Though available from many sources, we got our stripes from YearOne. We're confident that the YearOne products are of the highest quality, and since we needed vinyl stripes for two distinctly different cars, we wanted to order from a vendor who would have both stripe kits in stock. YearOne quickly verified our stripes were on the shelf and shipped them the same day.
When our stripe kits arrived, we headed to J.D.'s Paint and Body for some help with the installation. It wasn't so much that we were afraid to do this job ourselves, but it always helps to have the advice of a professional, or at least someone who's done the job before.
Once confident the forward...
Once confident the forward and aft sections of the stripe will line up properly with the center section, they can be removed while the center section is installed. Before the stripe is installed permanently, the area should be wiped down with body shop precleaner to remove any dirt or waxy buildup.
After precleaning, a tack...
After precleaning, a tack cloth is used to remove any remaining dust so it doesn't get trapped under the stripe. Remember, get the surface as clean as possible because once the stripe is on, whatever is underneath is permanently trapped.
Keep the stripe taped to the...
Keep the stripe taped to the car when cleaning with a tack cloth, this will ensure proper alignment when the stripe is permanently applied.
In this shot you can see we've...
In this shot you can see we've held the aft end of the stripe with masking tape applied vertically. This will keep the stripe in place as we lift it from the front to remove the backing and permanently apply the decal.
With the aft section of stripe...
With the aft section of stripe held to the back of the door with masking tape, we can lift the stripe off and carefully remove the protective backing, exposing the adhesive.
Holding the stripe and backing...
Holding the stripe and backing in one hand, a squeegee is used to slowly work the stripe onto the paint from the rear toward the front. Only pull enough backing from the stripe to allow it to be applied, slowly pulling the backing from the stripe as you work forward.
All told, installing the stripes on each car took about 2-3 hours per car. There are really no special tools involved other than a squeegee, masking tape, and a tape measure to ensure proper placement. It also helps to have some body shop precleaner (NAPTHA) available to clean the surface the stripe will adhere to, and soapy water if using that technique.
The end result of each installation was dramatic. Of course, a Super Bee just isn't a Super Bee without the stripe, and we think the project B3 Barracuda really looks better with a stripe to contrast the '05 Go-Mango paint.