Flat Black GT500 Stripes - MrFarmdog Style!

[Co Pilot]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

You just tore off $1200+ of stripes.
LOL

Yeah, that should've been painted on in the first place. Just my two pennies.

What a project. Bored this weekend?

I am glad to see more owners doing the unification thing.

[Red 85 GT]

ebay (slightly used)

[iceman]

looking good.. i like the no stripes look but the flat black is gonna rock!

[mrfarmdog]

Originally Posted by iceman

looking good.. i like the no stripes look but the flat black is gonna rock!

Yeah the no stripes looks pretty good. The flat black is a good compromise as it will still look like solid black but in the right light you will be able to see them.

[ati]

Originally Posted by mrfarmdog

I will probably start cutting stripes and start installing them tonight. I hope to have the install finished tomorrow!

[Boston Mike]

Originally Posted by mrfarmdog

Yeah the no stripes looks pretty good.

You're dang right no stripes look good.






























Of course, if I were to put on stripes, they'd be flat black.

[mrfarmdog]

Been busy today and don't have much time now to go into details but I thought I would post up some pics. I will explain more later...

Check out pics 48+ in this slide show for current progress. Going to the movies with the kiddies so I will post more info tonight when I get home.

PS - Everything is striped except the very lower portion below the lower grill and above the chin spoiler.

Later!!!

[stsltd]

That really looks terrific - very nice work!

[Johnny Dangerously]

I really like the the flat on gloss black. Looks good John!


`

[BADGIRL500]

Looks awesome!!!

[hopsgt500]

The flat black stripes look awesome

[Rags]

Yeah, awesome job!!

[cheftjpeck]

good luck cant wait to see the finished product...

[Joe G]

Woo-hoo!!

Those pics are great!!


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[Joker]

Nice work! Looks really good so far.

[ati]

Looking Good John!

[mrfarmdog]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Now that I am back I can explain in a little more detail about the install...

The flat black vinyl is actually very easy to work with. You may have also noticed the yellow spacers I used for the stripes (see pic)



Before I started this project I took note of the spacing of the factory stripes as well as the spacing from the edge of the body panels and made my own spacing tool to help with the install. The spacing of the factory stripes is about 1.2 inches, which is the width of the yellow spacers. The verticle line in the middle marks the exact centerline between the stripes which is very helpful on things like the hood where there is already a body line to straddle. The triangular cuts on each side is .12 inches from the end of the yellow marker. This comes in handy to determine appropriate stripe placement at the edge of a body panel like the rear deck lid, etc. Using this tool made it very easy to keep uniform spacing of the stripes.

[mrfarmdog]

Here are a couple of better pictures where you can see how I used these spacers.

[mrfarmdog]

As you all know the overlap of the stripes dictates which ones you put on first, since the overlap always is the higher stripe on top of the lower stripe.

So to start the process and get the stripes centered the best one to start with is the on where the faux gas cap is located.



Then I did the rear bumper



Followed by the ones below the center tail light. These are overlapped on top of the faux gas cap stripes.



Next was the ones on the bottom of the rear spoiler



Followed by the top of the spoiler and rear deck lid

[mrfarmdog]

The last ones on the rear were the ones that butt up against the soft top. These were cut so a half inch extends under the trim. You do not have to remove the trim. Just float the stripe with plenty of fluid, squeegee out all the air and most of the water, then with one hand twist the trim upwards so it opens up the area between the trim and the body and slide the stripe underneath it. Very easy.