Cleartastic? your opinions please?
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
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Cleartastic? your opinions please?
I'd like to keep the paint from chipping all to hell (already had a mechanic put in a scratch (sigh)), but has anyone used cleartastic or 3M or whatever? I'd like something for the front, and the mirrors, behind the wheels and under the pipes/rear in the backside (rocks flying up and back).
Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff
Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
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From: Chesapeake VA
Re: Cleartastic? your opinions please? (Jeff Kirk)
I got the cleartastic pieces for behind the front and rear wheels. I found it harder to apply then I expected. The fronts worked pretty well, but the rear wheel pieces went across the seam between the body and rear fascia. This left an air gap that grew at highway speed, and eventually blew both rear pieces off the car. I eventually gave up on the product. I also thought about mud flaps, but couldn't deal with the required hole drilling for the rear wheels. Now I just use my Bra (Speed Lingerie), and let the rock chips collect on the hood (always withen 2 inches of the Bra by the way, Murphy's law I guess). After a couple of hood chips, and a dive bomber rock chip on the rear deck, I stopped worrying about the wheel wells.
[Modified by Square, 2:04 PM 10/30/2001]
[Modified by Square, 2:04 PM 10/30/2001]
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Sandston Va
Re: Cleartastic? your opinions please? (Jeff Kirk)
I have. I didn't actually buy the Corvette Armor product. I had a friend of mine who is an installer buy the kit from a dealer in CA. It's a 3M product cut for the C5. He installed it last week. Since I have a black car, I was very concerned about not being able to see it.
I think it came out ok, although it's not done. On the flat places like the the bottom half of the hood, it came out great. You can't tell it's on at a distance of 5 feet in direct sunlight. In the curved areas like the nose, there are areas that are not completely smooth, that you can see it. I was told some of this will disappear as the sun loosens it and it starts to form fit the car. Other areas will have to be worked in to make it disappear. I'll be bringing it back to have it finished off. I'm sure it will get better, but probably never be perfect.
All in all, I think it's better than nothing at all. If I decide to put the bra back on the car, at least I won't have to worry about the bra rubbing the paint off like it did on my 99.
I think it came out ok, although it's not done. On the flat places like the the bottom half of the hood, it came out great. You can't tell it's on at a distance of 5 feet in direct sunlight. In the curved areas like the nose, there are areas that are not completely smooth, that you can see it. I was told some of this will disappear as the sun loosens it and it starts to form fit the car. Other areas will have to be worked in to make it disappear. I'll be bringing it back to have it finished off. I'm sure it will get better, but probably never be perfect.
All in all, I think it's better than nothing at all. If I decide to put the bra back on the car, at least I won't have to worry about the bra rubbing the paint off like it did on my 99.
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05, '15-'16-'17
Re: Cleartastic? your opinions please? (Square)
I got the cleartastic pieces for behind the front and rear wheels. I found it harder to apply then I expected. The fronts worked pretty well, but the rear wheel pieces went across the seam between the body and rear fascia. [Modified by Square, 2:04 PM 10/30/2001]
Maybe I could answer some questions..
We re designed our C5 kit awhile back. The rear pieces were the first to be changed based on that exact reason. They no longer go over the seam on the rear fascia. The whole kit was redesigned to look and fit better for an easier application.
****To see the C5 application, just click the link below (Featured in Corvette Magazine.com) and keep hitting the "CONTINUE" button on the top left.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2001...r/clearpg1.asp
As far as application goes, it's easier then some other products to apply. If you lay it on wrong just peel it up and reapply. However on the C5 because of its beautiful compound curves, the kit has more pieces and does take a little longer to apply. But these pieces provide a good area of protection.
The "C5 frt. of rear wheel kit" and kits for other generations are a breeze to apply.
Hope that helps...
I'll be leaving the office early today so if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to call me tomorrow.
Take care,
Ed :cheers
