Wes_R x NSX (56 pics)

Here is a write up on one of my childhood fantasies, the Acura NSX.

Basically a polishing job with a little but not so little interior job (no shampooing of the carpet cause the owner wanted to do it himself).

Now excuse the weird picture gaps inbetween processes because me being a big excited idiot forgot to charge my camera battery so I was working off of 1 bar of life then doing a quick charge to take pics then back to charging. I know it's bad for the battery but it will never happen again I promise plus I believe I remember reading somewhere I can charge the battery anytime, but I rather not risk it anyway.

So here we go, not very educational but hopefully you can catch some tips, product reviews, or just enjoy the show. Also the owner had just recently purchased this NSX so some of the neglect you are about to see is not his fault.



The Japanese Legend
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/2.jpg



The swirls, spider webbing, etc
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/3.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/4.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/5.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/6.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/7.jpg

I honestly don't think it had ever been polished in it's life.



So now on to the routine starting with the wheels
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/14.jpg

Soaking with p21s wheel gel cleaner



Then on to the engine with some basic before and afters
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/8.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/9.jpg

before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/10.jpg

after
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/11.jpg

some more afters but taken at a later time
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/12.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/13.jpg



Onto the washing

After rinsing the car down you could see in certain parts that the water was sheeting, which is a sign of no protection(wax, sealant).
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/15.jpg

Two bucket method
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/16.jpg

Sea Sponge
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/17.jpg

Dried off with the waffle weave towel which is way better then a chamois because of the speed, softness, etc
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/18.jpg



Started claying with Riccardo Clay and clay lube being Meguiars Last Touch cut 50/50 with water.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/19.jpg

After just the roof
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/20.jpg

Rinsed off the car then dried it off again with the waffle weave towel



Measured the paint in microns to look for any low spots and if anything was repainted
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/21.jpg

It turns out the two rear quarter panels were repainted(generally OEM is around 100-130 microns in my experience)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/22.jpg

And I guess the trunk blended in
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/23.jpg

But the rest of the car was pretty much OEM
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/24.jpg



Masked up the car which is very important. I'm not finished in this pic though by the way.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/25.jpg



Started polishing with the rotary and Presta Chroma Polish, 5.5 inch Orange Lake Country pad, and the Makita.

Technique being the Zenith Point Technique.

Spreading at 900 RPM

Breaking down at 1200 RPM

And polishing until clear at 1500 RPM

Then back down the scale to 1200RPM

Then finishing at 1000 RPM

Here is the hood polished but the headlight not
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/26.jpg

A 50/50 shot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/27.jpg

A bigger view
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/28.jpg

Driver's side finished
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/29.jpg

Passengers side to go
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/30.jpg

Just wanted to throw in this pic cause I though it looked cool. Notice how many orange pads I got out. I learned that a brand new clean pad cuts better then just brushing it off, so I generally use at least a new pad per panel sometimes even two.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/31.jpg



So anyways with the cutting stage done I washed off the car with Hi Temp Prep wash and a very soft Lambs Wool Mitt. The Prep Wash is great for eating up the polishing dust and oils and makes the caked up parts easier to remove.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/32.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/33.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/34.jpg



Now rinsed that off and dried up. Started the refining/burnishing polish with a new product and pad to try out which was 3M Ultrafina and the 3M Blue Pad on the Rotary with the 3M Gray Foam Backing Plate which is a softer foam then the yellow which is great for finishing.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/35.jpg

Personally I like the Ultrafina better then Menzerna P085RD because it is so much easier to wipe off and is great to work with on the Rotary. Some people have said that PO85RD leaves a better finish and I have both so I will do a comparison but the Ultrafina finish is AMAZING.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/36.jpg



Poorboys Wheel Sealant on the rims, honestly I have been hearing about people just putting on Zaino Z2 on the rims so after I'm done with my PB I'm gonna give that a shot cause that sounds pretty cool.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/37.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/38.jpg



I also did Black Wow on the rubber trims. Here is a 50/50
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/39.jpg

Put on Danase Wet Glaze with the Porter Cable and a Lake Country Black Pad.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/40.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/41.jpg

Wiped that off and then put on some Swissvax Concorso



Then onto the interior, honestly no pics at all pretty much, just wanted to get it done.

