How the heck do you guys work on these cars?

Get plastic/nylon trim tools. MAcarbon has really nice sets of those, but available just about everywhere.

 

They all work.

 

I've been doing a TON of work on my 550 since buying it about a year ago. Highlights so far include Fabio headers/exhaust, 575 fan shroud/new fans/fusebox bypass, coilovers, all suspension bushings/ball joints/rod ends, etc (just finished...literally just drove it today for the first time in months), MSW rear sway bar/steering module, relpaced all locks, replaced oil and coolant lines, and a TON of smaller stuff. Prepping for intake removal and gas tank removal next. Car had no MAJOR issues when I got it, I just want it to be a reliable and fun daily setup just how I want it...plus I enjoy the challenge of working on it.

My process goes like this:
- Dig deep into past FC posts. A TON of great info and alternative part options. Not necessarily step-by-step instructions, but enough to glean the general steps.
- Parts diagrams/Workshop manual - I try to have all the parts on hand when I start the job, but inevitably end up having to order something else.
- Just do it - Just get in there and get started. I'll have to pause and sleep on a problem here and there, but eventually get through it.
- Look down on all the other Ferrari owners who ship theirs off to someone else to work on them

 

I've had my 456gt apart down to (almost) the last screw/nut/bolt and found most of it well engineered, well thought out and generally very elegant, but also pretty time consuming to work on. Nothing can be done quick and dirty, you just have to follow all the steps of the process and will then be rewarded with a lovely piece of machinery. I took my time and loved it. I did encounter some grimlins, all but one solved by now. Most difficult to work on is the electrical/electronics section, mainly due to the very limited information available (to me). The forum (esp. Quavion) has been a big help.

As Rifledriver explained, the WSM mainly describes the intention of the system at hand, rather than a step by step cookbook. Nowhere is this better illustrated than with the windows; the WSM needs 14 pages (!!) to explain when/why/how fast/how far the windows open or close, but that's it! Up to you to figure out why the windows are not behaving as per WSM.
Also beware that the translation in the WSM is sometimes confusing. It helps if you can also read the Italian (original) text, or at least some German/French to compare the English with.

 

@franschman @Aerosurfer @tazandjan
Hey guys do you know how to read or reset a obd1 1995 456 if it doesn’t have the button on the module.
View attachment 3190990

 

The 456 came with many ECUs, one for each subsystem (for each chair, for each window, suspension, steering, brakes, etc) and most have a connector for read-out. I never managed to get any sensible data out of any of them and after a while stopped bothering and just went through the relevant system as a whole. Usually the problem was obvious quickly.

 

the cars are not that hard to work on.
remember we put a man on the moon not the Italians
it's not rocket science.
the parts manual is the best place because it shows you how the things go together
I have been working on Ferrari's since 1986
you can take apart a Ferrari with a 10,13 ,15 17,19 MM wrench!
mostly 10mm!
good luck and have fun

clyde