'ouch' my mouth. Best regards. John--Las VegasLOL! I agree completely.
I generally keep my car pretty clean. Every spring I go through a four stage polishing process that is essentially my prep for the entire season.
My prep for a particular show involves driving there!
OK so I am not getting many replies.... How about this??
What do you use for Tire Dressing?
What do you use to Clean Engine bay?
Cleaning Seats?
Window Cleaner?
Detailing Tools?
What do you use for Tire Dressing?
What do you use to Clean Engine bay?
Cleaning Seats?
Window Cleaner?
Detailing Tools?
Detailing tools?
I really like long-stem q-tips: Amazon.com: Wood Stem Costmetic Swab: Beauty
![]()
OK, give me a few minutes, I think I can give you a more helpful response.
I really like long-stem q-tips: Amazon.com: Wood Stem Costmetic Swab: Beauty
OK, give me a few minutes, I think I can give you a more helpful response.
You could get 1,000 answers with 10,000 different products, and they'd all be fine... Please don't take it the wrong way, but you just need to head over to Walmart, and..OK so I am not getting many replies.... How about this??
What do you use for Tire Dressing?
What do you use to Clean Engine bay?
Cleaning Seats?
Window Cleaner?
Detailing Tools?
* Buy a bottle of original formula Armor All for the tires (apply with rag so overspray doesn't get all over car).
* Cleaning engine bay depends on how dirty/greasy it is. If it's pretty bad, buy some engine degreaser that's safe for painted surfaces, and follow the instructions. Keep your distributor dry and carburetor covered.
* Bottle of upholstery cleaner. Any brand. Doesn't matter really. Krud Cutter is also good for really grimy jobs.
* Stoner glass cleaner (in automotive detail-supplies section)
* A few different sized soft brushes, several packs of microfiber towels, a bucket, some wash soap, some Q-tips, and pick up a bottle of Gold-Class Meguiar's wax while you're there.
With the above Walmart products, in the right hands, you can prep a car for Pebble Beach. It's more about the basic-aptitude of the detailer, less about what brand of schmuck he/she prefers.
I assume you're a rookie at this Car Show stuff...
First you have to understand there's a HUGE learning curve for prepping. MUCH MUCH more involved than you might expect.
It's not just, "What products do you use?"
For starters, specific product recommendations can be misleading.
Examples:
--I used Zaino Z7 Show Car Wash & Z6 Detail Spray on my long-gone Corvette. But that is probably all wrong for you. (Don't put polymer sealants over wax, and vica versa.) Zaino is great, but expensive and can be a lot of work.
-- I really like Wheel Wax for simple-style chrome wheels. But not for painted wheels. And no way would I use it on wire wheels or wheels with lots of nooks & crannies (too much work for me).
-- Porter Cable makes very useful polishing kits. But polishing is only one part of paint prep. And you can damage your paint if you do it wrong.
My Suggestions:
-- As suggested by 69bossnine, a trip to Walmart will get you started. But don't get carried away... it's easy to spend $100's before you have a clue.
-- For your first Show, don't get crazy... just do a common-sense thorough cleaning.
-- Until you're more knowledgeable & experienced, choose basic products from ONE well-known manufacturer... Meguiars, Mothers, Turtle Wax, whatever. Just pick one & stick with 'em. Later you might branch out, with more specialized products and/or high-end stuff.
-- Talk with people at Shows. Yes, you can watch them do their ritual day-of-Show prep. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The real work is behind-the-scenes, days & weeks (and sometimes months) beforehand.
-- Maybe later (if ever) you can try to compete with the experienced highly-motivated obsessive-compulsive Car Show folks. In the meantime, relax & enjoy the Show.
-- Lots of useful specific info, like How to Detail an Engine. Some good stuff on youtube too. But some info is weak, just a product ad.
-- Browse these:
Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides
CAR DETAILING & FINISH CARE - Autopia
Car Care Discussion - Corvette Forum
First you have to understand there's a HUGE learning curve for prepping. MUCH MUCH more involved than you might expect.
It's not just, "What products do you use?"
For starters, specific product recommendations can be misleading.
Examples:
--I used Zaino Z7 Show Car Wash & Z6 Detail Spray on my long-gone Corvette. But that is probably all wrong for you. (Don't put polymer sealants over wax, and vica versa.) Zaino is great, but expensive and can be a lot of work.
-- I really like Wheel Wax for simple-style chrome wheels. But not for painted wheels. And no way would I use it on wire wheels or wheels with lots of nooks & crannies (too much work for me).
-- Porter Cable makes very useful polishing kits. But polishing is only one part of paint prep. And you can damage your paint if you do it wrong.
My Suggestions:
-- As suggested by 69bossnine, a trip to Walmart will get you started. But don't get carried away... it's easy to spend $100's before you have a clue.
-- For your first Show, don't get crazy... just do a common-sense thorough cleaning.
-- Until you're more knowledgeable & experienced, choose basic products from ONE well-known manufacturer... Meguiars, Mothers, Turtle Wax, whatever. Just pick one & stick with 'em. Later you might branch out, with more specialized products and/or high-end stuff.
-- Talk with people at Shows. Yes, you can watch them do their ritual day-of-Show prep. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The real work is behind-the-scenes, days & weeks (and sometimes months) beforehand.
-- Maybe later (if ever) you can try to compete with the experienced highly-motivated obsessive-compulsive Car Show folks. In the meantime, relax & enjoy the Show.
-- Lots of useful specific info, like How to Detail an Engine. Some good stuff on youtube too. But some info is weak, just a product ad.
-- Browse these:
Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides
CAR DETAILING & FINISH CARE - Autopia
Car Care Discussion - Corvette Forum
Not to steal the post, but somebody want to explain "Clay bar" to me?Clean, clean, and clean. Clay bar the paint, then polish it. Use Windex in the engine compartment to clean the painted surfaces since it won't damage them. Clean your tires and get the pebbles out of them. Don't put that glossy spray on them, but if you insist on using it, don't get it all over the ground around your tires. Dust your interior, vacuum your carpeting, and set the seatbelts in a nice position so that they are straight and even. Put your front seats in the same position, too.
You can use Q-tips to get into airvents and some places in the engine compartment, too. Use a lanolin hand cleaner to clean wiring and rubber hoses. Put a little in your hands and rub it into the wiring and hoses, then wipe down with a dry shop towel. Get all the bugs out of your radiator.
Good luck!
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
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