1994 HMCS Project

[ssgharkness020147]

I'm buddies with the shop manager so I get a bit of a deal. Usually what I get goes for 250.00. I dont go full out and get the works like your buddy did, I dont want to pay that much.

Originally Posted by NewHummerGuy

Yeah but for 150 bucks the local shop wont do everything Aubs is doing.

Example...my neighbor just had his twin turbo supra done. A FULL out exterior detail. Cars 14 yrs old so paint was a tad worn and is black. 50 bucks an hour for 11 hours. I tell you what though the car looks better than it did in 1993.

A regular detail will run 150-200+ for a large vehicle. To do anything other than this will cost you. At least around here thats what it goes for.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I think a shop could probably do a better job, but I like the satisfaction of doing it myself too. But I hate the tennis elbow and severe arm pain that follows hours of work... haha. I picked read a book in the bookstore tonight on detailing, and I have determined that I need to do this again when it's warmer (I was getting smearing) and that I should use the polish step to get the scratches out too. So I'll probably end up doing all of it again, and then putting a few coats of the Gold Class on there. This truck is going to look like a million bucks, minus the hood damage.

[NewHummerGuy]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

I think a shop could probably do a better job, but I like the satisfaction of doing it myself too. But I hate the tennis elbow and severe arm pain that follows hours of work... haha. I picked read a book in the bookstore tonight on detailing, and I have determined that I need to do this again when it's warmer (I was getting smearing) and that I should use the polish step to get the scratches out too. So I'll probably end up doing all of it again, and then putting a few coats of the Gold Class on there. This truck is going to look like a million bucks, minus the hood damage.

You are doing awesome Aubs

That old a vehicle and being red you are doing great.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

These are some before shots of the truck. They give a decent comparision of the paint. I've got the roof rack off to paint it, and so the truck fits in my quonset hut:







This is the hood, which I need to replace or repair. I'm thinking a repainted HMMWV hood might be in order:




Here is the truck with the wheel shields on (which I got with it):

[NewHummerGuy]

Originally Posted by ssgharkness020147

I'm buddies with the shop manager so I get a bit of a deal. Usually what I get goes for 250.00. I dont go full out and get the works like your buddy did, I dont want to pay that much.

Yeah I know what you mean. There are several things proffesionals can do. But it will cost ya

having a buddy in the business helps

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Oh, my new plate also has "666" in it, all in a row. Unless I get a custom plate, I thought about nicknaming the truck "Red Devil" but that's overused. "Mephisto's Wagon" was another possibility. "Bat Out of Hell" was also comtemplated. "El Diablo" is very cliche.

"Phoenix" is another possibility.

[NewHummerGuy]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

Oh, my new plate also has "666" in it, all in a row. Unless I get a custom plate, I thought about nicknaming the truck "Red Devil" but that's overused. "Mephisto's Wagon" was another possibility. "Bat Out of Hell" was also comtemplated. "El Diablo" is very cliche.

"Phoenix" is another possibility.

Hows about BLOOD WGN....or that to many letters

or............ALGORE4ME

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Originally Posted by NewHummerGuy

Hows about BLOOD WGN....or that to many letters

or............ALGORE4ME

ERTHKLR

We are allowed 8 characters in PA.
I am considering:

1994
1994 H1
RED H1
RED HMCS
INURFACE
REAL4WD
OUTATIME
FOLLOWME

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

Oh, my new plate also has "666" in it, all in a row. Unless I get a custom plate, I thought about nicknaming the truck "Red Devil" but that's overused. "Mephisto's Wagon" was another possibility. "Bat Out of Hell" was also comtemplated. "El Diablo" is very cliche.

"Phoenix" is another possibility.

"Diablo's Uno" "Satan's 4X4" "Hell's HUMMER" (I like that one!)

[Hummer Aficionado_VT]

Originally Posted by BlueHUMMERH2

ERTHKLR

We are allowed 8 characters in PA.

HELLZHMR

[BlueHUMMERH2]

The foam is in ceiling and in 2 doors, and so far it sounds more quiet. I can tell now for sure that the remainder of the sound is coming from the doghouse and the related area. So I am going to do that next. Perhaps I will use Hushmat because it's not as thick.

