Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - 07:44 pm, by: Trefor Abbott(Tref2)
Hi everyone
I've owned my TT for 16 years now and the paintwork can only be described as 'sad'. I had the roof 'professionally' resprayed about 8 years ago which cost me $500. A week later the radiator blew and shot boiling water straight onto the roof and wrecked the new paintwork. To be honest I wasn't that impressed with the so called 'respray' anyway as I reckon it was just a blow over job.
I decided to have a go at doing the roof myself using rattle cans about a year ago, which involved taking the roof back to bare metal. However, many days and cans later the results were ok but not outstanding.
Since then it's bothered me that my 1991 Soarer looks so down at heels but as I myself am strapped for cash I knew I could never afford a full respray.
Then, about a month ago I heard of vinyl wrapping. I watched a few Youtube video's on it and was amazed at what could be done to a car's bodywork. I also read that a good vinyl wrap job would cost between $2000 and $3000.
But after watching more online vinyl wrap video's I decided I would give wrapping my roof a go.
As I needed to do this on a shoestring I logged onto Ebay and saw the prices of vinyl wrap there seemed pretty good. So with mixed feelings I ordered 5 metres of matt black vinyl for $79 inc postage.
While I was waiting for the stuff to arrive I drove my misses nuts as I watched dozens of vinyl wrapping video's in order to see how it's done and what tricks there are.
Together, we watched people remove the backing paper and then gently lower the vinyl into position. They then simply lifted each corner and pulled it tight and flat against the bodywork. It seemed so easy!
Once my vinyl arrived I carefully prepped the roof as per the video's, and we confidently lowered the vinyl onto the roof, where it instantly stuck down, causing countless folds, creases and ripples. 'no problem' I thought and went to lift one of the corners as I'd been instructed.
No chance. Zero. I can't really describe what it was like without using the words "sh*t" and "blankets". I just about pulled a muscle in my attempts to lift the vinyl off.
So I grabbed the heat gun I'd had ready and gradually heated the vinyl up. I then found I could just about lift a corner. Then I lifted another corner. Then, like wrestling an octopus I lifted a third corner but had quickly run out of hands. Once my missis took over holding those corners I was attempting to lift the last corner when the heat gun suddenly melted right through the vinyl!
As you can imagine, I had a few hundred choice words and stomped off towards the computer to give the Ebay seller a piece of my mind.
To his credit, the seller refunded me $59 so in the end all I'd wasted was the $20 postage and a few hours of my time.
But a while later I remembered back to when I fitted tinted window film on my house windows and I realised I'd had to spray the film or windows with a washing up liquid/water solution in order to stop it instantly 'grabbing'.
I had a couple of metres of vinyl left so figured I had nothing to lose by trying this, so grabbed a spray bottle, mixed up a soapy solution and liberally soaked the roof.
I then lowered the remaining vinyl onto the roof. Wow! what a difference!
Whilst it didn't lay in a perfect position I found that with the aid of a squeegee I actually could gently remove the wrinkles and bubbles. I then used the heat gun, as I'd seen other's do and 'fixed' the vinyl into position.
It did take me an hour or so but eventually I found myself to be delighted with the result. It did appear that after all the initial hassles, it was possible to use this (cheaper) vinyl.
The next day I parked my TT in the sun and with my perfectionist eye, I went over every inch of the roof to see how many imperfections there were. I will admit I found a few air bubbles but once I gently pressed the vinyl using a circular motion those bubbles pretty much disappeared.
For the first time in many years my roof now looked excellent.
I suppose I should have left it at that but in my heart I was already thinking about wrapping the rest of my TT's bodywork. Although it was in generally good condition, I'd never been a huge fan of the dark metallic green. So I soon found myself perusing the vinyl's on Ebay and quickly came to the realisation that only a Candy Blue would do.
Before I could chicken out I'd ordered a ten metre roll (by 1520mm wide) which cost about $250.
As soon as it arrived I set to work. I just loved the colour and couldn't wait to 'refresh' my tired looking Soarer's bodywork.
It's not a quick or easy job and of course I've never done this before but I'm already really pleased with what I've achieved (see the photos). For around $300 I'm well on my way to dramatically changing the look of my car. From what I've read, the vinyl wrap tends to last around five years, which is fantastic as far as I am concerned.
Now, having read in other Soarer Central posts, members views of modifications or paint jobs that were posted, I'm not asking for comments on whether you love or hate what I've done. I've simply put this 'out there' to show people like me, who don't have deep pockets, just what can be achieved with some imagination and patience. And that's coming from what is surely one of Australia's most impatient people!
I'll post this message first and then post the photos. Please remember, the car is only half finished. I'm expecting it to be completed in a week or so but of course, it can still be driven even though it's still unfinished.
Thursday, March 30, 2017 - 07:58 pm, by: Trefor Abbott(Tref2)
I personally don't like the Carbon Fibre look as, to me, it looks false.
The matt on the roof has a slight sheen to it. Because the paintwork underneath wasn't perfect I was worried about any imperfections showing up through the vinyl, which I reckon would have happened if I'd used a gloss vinyl.
As you may know, there are three main types of vinyl (well, as far as I've discovered)- ok you can also get weird colour changing ones that change with temp change etc and also Chameleon colours- that change colour as the car's viewed from different directions- but apart from that, you have Matt or Carbon Fibre look, candy gloss and finally Chrome Gloss.
Please- if I've got that wrong, just understand this is in Layman's terms- I'm a million miles away from being an expert-
I would have LOVED to use a Chrome (mirror-like which comes in silver (literally like a mirror) or in colours but from what I've learnt it's a bas*ard to work with. It can't be 'healed' if you scratch it whilst applying it (which you can on Matt or Candy gloss !) so I went for relative safety and chose the Candy Gloss.
You can also get standard gloss but it didn't float my boat.
My main aim was to vastly improve the look of my car for just a few hundred bucks and I've already done that.
I've also seen video's where people have used vinyl to cover things like gear lever surrounds, glove boxes etc and when done well I reckon it looks amazing.
Some of this may sound a bit 'boy racer-ish' but if done tastefully, it's looks really good.
We've had the cyclone hit us today so it's been raining like it's the end of the world but hopefully, the sun will come out and I can venture out and take a few more pics.
I did my boot lid this arvo, which was a real pain and really pushed my limited skills but with the help of my dear lady, it seemed to go well in the end, and all that with the rain coming down like stair rods
Friday, March 31, 2017 - 11:29 am, by: Trefor Abbott(Tref2)
These pics show a 'work in progress' as I still have to remove some bubbles etc. I'm currently working on the other side of the car. Once that's finished, I'll work on the front and rear bumpers and then finally do the skirts etc.
One of the hardest jobs is to wrap the mirrors.
If any of this has whetted your appetite, look on Youtube under 'car wrapping' but I must warn you, you'll almost certainly be tempted further.
Tuesday, April 04, 2017 - 06:10 am, by: Trefor Abbott(Tref2)
Thanks. I had to get a new fuel pump fitted yesterday and the mechanic (who's a traditionalist) wasn't too keen at first. But once he'd had time to see the results properly, he was suddenly considering getting one of his own cars wrapped.
It seems it's only when viewed 'in person' that you can truly appreciate the amazing transformation at such little monetary cost.
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
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