Basically what I did was a vacuum, q-tipped some tight spots, brushed some dust and tight spots, all purpose cleaner wipe down, Gliptone Leather Clean and Condition, 303 Aerospace Dressing and dry wipe down, Stoners Invisible Glass cleaned the windows.

Here is a cool before and after pic of the seat belt button.

Before
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/42.jpg

After
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/43.jpg

The aftermath
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/44.jpg

The used microfibre on the left after wiping off the seats with all purpose cleaner and a unused microfibre on the right.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/45.jpg



Anyways wiped off the wax and now onto the eye candy.

Me trying to get some cloud reflection shots.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/46.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/47.jpg

I love this shot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/48.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/49.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/50.jpg

When I saw this shot I swear I had an epiphany and I heard a choir going...
"aaaahhhhhhhh"
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/51.jpg

Nice reflection shot
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/52.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/53.jpg

Remember how the trunk and roof looked before in the sun, now they look amazing.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/54.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/55.jpg

And the parting money shot.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn31/WesRobles1/johnsnsx/56.jpg



First a big thank you to the owner for giving me the opportunity to work on this classic and a thank you to you guys for reading.

I am sorry about how this one turned out especially on this car but I promise my next NSX I will be more detailed.

As usual the good, the bad, and the ugly is more then welcome.

Cheers,
Wes

Help me to understand why this NSX is on R8talk?

Cause it's in the detailing section just like all the other cars in here. And if you read through hopefully you can learn something.

Gee, thanks.

Gee, thanks.

mngolfer1 I hope you are feeling suitably chastised for asking the obvious question... :)

Yep. I guess I should have known better than to ask a question. :o)

The paint looks much better...But another box of Q-tips required.Chip Fooses' Mothers Powerball could probably have done just as good a job. Our guy Pro-detail here in So.Cal should be amused. You can post your pics alongside his threads for a comparo. What a cool mini car Ferrari , akward looking NSX that is though.You betcha' Acura will be trying to sell an R8 clone soon!!!

Yeah going through the detailing section I was checking out his work, looks pretty good. I see him other places also.

We'll see about the new NSX, it all depends on the economy I guess if they decide to restart the project.

Thanks for the reply I look forward to sharing more write ups and helping out with anyone who needs some advice.

good job, but expect others to come down on you

Thanks for the compliment, I don't take it personal anyway.

Your days work increased the value of the car maybe 25% or more.If you buy these type of neglected cars cheap and turn them for a profit you can make some serious cash.This is how I basically started out collecting cars.I would do a complete paint job though,stripping the cars way down.I am learning now from you guys that with the proper techniques, and products, miracles can happen !!:)

I was just reading a topic on another forum where according to the Kellys Blue Book a good thorough detailing, polishing paint, polishing headlights, polishing glass etc can raise the value of the vehicle buy thousands!

Definitely something in my future plans of expanding. If we weren't so far apart I would love to see if we could make something happen together.

I am planning on clay barring my Jet blue. My one buddy says it's simple ,quick and we'll hand apply wax afterwards. His '06 pearl yellow Gallardo is in high-gloss mode all the time.My car hardly ever sits outside, so my paint seems pretty nice still. Could I get away with such a simple rub?? It seems I would be skipping MANY steps that you pros recommend.

I am planning on clay barring my Jet blue. My one buddy says it's simple ,quick and we'll hand apply wax afterwards. His '06 pearl yellow Gallardo is in high-gloss mode all the time.My car hardly ever sits outside, so my paint seems pretty nice still. Could I get away with such a simple rub?? It seems I would be skipping MANY steps that you pros recommend.
Buffing is the key for shine