vinyl for wheel wells

[RyanbabZ71]

I was wondering if anyone tried this product or a similar product. Looks like it would be good for the wheel wells

 

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores...1&storeId=10101

[Kevin zellweger]

I have a similar product on my truck it is made by 3M. I placed it on the front of the hood for rock chips and also on the front of the running boards on the rear wheels. oh and my front plate. works very well i heard you can take a 22 and fire at the stuff from 200ft away and it will not dent or make a mark. ( haven't tried that and never will so i can't verify).

[carguru]

Wow, this is timely. I was going to do a product review on the 3M scotchcal protection tape on here. The product you linked is a bit thinner than the 3M stuff. 3M scotchcal is 8 mils thick. I like this stuff over having a bugshield because it doesn't add much weight or change the lines of the truck. In addition, it doesn't cause any noise like bugshields and stuff. I just did the hood and front end on the Tahoe last week. I've actually had the hood done on my truck for about a year now and the lower panels since I bought the truck. So far, it has protected from scrapes due to the mudguards very well and from rock chips on the leading edge of the hood, lower door panels and rocker panels on my truck. I haven't quite finished the Tahoe yet. I've gotten the hood and bumper so far. I still have the grille and mirror caps to do. It blends in very well, all you see is a slight tape line. Here is where I got mine from: Invinca-shield I just bought the bulk tape and cut to fit. It was a bit less expensive than buying the precut kits. It just takes a bit longer to do. There are alternate companies that make similar tapes too (Avery Corporation, etc)

[RyanbabZ71]

Thanks guys

 

So is the 3m stuff easy to install? I wanted to put it on the rear end it is getting torn up with rock chips. I couldnt find anyone who sold it.

 

Thanks so much!!!

[bandera]

A while back I used some black garden edging material that turned out pretty good to cover the gap in the rear with 3" body lift. Hardly cost me anything. This was some stuff I had laying around, but you can get it a WalMart cheap. I already had the rivets, so all I had to get was the fender washers. I'll see if I can get some pics of it in the General Picture Post section. I also used some heavy commercial grade rubber (like used as runways in halls or walkways to prevent slips) to cover the gap in the front wheel wells where some of the engine could be seen and help keep water from splashing in.

[RyanbabZ71]

carguru how much did you buy the stuff you cut yourself? I couldnt find it on their site. Also what were the dimensions. I want it for under the doors and behind the rear wheels. It comes out to be $175 precut

[carguru]

Ryan,

 

If you go to the link I had earlier, go to accessories and there is the link for the film. The 24" that they cut to size is about $23 per foot. It isn't too bad to install. Although they recommend you use thier soap, you can just do a 50/50 alcohol/water mix in a spray bottle to wet the material instead. The liquid mixture will allow for you to not get fingerprints all over the material and allow for you to move the material around for placement. When you first use it, it is sort of a pain, but once you get used to it, it works fairly easy. You might want to pick up one of the squeegees to work the material. I just used an old piece of Aborber towel and the squeegee to help the material lay down.

 

Here are a few pics of the finshed product:

Silverado hood protector after about a year on vehicle.

Silverado lower panel driver's side. 2-1/2 years.

Passenger side 2-1/2 years.

Tahoe hood--applied 1 week.

[RyanbabZ71]

Thanks carguru. I ordered the precut pieces for behind the rear wheels. After shipping it was like $70. The beating my rear is taking from rocks at work this will definitly be worth it. Do they also send the install kit (spray stuff?). I found some 4in by 7ft strips locally for $40 each that I may buy and do under both sides of the doors. Thanks again for all your help guys!!!

[gave20]

Carguru I have two questions: Did you give your truck a good waxing before applying the tape? and I looked over the invinca-shield site pretty good and couldn't find the uncut rolls of tape any help. I was going to go with a bug shield but I like the idea of protecting the front airdam as well.

[RyanbabZ71]

yea carguru do you have to remove the wax before you put it on? I currently have some zaino on mine

[carguru]

You will have to remove all of the wax and whatever residue that might be sticking to the paint (tar, sap, etc). Surface prep is the most important part. The scotchal material might not stick too well if there is any surface contamination. Here is what I did to prep the surfaces before putting the the tape on. I washed, I clayed, I went over the entire surface with 3M prepsol, washed again (to ensure I removed prepsol residue). Then right before I did the application, I sprayed the area with a 50/50 alcohol/water mix and wiped down with a clean Absorber towel (just to ensure no lint on surface). One important note, you might want to do this inside a garage. Sun and wind are both your enemies on this.

 

If you ordered the precut kit, it comes with a spray bottle, a container of their special soap (you can use a 50/50 mixture of alcohol instead), a squeege, a lint free towel (I used an Absorber towel instead), and an instruction video. The bulk material does not come with this stuff. However, if you have a 1999-2002 body style Silverado, look under the closeout tab, there are a few kits discounted to $40. This comes with everything you need. Then all you have to buy is the bulk tape to work with.

 

Gave20, see my previous post for info to find the bulk tape. If you have the stock airdam (textured) the tape might not work smoothly on it. The texturing might trap air bubbles. If painted, it should work fine. Pick up tracing paper to layout a pattern and cut before you put on vehicle. You might not want to cut the tape on vehicle.

 

[MI Z71]

I have used the Invinca-Shield too. Works well and not to bad to install. Surface cleanliness is very important.

 

If you use their soap you will have more open time to position the pieces.

 

50/50 Alcohol and water tends to make the pieces tack down right away.

[slaterx2]

ooo... Timely post is right. Except for me I just picked up the 3M pamphlet from the auto show... they make it in 8mil AND 14 mil

 

http://cms.3m.com/cms/US/en/2-168/clelFFC/view.jhtml

 

maybe after I look after all 2 of my rock chips....

[carguru]

The 14 mil material is recommended for headlights. It is really thick and doesn't conform to bends as well as the 8 mil material.

[corbin]

I had this installed on my 03 Taahoe Z71 . If anyone is in the Bay Area (CA) I know of a good detailer that installs the stuff....Can barely see it on my Pewter truck and the front end,fenders, hood and mirrors are covered.....Ive taken a beating from rocks and this stuff is awesome.