I had the SAP on the car since new. I always thought the entire valance on the front facia being black looked a bit bland. I thought it would look better if the bottom bar was colored the same as the outside trim to tie the unit together. Having a paint shop paint just that one little piece would be too costly. I talked about painting it with custom mixed paint in a spray can with my dealers body shop manager. He advised against it because of the plastic taking the paint different than the metal of the car and the surrounding already painted plastics. He stated that if the color is not right I will be stuck with it. So I balked at it until......
I was at a local Custom Graphics detailing shop having the Stamp on the rear facia outlined. I asked him about airbrushing or painting the front piece on the front facia. He said he could put graphics tape on it that would match the paint, put a clear bra over it for protection and it would not peel off and one would not know the difference for a fraction of the cost of paint and clear coat. He laid a piece of 3M tape on the car and it matched perfectly. I said put it on.
He cleaned the piece off with alcohol then arched the tape on his plotter. He installed it then put the clear bra over top of it. Not a single wrinkle. It looks painted, and the clear bra will protect it from stone chips etc. To look at it you'd swear it's painted. If for some reason I would ever want it off, with some effort, I can pull it off. He did a fantastic job..... all for $60.00.
My suggestion.... anyone looking to do something similar to this for parts on a car where minimal paint is needed, this may be a viable alternative.
Before and after pics >>>
Thanks..... Yea I thought so too, that valance should have matching paint in it to tie it to the bumper.... Was a far cheaper alternative to tape it than to paint it. Won't fade, or peel.
This may be a viable solution to anyone who scuffs up their rear view mirror or such.
Looks good Judge, but what does it take to take off the tape if you have a change of hart? I must honestly say I am impressed with the way that looks, but I refuse to do anything to my mid. blue goat that will take it away from stock. Is this stuff easy to remove>?>?>?
To get it off you have to get under one edge and with pressure peel it back. The clear bra is the first to come off. It was put on wet, squeegeed and heat applied to it to dry it and make it bond.
To get the tape off, the same process. The tape has a sticky back to it, but to get it on he applied water to the part and positioned it squeegeed it and applied heat to it. He tells me with some effort it will come off. I would think applying heat to it to soften the glue back would help in the removal process. Think of it as peeling off a decal. Looks permanent but it's not. I was really impressed. If anyone thinks about it, I would suggest the clear bra to protect it.
I am thinking now about him making a custom 1969 Judge, or Humbler stripe for it. Done in gloss black with smoke trim. It would be applied in the same fashion you would see the body stripe of the 69 Judge.
Looks great. What did you have done to the back valance?
I had the GTO stamp outlined to carry the theme of the circa 68-71 GTO logo decals I have on the car. I didn't want it fully painted in like many did or are doing. >>>
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