We planned this detail down to the hour to keep it active, subcontractors had advance notice so the turn around was quick. We have been open for a year. All work space is not decorated, but painted in white or bright gray. It keeps workspaces from getting dirty and makes it very obvious when they do. Plus, it would be a shame to take focus off the real art parked inside!!
Just joking about the art. I agree I like a white shop keeps it clean and fresh. Great work can't wait to see more updates! Cheers!
Stage 8: Tire mounting and wheel protection With the wheels back and coated, it was time to have the tires installed. Our hunter mounting machine does not have any contact with the wheels edging. This allows us to consistently mount tires without the risk of damage. Once mounted, the tires were filled with nitrogen. We prefer this gas in performance applications for a consistent tire pressure. Once filled, the tires were road forced balanced. The high quality of OEM wheels is evident in the balancing process. Only minor correction was needed. A mixture of 50/50 alcohol and water was applied to a microfiber towel to remove any dust and overspray. Once cleaned and dried, Autoglyms' radiant wax was applied to seal and protect the surface. This is a great process for all rims. It makes brake dust easy to clean up. Finally, tires were treated with Malco prizm dressing. We recommend this dressing even to enthusiasts. It leaves a natural lasting finish compared to the greasy wet look most products leave. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Please view the following link for an example of similar detail on a Bmw M5. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284147
Stage 9: 2000 grit body wet sand The actual paint correction process started today after all the prep work over the past two days was completed. Two 5 gallon buckets are filled 3/4 full of pure water. One bucket is a rinse bucket, the other is a fresh water supply. 3m 2000 grit paper is wrapped around a rubber sanding block. With florescent lighting all around and halogens as a spotter, the body is sanded 4" x 4" at a time. It is important to keep checking paint depth with a paint meter to make sure equal pressure is consistently being applied. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Stage 10: 2000 grit individual parts Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Are the shields actually stamped into the fenders or are they just stickers? We've seen a couple of 355s with stamped shields but I think they're usually stickers (?). Considering the amount of work and attention to detail that is going into this car, I would be tempted to lose the shields if they're just stickers. Just my $0.02 and no offense intended to the owner.
man, I'd love to have the "process" done to my 355, but am afraid of the costs... that's a lot of hours. JD
$50/hr * 12 hrs/day = $600. So far, it is ... 3 days and the job is likely 25% done = $2000. The whole thing is ... $8,000 plus external cost of painting, and supplies, and . $10K easy. Well, that scratch there on my car can wait a little longer.
Stage 11: Body 3000 grit wet sand With the aggressive 2,000 grit hand sanding stage complete, we moved to a finer grade - 3,000. The body was fully wiped down with a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water to remove all dust and clear the surface. 3M's trizact system in 3,000 grit was applied to a DA sander; speed was set at half speed. Using water for lubrication, each panel was sanded in stripes roughly 3' wide. This stage removed all scratches from 2,000 grit and fully leveled the paint. Now, there is not a single scratch or wave in the paints surface. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Time spent stripping bumpers, wheels, etc is not added to this details time. We will post actual detailing clock hours when complete.
Plus the interior, and assuming there is only 1 technician doing the exterior work... Still probably a lot less money that a bare-metal refinish.
Stage 12: 3,000 grit panels Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
We are staying late tonight, updates will continue until 8 or 9pm. The following stages are the most rewarding.
