Ferrari F50 detailing

[TangoMan]

Hi Guys, there has been considerable interest on a couple of forums as to what we have done on Boxers F50 in preparation for Cliveden this weekend. So I thought it would be a good idea to show off my work on Boxers F50 here. Please feel free to feedback any thoughts or opinions you may have on the work both good and bad as all helps in developing and improving;

After having done a deep clense on Scotts F40 he has commissioned me to work on his F50. This I am working on over two days to get it ready for the big event this weekend.


Car was washed in the regular way, rinsed then steaming the wheel arches;

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4682154461_61b931aeb1_b.jpg

Once washed time to get rid of all the contaminants still stuck on the paint using a Claybar.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4682156879_eb01a11d9e_b.jpg

Now the engine bay;

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[TangoMan]

Steam, then degrease;

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4682782256_582663e3a5_b.jpg

After drying it is then dressed with a matt dressing to bring out the depth then allowed to dry off before wiping off any excess as a first stage

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4682161761_001985de60_b.jpg

Then paint clensing and polishing the perspex engine cover;

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4682791962_88b1068b29_b.jpg

Time to check the paint thickness on the car so I know what tolerances I have to work with.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4682155707_5eb2e227a7_b.jpg

[TangoMan]

Readings did vary but this showed a typical value, the second number is the thickness of the clearcoat on the car this is what I will be polishing. The process I am doing is a very light machine polish to remove the swirls but not any scratches. We have here 143 to work with, I will be taking off no more than two.

Finally after dressing and drying door shuts and the boot all is rinsed down and then wiped dry with a deep pile micro fibre towel.

Then I got the car back in to the garage and set up my 'show no mercy' mercury lighting (same as a garage forecourt) to see how bad the swirling is now we have removed all waxes and polishes off the car.

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Following day was about getting the car polished, although there had been a lot of preparation yesterday I needed to tidy up the swirls in the paint and polish. day started a little dreary plus the gardener was blasting dust everywhere so I stayed inside to work on the bonnet. First this was to take some reading from the bumper and the bonnet.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1277/4686031256_bbce65611b_b.jpg

Paint thickness was showing around 160 but the bumper was much less, I was not happy to use the rotary on the bumper so I decided the Random orbital for that and the nostrils :grin:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4686031604_7181c6353a_b.jpg

Now we were starting to get a result with the paint. Here is whats called a 50/50 shot where you mask off one area and work on the other half. There is a distinct line going from left to right which shows most of the swirls having been removed but still a few deeper marks left behind. This was with one application of compound, I would need two to three to get it perfect but unfortunately we do not have the time. The single pass would be enough to get rid of the blooming but you would still catch a few marks when seen in strong sunlight.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/4685397749_24b4271cdd_b.jpg

[TangoMan]

Here I have worked things a little further to show what could really be done with three passes of the rotary, still only taking off 2-4% of the clearcoat. Thats how deep the scratches are from using a sponge.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4682793966_9a9311e4af_b.jpg

So weather was getting better and gardener had buggered off, plus i'd had my morning coffee so it was time to get the F50 out and start polishing. First thing was to re-calibrate and check what progress was being made.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/4685400371_8633c1550a_b.jpg

Then continue with polishing, the combination I was using was a Meguiars finishing pad plus their new product Meguiars Solo, a very good gentle combination for painted CF.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4686033550_e6995784bd_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4685401265_5de03a6a7b_b.jpg

[TangoMan]

Once I had machine polished it was time to apply some paint cleansers and then three coats of Super Sealant, which is a little like Supagard.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4685401723_c98ddd0ef2_b.jpg

Then it was time to wax

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Now the trim was annoying me, there were stains on the plastic trim so it was time to go around this with the wax eraser and some dressing.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4686035952_79905fc1e5_b.jpg

Here you can see where I have done up to the wiper blade in the top right.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4686036418_e192c0bce3_b.jpg

[TangoMan]

Now the rear light clusters

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1290/4686036944_e9b147d396_b.jpg

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Finally time to clean up door shuts and then wipe down the windows both inside and out

[TangoMan]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4686035436_a18f6cef2f_b.jpg

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In total there was around 14 hours worth of work polishing the car, cleaning and dressing the engine bay and restoring the trim. I would like to come back later on if Scott is up for it to do further machine polishing and tidy up the cabin area. So some pictures before she was tucked away.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4685405769_ca8d33dfb1_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/4686039154_87c832e881_b.jpg

[TangoMan]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4686039520_c2bfde7d7e_b.jpg

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[TangoMan]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4685399395_a602408165_b.jpg

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Thanks for reading and I look forward to your feedback, all the bet, Lee.

