Front end paint chips
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Baytown Tx
Front end paint chips
Have a few questions, is there anything you can put on the front end to keep rock chips from happening other than a bra. #2 what speed is redline for each gear on a mn6 z51 ls3? Thanks for the help
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
You could do a clear bra.....3M or Ventureshield are the majors. Here is a thread with info: 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
St. Jude Donor '11
You could do a clear bra.....3M or Ventureshield are the majors. Here is a thread with info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
No....clear bra material requires training and skill to apply properly. Not just anyone can do it. A few owners have tried, fewer were successful. I know the 3M website provides a search for authorized installers. I imagine Ventureshield does also. I'm not aware of any place to buy the stuff for a reduced price. You should figure on $600 - $1000, installed, depending on how much surface you want to cover. Cost can go into the multi thousands with Ventureshields latest kits.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,373
Likes: 6
From: Chatsworth California
You could do a clear bra.....3M or Ventureshield are the majors. Here is a thread with info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Baytown Tx
No....clear bra material requires training and skill to apply properly. Not just anyone can do it. A few owners have tried, fewer were successful. I know the 3M website provides a search for authorized installers. I imagine Ventureshield does also. I'm not aware of any place to buy the stuff for a reduced price. You should figure on $600 - $1000, installed, depending on how much surface you want to cover. Cost can go into the multi thousands with Ventureshields latest kits.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 101
From: TN PA
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11 Vet
Sometimes a change in driving style can help as much as anything....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Last edited by pettvette; Feb 27, 2009 at 11:14 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,269
Likes: 8,543
From: Rochester, NY
No....clear bra material requires training and skill to apply properly. Not just anyone can do it. A few owners have tried, fewer were successful. I know the 3M website provides a search for authorized installers. I imagine Ventureshield does also. I'm not aware of any place to buy the stuff for a reduced price. You should figure on $600 - $1000, installed, depending on how much surface you want to cover. Cost can go into the multi thousands with Ventureshields latest kits.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 2
From: Peoples Republik of Kalifornia Ka
You could do a clear bra.....3M or Ventureshield are the majors. Here is a thread with info:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...questions.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 49
From: Sun Devil Country
3M, X-PEL, Ventureshield................just depends on what you really want in material durability and pattern cut appearance. Search the websites and locate installers. Sooner or later you will get in the price range you are looking for. $600 - $1000 is on the high end. You can do better if you try. The final outcome is largely dependant on the expertise and craftsmanship of the installer.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I paid about $550 for coverage up to half way up the hood plus the mirrors for ventureshield.
It is definitely worth it and I've been hit by some pretty good rocks/birds (dead and alive). It also makes cleaning the front end A LOT easier.
Here are a couple close ups on my car. The first shows where the clear bra is up close. You can see a faint line above the center of the tire.
The other is taken from about 15-20 feet away.
And I actually have a chip aft of the bra on the hood. You will not be able to match it up perfectly. That will most likely be my only one though instead of having a rock chipped front end. If your car is not white then you'll have trouble matching the paint.
It is definitely worth it and I've been hit by some pretty good rocks/birds (dead and alive). It also makes cleaning the front end A LOT easier.
Here are a couple close ups on my car. The first shows where the clear bra is up close. You can see a faint line above the center of the tire.
The other is taken from about 15-20 feet away.
And I actually have a chip aft of the bra on the hood. You will not be able to match it up perfectly. That will most likely be my only one though instead of having a rock chipped front end. If your car is not white then you'll have trouble matching the paint.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 4
From: Deep in the Heart of Texas
Sometimes a change in driving style can help as much as anything....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
The old "follow 2 seconds behind" rule will minimize rock chips.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 913
Likes: 36
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Sometimes a change in driving style can help as much as anything....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
These tips really work!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Lake Worth Florida
Clear Bras are very good, especially for rock chips. However, they are not perfect.
First, no installation is ever perfect, I don't care how good the installer is. Close up, you will always be able to tell there is something there. A small crease, a smudge, a hair caught under the vinyl, something.
Second, the clearcoat on the vinyl is not as hard as the clearcoat on the paint. Things like bird droppings, tree sap, smashed bugs, etc. will etch the vinyl clearcoat faster then it would the factory clearcoat. It will look like water spots.
That being said, a good clear bra should be undetectable from about 5 feet away. Rock chips can be seen from a lot further and enough of them will make the bumper even look gray or white over time.
BTW, I have the whole front end of my 2009 covered in Ventureshield. Full hood, bumpers, full fenders, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
First, no installation is ever perfect, I don't care how good the installer is. Close up, you will always be able to tell there is something there. A small crease, a smudge, a hair caught under the vinyl, something.
Second, the clearcoat on the vinyl is not as hard as the clearcoat on the paint. Things like bird droppings, tree sap, smashed bugs, etc. will etch the vinyl clearcoat faster then it would the factory clearcoat. It will look like water spots.
That being said, a good clear bra should be undetectable from about 5 feet away. Rock chips can be seen from a lot further and enough of them will make the bumper even look gray or white over time.
BTW, I have the whole front end of my 2009 covered in Ventureshield. Full hood, bumpers, full fenders, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,711
Likes: 3
From: Middle of No where AK
You can actually install the clear bra. When you do they make something called application fluid. A lot of people dont know about this. Its designed for viynl such as the clear bra. You spray it on the paint (its paint safe) and then apply the viynl and you can move it around for several minutes until the fluid dries giving you ample time to get out bubbles and get it exactly where you want it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
Sometimes a change in driving style can help as much as anything....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Never follow anyone too close...especially Corvettes. With their short rear overhang and wide tires the can throw plenty of rocks up. I have received two windshield chips while following Corvette's. Luckly none yet in the 08
Cement trucks, dump trucks, flat bed equipment haulers, stay as far away as you can. Ever watch one of these truck when they hit a bump in the road.... Plenty of debris flys everywhere.
Stay away from any kind of truck that look like its been off road, or in a construction sight...
Keep plenty of distance from 18 wheelers on the highways, just the turbulence from these trucks picks up stones and stuff from the side of the road and sends it flying....
Clear Bras are very good, especially for rock chips. However, they are not perfect.
First, no installation is ever perfect, I don't care how good the installer is. Close up, you will always be able to tell there is something there. A small crease, a smudge, a hair caught under the vinyl, something.
Second, the clearcoat on the vinyl is not as hard as the clearcoat on the paint. Things like bird droppings, tree sap, smashed bugs, etc. will etch the vinyl clearcoat faster then it would the factory clearcoat. It will look like water spots.
That being said, a good clear bra should be undetectable from about 5 feet away. Rock chips can be seen from a lot further and enough of them will make the bumper even look gray or white over time.
BTW, I have the whole front end of my 2009 covered in Ventureshield. Full hood, bumpers, full fenders, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
First, no installation is ever perfect, I don't care how good the installer is. Close up, you will always be able to tell there is something there. A small crease, a smudge, a hair caught under the vinyl, something.
Second, the clearcoat on the vinyl is not as hard as the clearcoat on the paint. Things like bird droppings, tree sap, smashed bugs, etc. will etch the vinyl clearcoat faster then it would the factory clearcoat. It will look like water spots.
That being said, a good clear bra should be undetectable from about 5 feet away. Rock chips can be seen from a lot further and enough of them will make the bumper even look gray or white over time.
BTW, I have the whole front end of my 2009 covered in Ventureshield. Full hood, bumpers, full fenders, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
