90 replies to this topic

[mrfarmdog]

Several people have asked me how to install fender stripes without getting air bubbles and wrinkles in them.  I am happy to provide any insight.  Hopefully this will help others.  I will not be able to do this in one sitting so I will update it with new posts and with new information periodically.

Putting fender stripes on your car is all about technique.  Some of it you can learn from pictures but in the end there is no substitute for experience when working with vinyl.  Some vinyl is easier to install than others.  Here is a breakdown:

INFO ON VINYL
Plain colored 8 or 6 year vinyl - (red stripes, white stripes, gloss black, yellow, etc.). - General use vinyl is thicker than metallic vinyl and is relatively forgiving.  This vinyl you can pull back up somewhat and reinstall in order to get out creases or bubbles without deforming the vinyl and trashing your stripe.  Repositioning can be done without transfer tape, which helps to hold the shape of the stripe when pulling up.

Metallic vinyl - (Tungsten, Vista Blue, etc) - Metallic vinyls are what most metallic striping packages are made of and they are very thin and will deform easy.  When applying metallic vinyls it is best to use some backing or transfer tape if you need to pull the stripe up a bit to remove air bubbles

Flat or matte vinyl - (i.e. flat black, etc.) - This vinyl in my opinion is the easiest to apply, mainly because it is still thick but is softer than the plain gloss vinyl.  It pulls up and repositions easy without backing tape.

BACKING TAPE
I have dealt with two different types of backing tape, clear plastic and masking tape.  I prefer the clear because it is rigid and seems to work best with metallic vinyl.  The masking tape works best when applying wet but you can not see exactly where you are placing the stripes like you can with the clear.

WET VS DRY PLACEMENT
Wet placement is the easiest if you are going to apply the stripes individually.  With wet placement you use a spray bottle with water and a teaspoon or so of Dawn dish soap as your lubricating agent.  When you place wet you need to have your placement location marked with a grease pencil so you know when it is correct.  This means that you must measure and mark which can be time consuming.  I for one don't like to measure.  For most stripes, including metallic fender stripes dry can be done.  If you want to do wet you can.  In this case it is best to get the vinyl without backing tape and apply each stripe individually.

NO-NOS
Don't attempt to apply fender stripes to a car that is hot due to being out in the sun.  The stripe will stick and you will not be able to reposition it or work out imperfections.
Do not attempt to apply in windy conditions, which will blow grit under the stripes or make handling the stripes difficult.
Do make sure you clean the location well including the inside of the fender.

More to come later.  Next I will post a how to of a dry application with Vista Blue metallic.

MrFarmdog out!!!

[mrfarmdog]

Installing Fender Stripes Dry

These pics are an install of Vista Blue Metallic fender stripes.  Metallic stripes are the hardest to apply so if you can do this you can do any of them!  I am using a clear backing tape so I can see the positioning of the stripe and also because I can pull the metallic stripe back to work out air bubbles without deforming the stripe.

First, make sure the fender is clean on all areas where the stripe will be applied.  


Make sure you do the underside of the fender where the stripe will roll under and inside the hood opening.





Next make sure you are certain of your stripe placement before you apply.  This stripe has arrows to help align the stripe on the fender at the correct angle.  To apply this stripe correctly you center the stripes on the rubber hood bumper on the fender and align the arrows on the fender edge by the hood.  This will give you the correct angle and placement.



Start applying your fender stripe at the top of the fender.  Pull the backing tape off the stripe as you apply it.  This will prevent the stripe touching and sticking to the fender as you are trying to work with it.  Lay the stripe across the top of the fender and using your thumb, rub back and forth as you set the stripe into position on the fender.  Sometimes it helps if you have some liquid lubricant on your thumb to help it slide across the tape.  You can lick your thumb or use a spray bottle with a little dawn dish soap to wet the top of the transfer tape if needed.  Make sure you do not introduce air bubbles under the stripe as you apply.  If you do gently pull the stripe back up to the point where the air bubble are and then reapply.







Apply it all the way to the fender line.  When working over corners make sure the stripe lays flat across the entire corner of the fender.



Continue to apply the stripe down the side of the fender rubbing the stripe back and forth with your thumb.  Make sure the transfer tape lays flat just like the stripes underneath as this helps with the spacing of the stripes.


Work all the way down to the wheel well fender line making sure that there are no air bubbles and that the transfer tape does not have any wrinkles.

[mrfarmdog]

At this point due to the compound angles it will be difficult to continue over the fender lip without creasing the transfer tape so we need some relief.



Remove the remaining backing tape.