[havoc]

Beautiful car (and yes, I know that's seen as questionable in Fezza circles).

As for the work - I'm far from an expert, so won't deign to comment on that, except that I'd be happy. Loving the texture of the weave in that last photo of the engine-bay cover...

[Pampos]

Top job there on that great car..What products used on this?What was the LSP?The clear coat (if it was clear coated )was soft or hard?

[TangoMan]

Products were primarily Meguiar; APC for cleaning and degreasing, Last touch for detailing, Hyper dressing for dressing and Solo for the polishing. after a few coats of sealant fro Alex at SP I then used Finish Kare hi-temp wax. Oh and Duragloss wax eraser for the trim. The F50 does have a cleacoat whereas the F40 does not, softness wise I would say it is similar to the NSX.

[markc]

Nice job :)

As Havoc said with the state of the carbon weave seen through the paint though it makes me question if it's worth putting all that effort into the paint finish!

Personally the F50 is my favourite among the mega Fezza's (288GTO/F40/Enzo).

Cheers

Mark

[Pampos]

Products were primarily Meguiar; APC for cleaning and degreasing, Last touch for detailing, Hyper dressing for dressing and Solo for the polishing. after a few coats of sealant fro Alex at SP I then used Finish Kare hi-temp wax. Oh and Duragloss wax eraser for the trim. The F50 does have a cleacoat whereas the F40 does not, softness wise I would say it is similar to the NSX.
Nice choice of Finish Kare..Great wax with great durability...It is a shame though that some cars have soft CC,especially such cars...It is easy to correct them but hard to keep them swirl free.. :angry::angry:

[JQD84983]

Great job. Thanks for sharing. Really impressed with the results

[WhyOne?]

Lovely work on a fantastic car Lee.

Very nicely documented as well!

[ReaperWorxFlocking]

Wow.

Great work there mate.

[TangoMan]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Pampos I didn't find the clearcoat too bad on the F50 I have had worse, one of my regulars owns an 09 S2000 in berlina black, I demonstrated how soft his paint was by putting marks in it using a super plush microfibre towel. With the F40, it has no clearcoat and the paint is thin, that does not leave very much room for manoeuvre. Topped with it being red and so easily damaged by the sun it needs lashings of sealant and wax to protect.
Any soft paint is best treated with a regular waxing, it makes the paintwork much easier to maintain and so less likely to get marred.

MarkC I am pretty sure that Ferrari left this weave showing intentionally to show off the heritage of the car, personally I like it as when polished up it makes people look twice.

WhyOne? Thanks, unfortunately I had to split this post into several as there is a limit on this forum of four pictures per post.

[Pampos]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Pampos I didn't find the clearcoat too bad on the F50 I have had worse, one of my regulars owns an 09 S2000 in berlina black, I demonstrated how soft his paint was by putting marks in it using a super plush microfibre towel. With the F40, it has no clearcoat and the paint is thin, that does not leave very much room for manoeuvre. Topped with it being red and so easily damaged by the sun it needs lashings of sealant and wax to protect.
Any soft paint is best treated with a regular waxing, it makes the paintwork much easier to maintain and so less likely to get marred.


I have bad experience with soft Honda paint as my Accord is in Nighthawk Black Pearl.Great colour but very very soft and thin paint...It can be marred very easily...I detailed it last week and i am washing it very very slowly for not to swirl it again...But from the other side it was very easily to correct it with a finishing polish and a finishing pad :)

[dan the man]

great write up. great car.

[TheSebringOne]

Great job, lucky for some with three Fezzas and owning two iconic models. I wonder what the annual servicing on all three comes to? I suppose if you own three, does the owner care!