97 Ford Expedition, came in pink left red and coated!

[parttimer]

This Expedition came in as a coating to protect it for years to come. It was in an accident last year and has been rebuilt and they wanted to keep the outside protected since it is in such good shape for a 1997 with 100k on the clock. It came in Friday evening So I started with a wash/paint decon and wheel cleaning.
Wheels were hit with Megs wheel bright, tires were cleaned with APC (from ZEP) and Tuff Shine tire cleaner. It took about 4 cleanings to get the old Megs Hot Shot tire dressing off he had been using! Paint was fully washed, top to bottom with Megs Gold Class, Americana Amerrid for Iron removal and Speedy Prep medium grade with ONR was used.

The before pictures aren’t great, it was after 5pm in Ohio but I did the best I could!

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1843.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1843.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1837.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1837.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1838.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1838.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1839.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1839.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1841.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1841.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1844.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1844.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1836.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1836.jpg.html)
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1842.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1842.jpg.html)

I proceeded to try and clean up the black pillars first. First I tried menz 4000 on a white pad, no luck, 2500, no luck, 400, no luck, 300 and they were still looking terrible. I tried and orange hybrid pad all the way down to 400 again with no change. Ultimately I was able to get SOME cleaning up with Menz 400 on a MF cutting pad! The rest was cleaned up with a blue hybrid pad and Menz 400 with finished out very very well. A cleaning with prep all to prepare to coat with Americana Americoat wrapped it up. The paint went from a pink/grapefruit color to RED! I was very happy with the end result and he signed up to get his car done next with Americoat.
Tires were coated with Black Pearl, for the trim I tried Black Pearl but it did not stick very well and I ended up using PERL with three coats to get a decent finish!

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1862.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1862.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1860.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1860.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1848.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1848.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1853.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1853.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1852.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1852.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1849.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1849.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1851.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1851.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1850.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1850.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1864.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1864.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1863.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1863.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1854.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1854.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/20150801_170306.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/20150801_170306.jpg.html)

[Shark Politur]

I doubt anybody would do it better, whoever arrived for you to detail this car made a best decision.
But never ever try to tell me that pink is not a nice colour, because I like pink! :bat:

[Mike Honcho]

Great job!!! Using the Menzerna products on the pillars intrigues me. Have any other pics of the pillars?

[parttimer]

I do have more pictures, I'll get them up for you. They were streaked and faded terribly.

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Very nice transformation! That red looks great.

[parttimer]

Passenger side before, didn't get a close up after but this is pretty much what 6 of the 8 pillars looked like!

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/passengerbefore.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/passengerbefore.jpg.html)

These are AFTER:

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1857.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1857.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1855.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/DSC_1855.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/reardriver2.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/reardriver2.jpg.html)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n176/parttimer_2006/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/reardriver.jpg (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/parttimer_2006/media/1997%20Ford%20Expedition/reardriver.jpg.html)

Not sure what the runs down the panel were, I can only guess the adhesive from the window vents damaged them.

[wytstang]

For a 97 that does look great, you did a great job cleaning it up.

[AZ Mike]

Great work.

[DetailKitty]

Very nice! :dblthumb2:

[Mike Honcho]

Awesome pillar work!!!

[MIsnowman]

Man those headlights are clear!!! Did you do anything to them or did it arrive like that? I don't remember mine ever being like that. Maybe they are aftermarket?

Great job on the rest of it btw.

[parttimer]

He did replace them with HID's so I would guess that is why! I had a 99 and you are right, they never looked that good!