308 Painting blueprint anyone?

Not sure I understand the query : can your paint shop not either match the color from existing paint or from the color code ?

There must be old threads by people with a similar query ie anyone who has had to repaint

 

Do you plan on doing the respray yourself? As above, I'm not sure what you mean by a "paint blueprint". Are you looking for the correct finishes for all the components or are you looking for a list of things to remove/mask etc. prior to the painting? I can help you either way as my 85 QV was recently repainted and I did much of the prep myself. I'm too cheap to pay shop labor costs for stuff I can do myself and the shop will be paying an 18 year old kid to do. As far as I know, there is no "blueprint" per se but there are some unique issues when painting a Ferrari

 

Ferrari's 308 GT4 workshop manual, in the body section , outlines the exact procedure of the era. Many of the materials called for are no longer available, because of environmental issues, and improved product.
Gary Bobileff

 

We recently completed a 9 month strip and refinish of our 308. The most labor intensive part was disassembly. We removed every part from the main body shell, doors, bumpers, hood, trunk, lights, every possible part was removed. We did not remove either windshield, or rear glass. We removed all trim, door glass, handles, and hinges. This is a very time consuming detailed effort due to difficulties with age and rust issues. As I remember this was a nearly 2 week process by both of my restoration techs working full time.

We then proceeded to strip to body shell to bare metal. We used paint remover not media or sand. That's when the fun began. We had to cut out all rusted metal and hand formed replacement panels. These panels were then hammer welded in place and shrunk to fit. Once this was completed we proceeded to lead and smooth all seams and welds. The same work was completed on both base door shells. We prefer using lead as there is no shrinkage issues as there can be with various plastic body fillers.

After several weeks of metal work and body shell preparation, we started to prime and finish the body shell. In order not to have any shrinkage of the primers, we applied these materials over an extended time period using our heated spray booth to accelerate the curing process. This process took several more weeks of application. To keep panels equal, all panels, doors, and body shell were done at the same time.

Next we had all body parts ready for final finish. We found over 10 different "Ferrari" red formulas. We origonally used our spectrograph to give us a formula based on our original color. It turns out our car had been resprayed somewhere in its checkered past, and the formula was not one of the "official" formulas we could find commercially.

The actual final finish process took several more weeks of application and color sanding, as with any proper refinish most of the color ends up on the floor until you get a perfect ripple free finish. I checked and out of 2 gallons of final finish there is about a quart left. I believe our cost of the color was just at $500.00 per gallon. I checked our receipts for all materials was just under $3000.00. This was for fillers, paper, finish materials. This figure does not include metal, lead and welding supplies. The reassembly process took 2 techs working full time between 2 and 3 weeks. I am embarrassed to tell you how much labor we have in this project, well in excess of 350 hours. I think we have in excess of $12,500.00, for a base metal respray. I'm guessing a body shop bill for the same work would top $16,000 to 20,000.00

Now before everyone gets ready to send the guys over with straight jackets, let me clarify why a somewhat sane person would spend this much time , effort and money on a lowly
308, let me explain, this is a labor of love. My wife is totally in love with the 308 design and I restored this one for her 55th birthday. Oh yes she loves it.

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1994 348 Spider
1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo

 

Howard,

I'd love to see photos of the process and the finished product, thanks.

 

I don't know there "is one" but I have three 1976 -77s (North American spec) and can try to guide you along...

Pay attention to things like Spray Shurtz lines, as you sand it down, make measurements.

The color does stop at engine compartment lines, but then again overspray casually lines the doors interiors and other areas!

 

Most of the "black trim" items (roof rails, engine lid/fender vents) are actually anodized, not painted...take a look at Newman's excellent threads on that.....

 

Maybe listed in the interesting 3x8 threads sticky at the top of the 308 section

 

The hardest thing I encountered was the disassembly and reassembly of the engine cover. Yes, the louvres and screen are anodized (same with the front louvres) and it's all held together by a zillion 1/8" pop rivets (get new black ones from McMasters Carr). You need a right angle drill fixture to get them out and a really skinney rivet gun to get them back in. Very hard to get the holes lined up when you re-rivit and I must confess I've got a few sheet metal screws painted black in places where they can't be seen. There's good information in Tillman's thread in the 308 section which is a sticky at the top of the page

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284414

Weather you're doing the work or having it done the above replys empathsize the importance of taking your time and doing it right

 

Hi Gary,

Any idea where to get a copy? Published on the web or in print?

Best,

Steve

 

Hello - I am not too familiar with Ferrari Chat tho I have been around for awhile. Mostly just do the Ferrari thing that ends up on my email. Any way - we are in the process of painting our 78 GTS and I found these articles MOST informative. Thanks. Reason for this note - I'd like your some collective thots on the following:

Do we have to remove doors, engine lid and trunk? We did remove the front spoiler and are in the process of removing the rear under panels. Drat - wouldn't you know it - one was smashed and sort of refiberglassed. Guess we'll find a used one or someone to repair this.

How did you protect the interior? I haven't seen a car yet that had the interior "protected" that didn't suffer tiny tiny tiny bits of Rossa Corsa when you look closely. I am thinking to take a cotton sheet and tape it in place then let the shop do their thing. Take seats out of course.

Anything else you can guide me with - especially those things you'd NEVER do again and of course those that are ABSOLUTELY necessary. We are removing everything we can -

Thanks for any help

Best

Doug

 

I'd like to paint exhaust pan cover on my 85 QV. The common or 'dull' appearance in the middle (louvers) from heat etc. is showing. I'm the second owner and it was never wrecked and the black finish is in 'gloss' black right now. I can't seem to find anyone that knows if the later cars came this way (gloss versus matte finish). would anyone kindly reply??

Best, Michael in San Diego