This stuff is "elastomeric foam pipe insulation" from what I can tell. It's highly insulating and it is apparently evironmentally friendly. It does smell funny though. But if it doesn't kill me, I saved a lot of money over Dynamat or all Hushmat.

The headliner is a PITA to put back in the truck BTW.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I started cleaning the panels, and found that they were very dirty. I was using Blue Magic leather and vinyl cleaner, and found that it worked great at first and then it suddenly would trap the dirt on the vinyl, and it was almost impossible to remove. So I must say avoid this stuff:



To reverse the evil effects of the Blue Magic, I had to use some of the Meguire's Gold Class shampoo (car wash) which when rubbed in or brushed on removed the dirt. I then just used a diluted solution to clean off the rest of the panels. Then I've been applying Son of a Gun interior shine up stuff which has so far worked very nicely, better than Armor All.

Here are the three products I've been using on the outside. One cleans, then 2 polishes, and then I have been skipping 3 (Carnuaba Wax) and applying the Meguire's Gold Class wax. I still need something to remove the scratches. Turtle Wax Polishing compound was ineffective:



Here are some more random photos:

Floor area before installing seat:



New seat inside (that's nothing wrong with the paint there, just some reflection):





Quite a production:

[NewHummerGuy]

Aubs man you are doing great. A lot of work but you will benefit from it all.

Nice man..

[3Hummer]

so are you keeping the brush guard on or taking it off? And also are you keeping the roof rack on or taking it off. Does the underbody have any damage to it?

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Roof rack is probably going back on when repainted. The brushguard... I haven't decided. Looks like someone is going to give me a HMMWV brushguard this week, so I might put that on instead. There is no underbody damage, but also no underbody protection.

[BlueHUMMERH2]

I got Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound today to try to work out the scratches more. It seems to be helping, but it's hard to tell. The driveway makes for a dreary reflection on the side of the truck too, so I can't get a good idea. If I get the passenger's side done today, I can turn the truck around and put the newly finished side in the sun. Then I will know!

[BlueHUMMERH2]

Well, the Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound worked, but without very visible results other than creating a red-tinted applicator pad.

So I dug around in my bin of detailing supplies, and found the Mother's Power Ball that I use for the H2 rims. I decided to try that on the rims, but all the bolts foiled any attempts. I put the Meguiars Step 2 Polish on the Power Ball instead and started with that on the paint. I figured it could make 10,000 passes over the spot as compared to my 100 or so in the same period of time. It actually worked great, and the polish buffed out a lot of the scratches. I was really happy with the result. I will probably go back and do the side that I've already finished and redo it with the Power Ball.



Here is a picture of the side that is finished in the sun:



Still too many scratches. I hope to remove those more with the Power Ball:




I have the hood to redo yet, and I began working on the roof but it was still too hot so I decided to come in and make dinner while it cools in the shade.

The truck, IMHO, looks pretty awesome! It's going to be badass with a repainted roof rack, and once I get the rims cleaned (which I started to do). It's going to turn a lot of heads. I should perhaps think about taking it to some local car shows when the hood is fixed up.

One problem that I will have to remedy is that the door hinges are rusting rather badly on the drivers side. I think that I will remove them if it gets much worse, and paint them black to match the rims. I think matching the hood to the paint is going to be hard enough, and I know the hinges would probably really show if they mismatched.

I think that I have at least 20 hours into the truck so far. Maybe 25.

[NewHummerGuy]

Nice Aubs.

Whats amazing in this pic is the color difference between the roof (not done) and the side. Looking good

By the way....do you have a job

[ssgharkness020147]

Aubs,
To really get out all of the scatches you will need to wet sand those areas. I would just use 1500 grit on it, instead of 1000. The downside is that you will need to polish the area with a real polisher, a high speed orbital. But, if you wet sand/polish when you are done the results that you will get will be flawless and I promise you'll be happy. Good work no less. I bought one of those power balls last week to do my wheels, holy sh!t I have never seen them so shiney, they look brand new.

[usetosellhummer]

ok now turn a wrench on it. clean out the water filter on the fuel line. and check the t-case fluid. It might be burnt. looks like fun man!