Car show prep

3571 Views 33 Replies 19 Participants Last post by 09Frank65, Mar 2, 2014

dkutz

Discussion Starter · Jan 22, 2014

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??

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gimpystoy

· #21 · Feb 28, 2014

A tip given to me by a AAC judge some years ago. Every time I go to see my Dr. I ask for a handful of those long wood cotton swabs (Q-tips) They are excellent for reaching thru grill to get the bugs out of radiator without disturbing paint or fins.
Gimpy

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sixtysevenGTconv

· #22 · Mar 1, 2014

For those that show car but don't make the effort to clean & detail engine bay and open hood, I don't care how good paint is, I'll walk right by any car with hood closed. It tells me to lazy to make an effort to detail it. No vote! Most anyone can make a decent job look ok, it's the effort to make the rest look clean & detailed. And I agree, NO shiny tires or dash pads.

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69mach351W

· #23 · Mar 1, 2014

Laurie_S said:
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....I agree with Laurie, especially the engine compartment if it's a daily driver. Some people think just because they have a DD they don't have to clean as well....NOT. Get that engine compartment clean....

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sixtysevenGTconv

· #24 · Mar 1, 2014

69mach351W said:
+1....I agree with Laurie, especially the engine compartment if it's a daily driver. Some people think just because they have a DD they don't have to clean as well....NOT. Get that engine compartment clean....

Agree, I can't say how many times I've seen a new car drive pretty much drive off lot into a show, then loose in their class because they didn't make any effort to clean/detail car.

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1PONY2NV

· #25 · Mar 1, 2014

Jims68GTCS said:
I use my wife's steam cleaner to clean the engine compartment.

Holy crap! What great idea!

Great something else she going to pissed off at me about.

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aslan

· #26 · Mar 1, 2014

Whatever you do, stay away from Armorall. Might try doing a Google search about some of the reviews of that junk. Meguiar's has a great line of car care products.
Oh by the way, did someone mention to clean it? LOL
Stan

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22GT

· #27 · Mar 1, 2014

sixtysevenGTconv said:
And I agree, NO shiny tires or dash pads.

Yeah, I hate shiny tires. Westley's makes them look just right. Clean and black.

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69mach351W

· #28 · Mar 2, 2014 (Edited)

22GT said:
Yeah, I hate shiny tires. Westley's makes them look just right. Clean and black.

I use Black Magic Pro Shine Protectant on my tires. Spray it on the tires and use a terry towel and go around the tire until its soaked in. It will dry to a very low sheen with the new tire look without that glossy shine. I've been using it on my '69 mach1 in the MCA concours class with great results and great comments.

I also use it on my "original" interior as well.

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aslan

· #29 · Mar 2, 2014

Don't spray it on. I have seen too many cars with spray stuff on the ground around the tires. Like someone else said, spray it on a cloth and wipe the tires.
Stan

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wantaboss

· #30 · Mar 2, 2014

I like the armor all tire dressing its a gel you put on with the supplied applicator, put it on and the stuff lasts a long time and when it starts showing a little dirt just wipe it good with a dry cloth like one of your old micro fiber towels and it looks great again, let's just say one bottle lasts me 2 summers

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Woodchuck

· #31 · Mar 2, 2014

Original PAM on the rear lower quarters so the rubber bits from burnouts won't stick... :burnout:

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Askme42

· #32 · Mar 2, 2014

V8 Junkie said:
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.

Or make your own with a small dowel or stick and cotton swabs.

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Varilux

· #33 · Mar 2, 2014

The problem with Armor-All is most people don't know how to use it properly (IMHO).

First off, for Armor-All to look good, you have to have a really CLEAN tire to begin with. Too many people think they can just slop Armor-All over a dirty tire. I start off with Magic Black Bleach-White and a good stiff brush to get the tire really clean.

Second, most people use WAY TOO MUCH Armor-All. Get yourself a foam applicator (one side is curved and black, the other is straight and yellow). Put a couple squirts on the applicator and then work it around the tire (no need to add any more than the initial couple of squirts). To make the tire look good, you really need to use just a little bit of the stuff. It takes a few minutes to keep working the Armor-All into every little contour of the tire (around all the letters and into any moldings on the tire).

Finally, once you've used just a little Armor-All on the tire, use a clean towel to wipe it down and even out the coat. The result is a really nice looking black tire without much shine at all. If the tire looks shiny, you've used too much.

If you use too much, the stuff just ends up all over your paint once you drive.

Also, in my opinion, Armor-All has no business being applied to ANY interior surface (especially the dash). All it will do in the interior is attract dirt and dust.

For the interior, use a good vinyl cleaner and use a small, clean, stiff BRUSH that is only used for the interior. Vinyl has pores, and to get it nice and clean the brush will really help (won't hurt the vinyl at all). Be sure to get any grit/dust out from the piping in the seats.

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09Frank65

· #34 · Mar 2, 2014

22GT said:
Yeah, I hate shiny tires. Westley's makes them look just right. Clean and black.

Agree. I avoid Wesleys though because I have polished wheels and learned the hard way that one drop of that stuff results in hours of work to buff it out!

Each spring, I take the wheels off the car, scrub the tires and back side of the wheels with Dawn dish detergent and a stiff scrub brush. That gets the brake dust and road grime off them and actually keeps them looking fairly new. I don't like shiny tires any more (although I used to).

If you sit/stand by your car during your first show, 1000 critics will point out every flaw. Use their comments as preparation for your next show.

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Car show prep

dkutz

gimpystoy

sixtysevenGTconv

69mach351W

sixtysevenGTconv

1PONY2NV

aslan

22GT

69mach351W

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