Detailing a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
by Nicholas ChoppIt’s tough to beat the C7 Corvette for a combination of beauty and aggression – and the Grand Sport edition just takes that to the next level. This 2017 Corvette Grand Sport had only 20,000 miles on the odometer, so I expected it to be in good condition and wasn’t disappointed. The owner only does touch-free car washes and it’s typically only driven in nice weather, so the paint was in outstanding condition. The customized package was for a full interior and exterior detail and ceramic coating of wheels, paint, glass, and leather. While I would have preferred doing a wheels-off, lifting Corvettes can be tricky, and I didn’t have any of the Corvette-specific jack pads on hand.
Intake Photos
As usual, I started with intake photos:
Tires and Wheels
I always start with tires and wheels, and these were pretty rough. This is when having a variety of different brushes and cleaners is key. After everything was clean and dry the tires were dressed with Meguiar’s Silicone-Free Hyper Dressing.
The first step was removing the rim tape. Again, this is where having good tools helps. Trim removal tools are versatile!
Wheels and tires can be one of the most tiring and redundant parts of detailing, but also most rewarding.
Rinseless Wash
A Rinseless Wash is my go-to when the vehicle is already relatively clean. Meguiar’s Rinseless Wash and Microfiber Towels make an excellent combination.
Interior
The interior received a deep clean – carpet extraction was unnecessary, so a vacuum, thorough wipe down of all surfaces, and leather decontamination set the stage for leather coating.
Matte – the way leather should look.
The evils of denim:
After the decon was finished, Gyeon LeatherCoat Q2 was applied for at least 3-6 months of protection.
Engine Bay Detail
As with the rest of the car, the engine bay wasn’t horrible – a wipe-down with All Purpose Cleaner took care of most of it. All rubber seals were treated with a Nextzett Gummi Stick to keep them moisturized and to help prevent cracking.
Paint Coating
Applying ceramic coatings is unlike any other protectant – you have to be careful, methodical, and pay close attention to curing time. Prior to coating it’s vital to remove all contaminants – for this I use a NanoSkin AutoScrub Fine Wash Mitt lubricated with NanoSkin Glide. This works like a claybar, but much faster, reusable, and less marring to the paint. It removes bonded contaminants like tree sap, residue from water marks, rail dust, and road grime.
The final step before coating is a wipe down with Gyeon Prep. This removes any chemical contaminants left behind after washing and using the Nano Mitt.
Finally ready to coat, I used CarPro Cquartz UK for the paint and glass, and CarPro Cquartz Dlux for the wheels.
Gyeon’s BaldWipe microfiber is my go-to for wiping off the excess coating.
D-U-N Done, Son
All in all it was about a 7-hour detail. It’s always a joy working on performance cars, and this one turned out beautifully.
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Nice job!
Did you have to do any paint correction before applying the CQuartz?
Also, do you hold on to the car a day to allow the CQuartz to fully cure? Just curious since I too will be working out of my garage.
Thanks. Jim
Hey Jim! Typically yes for paint correction, but the clearcoat was in fantastic condition. The owner only does touch-free and two bucket hand washes, so very minimal defects. As to curing, I only keep cars for a day if it’s raining, or the owner doesn’t have a garage to store it in.
Hi Nick, First I would like to thank you for posting this for us to see and learn. As part of that learning, I would like to know the products you gravitate to when you want to do an interior full cleaning such as the leather and hard vinyl. It appears that for most of the products (at least from what I have seen), when you are paying a reasonable price for interior works about the same and provides the same level of protection. I am referring to such as Blackfire, Griots, Gyeon, Pinnacle, McKees 37, etc. I am sure I am missing something here and that is why I’m asking the question. Like most people, I’m just trying to get the best bang for the buck and have something that is about as effortless as you can get. Thanks, tom
Hi Tom. For longer lasting protection Gyeon’s interior ceramic coating is the way to go. The spray (Gyeon Leather Coat) will last for a few months, whereas Gyeon Leather Shield will last up to 12 months. The spray is obviously easier to apply and more affordable, but doesn’t last as long.