2020 Shelby GT500 OTT Painted Stripes - Painting Process

[oldbmwfan]

Aka a $10k paint job. I'm cool with that.

Definitely a $14k paint job, because I can't imagine anyone who shells out for that is NOT going to do a full-car PPF wrap on top!

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[kilobravo]

Fan: One of my best friends has an Xpel business and we've put film on all three of our vehicles. When we first did the hood on my '14, we put the film over the stripes. Unfortunately, I didn't like the way it looked with occasional visible air edges on the stripes. So, we pulled it off along with the OEM stripes and I purchased enough new stripes to redo the hood and bumper. After that, we put the new stripes on top, did the front fenders, door guards, and a few other small pieces.

That's been three or four years ago and since then I have polished the car with a DA rig, fine pad, and SONAX Perfect Finish a couple times. I must say, that combo generates some amazing shine. You can polish the film too and it works, at least to some degree, but many's the time I've wished I could polish the paint on the areas under the film.

Consequently, my current plan for the new vehicle is just going to be the hood and all the front pieces for bumper, headlights, etc., and perhaps a 10-12" strip across the leading edge of the roof. BUT, I plan to polish any areas designated for film with Perfect Finish before we film them.

 

[oldbmwfan]

Fan: One of my best friends has an Xpel business and we've put film on all three of our vehicles. When we first did the hood on my '14, we put the film over the stripes. Unfortunately, I didn't like the way it looked with occasional visible air edges on the stripes. So, we pulled it off along with the OEM stripes and I purchased enough new stripes to redo the hood and bumper. After that, we put the new stripes on top, did the front fenders, door guards, and a few other small pieces.

That's been three or four years ago and since then I have polished the car with a DA rig, fine pad, and SONAX Perfect Finish a couple times. I must say, that combo generates some amazing shine. You can polish the film too and it works, at least to some degree, but many's the time I've wished I could polish the paint on the areas under the film.

Consequently, my current plan for the new vehicle is just going to be the hood and all the front pieces for bumper, headlights, etc., and perhaps a 10-12" strip across the leading edge of the roof. BUT, I plan to polish any areas designated for film with Perfect Finish before we film them.

Almost exactly what I did on my R.
1) Did not let the dealer do a pre-delivery wash. This is super important! My detailer was amazed at how good the paint was (even though it was filthy from transport) because the dealer wash usually scratches up new paint a lot
2) Very minimal buff/ correction was needed prior to PPF
3) PPF (I used Suntek) on: hood, front fascia, fenders, wing mirrors, leading half of roof, as well as spoiler and the black decklid trim panel between the taillights (because Ford is too cheap to put a decklid closing handle inside the trunk!). The gloss black shows every scratch, so that piece of film on a surface that is handled frequently is useful
4) Ceramic coat the wheels and brake calipers

If I had painted stripes, I would do film on top of any striped panel including the full roof and rear bumper. At that point, it's not much more to wrap the doors and quarters as well.

 

[kilobravo]

Fan: Good tip on the trunk lid black area. BION, mine is still scratch free but I will add that to my plan for the new car.

You DO make a good point about filming all the painted stripe areas and who knows, I may go for the whole car if the estimate isn't crazy from my bud.

Regarding delivery, I have already set up things with the store and they have no problem with me and my buds pulling the plastic and washing the vehicle (with clean microfiber only.) I will take a whole bunch of gear and plenty of clean MF towels for the wash and spray wax. They have even offered to let us use their pressure washer which I thought was quite generous.

 

[ChuckXX]

Fan: Good tip on the trunk lid black area. BION, mine is still scratch free but I will add that to my plan for the new car.

You DO make a good point about filming all the painted stripe areas and who knows, I may go for the whole car if the estimate isn't crazy from my bud.

Regarding delivery, I have already set up things with the store and they have no problem with me and my buds pulling the plastic and washing the vehicle (with clean microfiber only.) I will take a whole bunch of gear and plenty of clean MF towels for the wash and spray wax. They have even offered to let us use their pressure washer which I thought was quite generous.

Not really sure if I would be using a pressure washer on the car. But thats just me. I wash my muscle cars completely by hand and I just use the garden hose for the wet down and try to work quickly before it has a chance to start drying on its own. Usually I actually just wet down about 1/3 of the car and do it that way. This will be my first car in decades that is not black. Going with the Rapid Red and the black stripes. Probably will have the car ceramic Quartz Coated and the X-Pel put on the front end and hood and the rocker panels. Never thought about doing the wheels before until I saw the post above but that now gets me thinking about that too.

 

[roygriffin2020]

For those of you that ordered any Limited Edition 2015 Mustang GT's that was pretty much the same scenario that was employed with the 2015 Mustang GT Anniversary Models a number of years back.

I took delivery of a couple of these 2015 cars and as you can see they also had a nice full body cover with plastic zippers in place for the drivers door and fuel filler cap.

Also you can see there are openings on the cover for the front grill area which allows these vehicles to be driven short distances either around the FRAP, rail yards, truck transport holding areas or at the dealership level.

Would certainly be nice if Ford employed this sort of transport cover on our new GT500's!

It would even nicer if they let you keep the cover.

 

[roygriffin2020]

OMG that was FUNNY! :-)

Kilo...you're killing with these new avatars everyday. But keep them coming...I am sure you are doing the same

 

[roygriffin2020]

You're daily avatar is so distracting that I can barely remember to read your post. LOL

What posts?

 

[kilobravo]

Chuck: I was a "hose guy" for decades until I got more serious about things. That led me to electric pressure washers, (I've worn out one and am on my second,) and they're not nearly as powerful as the gas-engine type. I'm here to tell you that you should look into it because it is a far better way to rinse the car and completely safe. Great for wheel wells and wheels, especially. Highly recommended.

 

[roygriffin2020]

Chuck: I was a "hose guy" for decades until I got more serious about things. That led me to electric pressure washers, (I've worn out one and am on my second,) and they're not nearly as powerful as the gas-engine type. I'm here to tell you that you should look into it because it is a far better way to rinse the car and completely safe. Great for wheel wells and wheels, especially. Highly recommended.

Ok, OK.....new Avatar time

 

[kilobravo]

ALRIGHT, Roy...the challenge is on BUT, you gots to put new GT-500's in the photos, not just show off a lovely lady and a Zodiak. :-)

Also, I've learned that putting the lady in the immediate foreground and having the car somewhere behind her, works the best. Shows her off the most...we've all seen the dang car a million times. :-)

 

[Snoopy49]

You guys have made me decide to update my avatar. Enjoy.

 

[Dunk812]

You guys have made me decide to update my avatar. Enjoy.

I believe I just threw up a little in my mouth and now I’m going to have nightmares tonight

 

[Snoopy49]

I believe I just threw up a little in my mouth and now I’m going to have nightmares tonight

Remember those warnings on Viagra? That Avatar is the cure for the problem.

 

[kilobravo]

You guys have made me decide to update my avatar. Enjoy.

Dear Lord Earl, that image is abut as funny as anything could be. I love it.;

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