Yes, that is more accurate but to be honest - I did all the mechanical work myself and of course, buffed out all the paint. The yellow paint had turned white with oxidation but she shined right up.
Good analogy.
There's another story about when I first arrived into Irvine, California from Albany, Oregon and the first order of business was to find a NAPA or an AutoZone. During the trip, somehow one of the power steering line sprung a leak. As I was driving around looking for an auto parts store, there was this crazy guy driving and old Jeep Pickup, (like an mid-1970s), painted blue with a flame job following me?
When I found an AutoZone, parked and got out of the Milk Truck, this ZANY guy in the Jeep Pickup parked next to me, got out of his truck and started walking around the Milk Truck just enjoying what it was.
His name is Jonny Zurba and we became great friends. He thought the Milk Truck was cooler than hell.
I think the Jeep in the background of this video is the same Jeep Pickup he was driving when we met.
Yeah, I have more Milk Truck stories and some day, I have a folder with a lot of Milk Truck Pictures.
I no longer have it - but there was in issue of GoodGuys Magazine with the Milk Truck on the cover, (with a lot of other cool cars).
So busy shooting new how-to videos right now - no time for anything else.
Cool video project tomorrow with our video guy Yancy Martinez - we're shooting a video dedicated to the topic of gear-driven orbital polishers and confidence is high this video is going to come out great.
ChatGTP Answer – Which car detailer has shared more info about gear-driven orbital polishers
Mike
Mike
The story about meeting Jonny because he spotted the Milk Truck from his old Jeep pickup is exactly why I love old vehicles. You weren't just driving a truck across the country, you were creating stories and friendships along the way!
I've had my truck in Miami for less than a week, and I've already spent more time talking to people about it than actually driving it! Old vehicles seem to have a way of bringing people together, and I love it.
The fact that the Milk Truck ended up on the cover of Goodguys Magazine doesn't surprise me one bit.
Looking forward to your new video, Mike. Hope the filming goes smoothly and everything comes together the way you want it to.
Speaking of adventures...an update:
I managed to find a place here in Miami where I could use a hose/pressure washer. The catch? It cost me $3 every time I wanted water, and each session only lasted a few minutes. Suddenly every second of rinsing felt like a strategic military operation.
The claying wasn't quite as smooth as I've experienced on other vehicles. This old patina truck has clearly lived a life and received plenty of touch ups over the years. There were definitely moments where I wondered if I was helping the paint or committing crimes against it (marring/marking the paint)
After the claying, I moved on to my first application of Meguiar's #7.
I applied it generously by hand (with terry microfiber towels, folded in four, the way Mike has suggested) and let it soak for nearly 24 hours. I know the bottle says not to let it dry, I figured I'd trust Mike over the bottle.
When it came time to remove it, I expected some kind of miracle moment where neglected paint suddenly came back to life.
Instead, it felt more dull, or no change, than before I started.
No dramatic shine, no choir of angels, and no immediate miracle unfortunately.
Between the clay not feeling particularly smooth and the lack of instant transformation from the #7, I started wondering if maybe I'd finally found paint that couldn't be saved.
I've spent years reading detailing forums, watching videos, and researching products. Turns out reading about detailing and actually detailing and gaining hands on experience are two very different things (to state the obvious).
I'm a professional fighter. In my world there's 'being in shape', and then there's 'being in fight shape'.
Now I've discovered a third category:
'Being in detailing shape'!
I was sweating like I was cutting weight for a fight. Granted, this is Miami, where the humidity and heat feels like you're breathing through a wet towel.
Still, I'm not ready to quit. I applied a second heavy coat of #7 and decided to keep moving forward.
I found a place to use water for a wash, but my next challenge: Where do I find electricity? (for the machine polishing step).
I'm now searching for some mythical Miami location with an electrical outlet, shade, enough room to work, and no HOA president waiting to issue citations for possessing a machine polisher.
Because next up (after removal of the second coat of number 7 later today) will be my first attempt at machine polishing (I've decided to do a one step, with 3D One).
I've never machine polished before, but I figure there's hope. I watch YouTube videos where someone is holding a beer, barely explaining what they're doing, randomly waving a machine over a panel, and somehow ending up with paint that looks fantastic.
I'll start with a test spot and report back.
And yes, after this experience, I think I'm officially signing up for the September 2-Day Class. I have a feeling it will save me from learning everything the hard way!
