the last 2 weeks has seen me begin my under car detail. i have started by doing the front only, i shall begin the back over the course of the next few weeks, but ive done enough to start a thread. i had to do this completely in situ as i dont have the competance or confidence to take the car apart. having said that im very pleased at how it has turned out, theres just certain parts i couldnt quite reach to. the vast majority is done tho, as you'll see.

 

so having already done the brake calipers at the end of last summer i concentrated first on doing everything around the suspension, including the lower arms, drop links, drive train, steering rack/column (forget which one it is), the hubs, the sus strut and a second coat on the calipers. i also did the bit that connects the 2 lower arms.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/1-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/2-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/3-2.jpg

 

this took me 3 or 4 days. next i moved onto the gear box.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/5-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/4-2.jpg

 

i then decided to remove the front bumper, arch liner, headlights and grille so i could get underneath it all and clean it.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/6-2.jpg

 

i washed, clayed, cleansed and waxed the arches and cross member in order to try and give it a little bit of protection.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/9-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/13-1.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/12-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/11-2.jpg

 

next was the sump and exhaust manifold, done with heat paint. i was hoping to do the exhaust manifold heat shield but i knackered one of the bolts trying to get it off so i had to leave that for time being.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/8-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/10-2.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/16-1.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/18-1.jpg

 

once all that was done it was time to get it all back together. the arch liners were also washed and clayed but unfortunately not dressed as i dont have a product atm. the bolts were also painted.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/15-1.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/dreadscort/17-1.jpg

 

so thats it so far, all in all im very pleased with it so far. will make a start on the back over the next few weeks, whcich should be easier as its only the axle really. i will then move onto the middle of the car and do the sills and floor and exhaust. il update this thread as and when its done. i may do the faces of the hub whilst im at home this weekend.

 

any comments good or bad welcome. also any hints, tips aor suggestions will be graetfully received. thanks for reading.

Looks amazing mate!

Good effort, but you're absolutely mental!

Good effort, but you're absolutely mental!

 

cheers, a few people have said that!

Good effort, but you're absolutely mental!

 

+1

 

Looks great mate, but are you not worried it'll just get filthy again in a matter of weeks? Is this your daily driver?

yeah it is my daily driver. the main aim was to get it looking fresh and tidy and to give it some degree of rust protection.

thats not "detailing" you've cleaned and painted the underside though which is good, if it was detailing would you have really used hammerite and a yard brush on the shocks/calipers etc... I can remember when i used to be fussed enough to do things like that, good effort all the same

i did use hammerite and a wire brush. i will admit forgetting to sand on the suspension struts tho. ive seen it called a detail on detailingworld so figured it was.

Edited April 12, 201014 yr by ST170 Dan

don't take it the wrong way its all down to opinion, the massively anal cleaning and paint correction they do is what they call "detailing", you've done what used to be call detailing - picking out details in paint underneath etc. What you've done is good if a bit pointless, the whole "detailing" thing is a bunch of sad tossers spending 3 days cleaning a car IMO

Good effort, but you're absolutely mental!

 

What he said :-)

 

Looks great though.

Good effort! Going to have to show my bro these pics, so he can see what an ST170 is meant to look like!

Amazing mate looks great! Might have ago at mine

Fantastic bit of work, some might say its pointless but it if makes your car last that bit longer against rust then it will be worth it

thanks guys. you can argue its a bit pointless and it is a daunting task when you first get under there but i think overall its worth it. i dont plan on buying another car so i want to get as long as i can out of this one.

that is attention to detail at its best!

 

and thats detailing boy, detailing isnt just a wash, clay, polish, wax, seen this sort of thing alot on DW myself abit!

 

great work mate