Bumper Insert Help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 311
Likes: 113
From: Lake Orion, MI
Bumper Insert Help
I ordered the Red bumper inserts from RPI and they didn't come with instructions. Can somebody tell me the best way to put them on and is that tube of liquid that they came with glue? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,071
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN
The letters I installed had the 3M tape on the back of the letters and a packet that contained an alcohol swipe.
The instructions that came with mine said to clean the area with the alcohol swipe (very important), and let dry. Remove backing from the tape and firmly press the letters into the insert. After a couple of hours of curing, press the letters into the insert again. After 12 hours, the curing is complete. It was noted that the longer the tape stayed in place, up to 12 hrs, the stronger it would become.
Hope this helps.
The instructions that came with mine said to clean the area with the alcohol swipe (very important), and let dry. Remove backing from the tape and firmly press the letters into the insert. After a couple of hours of curing, press the letters into the insert again. After 12 hours, the curing is complete. It was noted that the longer the tape stayed in place, up to 12 hrs, the stronger it would become.
Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,158
Likes: 152
From: Chicago IL
Its possible that the "tube of liquid" is an adhesive "promoter." I applied a few sets of these on my rear bumper and dash and learned that to really get them to stick on and stay on you should apply an adhesive promoter... My dash letters are metal(stainless steel) and I have the acrylic letters on my rear bumpers. The dash letters are the trickiest, like I said I trash a set or two before buying a set that came with adhesive promoter and found that to be the missing link... So like I said, clean the surface with mild rubbing alcohol,(sometimes they will/ should come with little packets of alcohol swabs to do this) then just before applying the letters apply the adhesive promoter and lastly put the letters on and you're done... Depending on the current temperature, I'd wait at least a day to give them time to bond to your bumper before a car wash...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee WI.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,666
Likes: 14
From: Mission Viejo CA
My inserts were chrome. The instructions said to pre-bend the inserts to the contour of the bumper before taking the backing off. I then used a Q-tip to apply the promoter in the recessed area where the inserts went and let it dry. Then I took the double-sided tape backing off the inserts and applied them.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Wash the area with liquid dish soap to remove any wax/etc.
Clean the letter recesses with alcohol and let it dry.
Carefully apply the adhesion promoter to just the area where the letters will attach, and let it dry.
Peel and stick the letters, press again in a few hours and let it sit overnight.
It's critical that you do this in warm weather or a warm garage.
The flexible inserts from RPI are more forgiving than the stainless steel or rigid plastic varieties.
Good Luck.
Clean the letter recesses with alcohol and let it dry.
Carefully apply the adhesion promoter to just the area where the letters will attach, and let it dry.
Peel and stick the letters, press again in a few hours and let it sit overnight.
It's critical that you do this in warm weather or a warm garage.
The flexible inserts from RPI are more forgiving than the stainless steel or rigid plastic varieties.
Good Luck.