Cut the backing tape so the two stripes are separated.




Using the same method as described above continue to apply the stripes individually.




Now at the top of the fender cut the transfer tape so you can finish applying the top of the stripes.



Cut both sides of the backing tape next to the stripe so the stripes can be applied individually on each side of the rubber hood bumper.



Fold over and apply the top of the stripes to the top of the fender inside the engine compartment.  You will have to work the rear stripe behind the rubber bumper by moving the bumper with your hand and applying it.

[mrfarmdog]

Here is a pic of the stripes applied at the top.  Notice the backing tape cut above the rubber bumper.



Starting at the top remove the backing tape from the stripe being careful not to pull the stripe up.




Start both sides (since they were cut) and eventually you will be pulling the entire backing tape as one piece.







Slowly remove all the backing tape.



Pulling the tape directly back on itself will help from introducing air bubbles.

[mrfarmdog]

When you get to the bottom cut the stripes about an inch longer than the fender opening.  This will be folded under the fender.











The final result...  STRIPES INSTALLED!!!


In some cases you may have a few air bubbles like this.  Do not worry about them.  The sun will bake them out and the stripe will lay flat.  It is better to let the sun do the work than ruin your stripes trying to make it perfect right away.  These normally go away within a day.



Now clean the car.


Installation complete.

[AFChief]

Cool beans!  Thanks for the write-up!

[kahmann]

Thanks for the install guide and email John. I'll keep an eye out for the new stripes in the mail!

Ken

[phdpsy]

Simply fantastic... Another great thread to bookmark

[bossnova3]

Would love to do this to my car where can I buy 2 sets of stripes in white for my '08 vista blue shelby!!!!!!

[AFChief]

Finally got some of Mr Farmdog's stripes on the Shelby.  I botched the red ones, so was leery about the blue ones.  I did the wet method and took my time.  I have a bubble I'm waiting to cook out, but i think it came out good.  I keep thinking the color is a bit off the match of the factory, but in some sunlight it looks perfect.  Dunno.  

I'll probably order some more (Red in particular) to swap later.  Happy with these for the time being.  Thanks Mr Farmdog!


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[mrfarmdog]

AFChief, on Jul 19 2009, 04:30 PM, said:

Finally got some of Mr Farmdog's stripes on the Shelby.  I botched the red ones, so was leery about the blue ones.  I did the wet method and took my time.  I have a bubble I'm waiting to cook out, but i think it came out good.  I keep thinking the color is a bit off the match of the factory, but in some sunlight it looks perfect.  Dunno.  

I'll probably order some more (Red in particular) to swap later.  Happy with these for the time being.  Thanks Mr Farmdog!


19Jul09__26_1.JPG

Cool!  I am sending you a PM on the red ones.

[OCD]

What is the origin  of the fender stripes?

[llcwhit]

OCD, on Jul 19 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

What is the origin  of the fender stripes?

So that pit crews cold identify their driver when there were multiple cars of same model and color on track (before radios)- now they are just used to look cool.

Edited by llcwhit, 19 July 2009 - 05:46 PM.

[OCD]

llcwhit, on Jul 19 2009, 06:45 PM, said:

So that pit crews cold identify their driver when there were multiple cars of same model and color on track (before radios)- now they are just used to look cool.

Yes, they do look pretty cool!!  And thanks for the history on them!!


Hmmm!!

[Grabber]

Nice write up. I could of used that a year ago.

I winged it when I installed mine.

[Oh8SnakeDriver]

mrfarmdog,
    How do we order these and what colors are available and what is the cost?
                 Thanks,
                              Mike

[IASHELBYGT]

John put these on at Shelby Fest in April.  I think it's better to have a professional do it.

Edited by IASHELBYGT, 20 July 2009 - 01:05 PM.

[07SGT0547]

llcwhit, on Jul 19 2009, 08:45 PM, said:

So that pit crews cold identify their driver when there were multiple cars of same model and color on track (before radios)- now they are just used to look cool.

But they do come in very handy when you are trying to pick your car out in a crowd

Whether it is on the track...

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Or at a car show...

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Makes it lots easier to find your particular car...

Drive Safe!
07SGT0547

[mrfarmdog]

Oh8SnakeDriver, on Jul 20 2009, 03:49 PM, said:

mrfarmdog,
    How do we order these and what colors are available and what is the cost?
                 Thanks,
                              Mike

PM sent!

[chuckstang]

just my opinion but this is the single worse mod shelby owners have started doing

I instantly think poser when I see these or I think grand sport vette lol