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Vinyl Wrap??

B

bravenrace

Member
I'm posting this here because nobody has posted on the paint and body forum for a week or so, but move it if you must.
I've always been torn about my Mustang. It has the original paint and no rust, but has some thin areas from an over zealous PO.
It also has some dents and scratches. When I bought it many years ago my plan was to strip it down to a shell and redo the whole thing. But life got in the way and since the car ran I couldn't bring myself to tear into it that far.
In some ways I feel like the original paint should be preserved, but the car is no longer stock, and it really could use a paint job
(which I can do myself, so the cost wouldn't be that high).
Today I was noticing the stain below the gas cap. I've been tempted to paint that back panel black like some people did back in the day, but part of me doesn't want to mess with the original paint. Then I thought maybe I should put a wrap or an adhesive cover over it that could be removed at a later date. Then I started wondering about doing the entire car (It's a one-thing-leads-to-another thought process, although I'm sure none of you have experienced that yourselves! :sarc).
I don't know a lot about it, other than seeing it done a couple times on TV. I've heard it's kind of expensive, and I wonder about any other potential down sides to doing it.
So, to make a short story long, can anyone school me on vinyl wraps, or give me your opinion on painting over the original paint? I'm not a purist, and other than being a really early '65 with factory A/C (which I removed), there's nothing special about my car, but some part of me has the "it's only original once" attitude about it. Waddyathink?
 
I believe that it will cost a minimum of several thousand dollars to wrap an entire car. It should not hurt the original paint what so ever, in fact it actually protects and preserves the paint. I think having a professional do it would be in your best interest as there are special tools an procedures to make it look right. Most vehicles that I have seen wrapped (most partially wrapped) clearly show that it is a wrap and not a paint finish. It doesn't appear to have the same depth and look that a good paint job does. Probably a cost effective way to change the look without going out for a total repaint.
 
Since you've got original paint... If it's lacquer, then how about look into getting some lacquer and just blend in the bad areas... Never tried it with lacquer myself, but just thinking it might be easier to dust and blend in your bad spots with lacquer. Some flattening agent might even help with the patina if it's too glossy. Again, never tried it myself it seems like it might be fairly easy to do given that lacquer is sprayed in light coats, dries fast, and easy to buff.
 
Just wondering out loud how well the vinyl would hold up under the gas cap with the inevitable spillage and splash. :shrug
 
I personally would not wrap a classic but, I do have some info for you.

The company I work for is a re-seller of this companies products.

http://www.designerdecal.com/

A lot of the wrap places that you see buy their wraps from these guys, Designer Decal is an actual manufacturer of the wraps. They do installs too.

I have seen several of their installs and they look really nice. I have toured their facility as well and got to see how these were made. They will make a wrap for anything. They have done motorcycles, hard hats, our company laptops, on and on.

The wraps actually preserve and protect the paint but, if there is rust or bare spots underneath, the wrap its not going to stop rust.
 
My work van has vinyl wrap on it. After seeing how it ages, I would never consider it on a nice car.

Bill
 
"stangg" said:
Since you've got original paint... If it's lacquer, then how about look into getting some lacquer and just blend in the bad areas... Never tried it with lacquer myself, but just thinking it might be easier to dust and blend in your bad spots with lacquer. Some flattening agent might even help with the patina if it's too glossy. Again, never tried it myself it seems like it might be fairly easy to do given that lacquer is sprayed in light coats, dries fast, and easy to buff.
Click to expand...

I believe the factory finishes on the early mustangs was acrylic enamel, however I think you can repair it with lacquer as you mentioned...
 
"dm289" said:
I believe the factory finishes on the early mustangs was acrylic enamel, however I think you can repair it with lacquer as you mentioned...
Click to expand...

I believe it is enamel also. I've never been able to shoot lacquer over enamel without it showing a parting line. If someone know a technique that works seemlessly, please share.
 
Wasn't an old school way to determine lacquer vs baked enamel to wipe some lacquer thinner in an out of the way spot, if paint comes off lacquer, if not it was acrylic enamel???
 
Yeah, that would work, but a paint store old timer once told me they were enamel, so I've never really questioned it. Anyone know for sure?
 
Acrylic Enamel for Ford, lacquer for GM up until about 1968.
 
All the Ferraris at the Ferrari Challenge have wraps. All these cars are really red.

IMG_2647.jpg
 
I don't think I would use a vinyl wrap either. I know a guy that had his hood done and it just looks like old window tint.
 
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