Advice on installing a hood stinger
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Advice on installing a hood stinger
I purchased a roll of 3M 1080 G212 gloss black metallic car wrap vinyl film (hopefully it looks like carbon flash) (5'x2') and 3M knifeless finish line vinyl wrap tape from Amazon for less then $60 delivered.
I'd like to put a stinger hood stripe on. Figured I would try it myself and if I messed up I could always go to an installer or buy a pre cut stinger. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. The film is for a dry install.
Thanks in advance for any help.
I'd like to put a stinger hood stripe on. Figured I would try it myself and if I messed up I could always go to an installer or buy a pre cut stinger. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. The film is for a dry install.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Last edited by 123vette456; 06-30-2019 at 10:16 AM.
#2
Race Director
Personally I would be take it to a professional, as opposed to risking $60 and my time messing with it.
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23/C8Z (06-28-2019)
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yellow2007 (06-29-2019)
#4
watch lots of videos on the install process and have fun
#6
Melting Slicks
I went down this road when I installed my hood stringer. I played around with the knifeless tape and just couldnt get each side of the stinger stripe to be a perfect mirror image of each other. I could never get the curve on the left and right side to be the same. So I said screw it, put the unused roll of knifeless tape and 3M wrap up in the attic and bought a precut stinger stripe from vettestripes.com. Installed that myself (very easy to do) and I am much happier and less stressed
Good luck to you. I just couldnt get it "perfect enough" for me to be happy with it.
Good luck to you. I just couldnt get it "perfect enough" for me to be happy with it.
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Mike Campbell (06-28-2019)
#7
Le Mans Master
I thought about doing it myself since I did lot's of wallpaper and graphic and even when I was a teenager did pin stripe work. But then I thought, am I nuts? So I went to a professional and he did a great job. Just saying I do plenty of other stuff myself, but, some things are better left to professionals.
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Art17 (06-29-2019)
#8
For wrap vinyl, no, you don't want to do a wet application. 3M 1080 has air release channels.
#9
Cruising
I used a little dawn with water in a spray bottle, lots of spraying. Keep it wet on both the hood and the stinger after cleaning the hood area with a little isopropyl alcohol. A "felt" squeegee from Amazon or auto part store, not expensive, a must. And a hair dryer. I had tackled the Grand Sport hash marks first on my 2018 before doing the stinger. Took about 30 min to do each hash marks. The satin black GM hood stinker took a couple of hours from start to finish. Take your time. It has a template still attached after pulling away the first layer, lines up pretty well. Once you get it lined up and most of the water squeegeed out, starting from the center and working the water out to the edges, then peel away the outer layer on a 45 degree angle, not up! The front corners where it's close to the vent, hair dryer comes in handy on shaping and forming to that area with the felt squeegee. Continue squeegee and hair dryer use until the water and bubbles are gone. Mine came out great. Good luck!
Last edited by Layla2018; 06-28-2019 at 09:23 AM.
#12
Race Director
#13
My stripe was a pre cut 3m 1080 vinyl and I used these to install. One was to clean the hood the other was application fluid. It came out perfect and there is no way anyone could install this dry.
#14
#15
Pro
Thread Starter
Thanks to the community for all the advice. I decided to return the vinyl and tape and I ordered a hood stinger from vettestripes.com.
By the way they are super helpful if you call them.
By the way they are super helpful if you call them.
#16
Drifting
Pop the bubbles the next day with a needle, I used 1/4 tape the next week to even up the edges Looks great. Don't get the wedding solution on the paper
Last edited by cuspid; 07-02-2019 at 01:35 PM.
#17
Burning Brakes
Added an extension to my stinger stripe on to my roof using 3M and knifeless tape.
You can see the process here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-stinger.html
You can see the process here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-stinger.html
Last edited by agapsdiver; 07-02-2019 at 02:16 PM.
#18
Paint it like I did on my 2015 Stingray just buy the Genuine GM paint at the dealer. Below is carbon flash and clear top coat right out of rattle cans.
Last edited by 17GSC7; 07-02-2019 at 02:46 PM.
#19
Burning Brakes
I purchased a roll of 3M 1080 G212 gloss black metallic car wrap vinyl film (hopefully it looks like carbon flash) (5'x2') and 3M knifeless finish line vinyl wrap tape from Amazon for less then $60 delivered.
I'd like to put a stinger hood stripe on. Figured I would try it myself and if I messed up I could always go to an installer or buy a pre cut stinger. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. The film is for a dry install.
Thanks in advance for any help.
I'd like to put a stinger hood stripe on. Figured I would try it myself and if I messed up I could always go to an installer or buy a pre cut stinger. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. The film is for a dry install.
Thanks in advance for any help.
#20
Le Mans Master
I used a little dawn with water in a spray bottle, lots of spraying. Keep it wet on both the hood and the stinger after cleaning the hood area with a little isopropyl alcohol. A "felt" squeegee from Amazon or auto part store, not expensive, a must. And a hair dryer. I had tackled the Grand Sport hash marks first on my 2018 before doing the stinger. Took about 30 min to do each hash marks. The satin black GM hood stinker took a couple of hours from start to finish. Take your time. It has a template still attached after pulling away the first layer, lines up pretty well. Once you get it lined up and most of the water squeegeed out, starting from the center and working the water out to the edges, then peel away the outer layer on a 45 degree angle, not up! The front corners where it's close to the vent, hair dryer comes in handy on shaping and forming to that area with the felt squeegee. Continue squeegee and hair dryer use until the water and bubbles are gone. Mine came out great. Good luck!