I received my SS striping kit from Phoenix Graphics yesterday. Does anyone have experience in applying these things?

http://www.graphic-express.com/images/gm_elc1.jpg

One problem in doing it myself is that I do not have a heated garage. The instructions say that the decals need to be applied when it is between 70 and 90 degrees, and left in place to set for 3 hours, and also not in direct sunlight. If I did it myself, it would have to wait until April or May (here in Michigan).

The Elky is going to the body shop today for some work and a new paint job. Should I have those guys install the stripes (I'm sure it will cost me) or should I do it myself? Any tips, successes or horror stories welcome!

Steve, just my 2 cents worth, but I would have the body shop install it. Taking into account the weather, the cost of the stripe kit, the need to keep it really straight, and that bad curve around the back of the tailgate.

I've done some small vinyl graphics and given time, proper conditions, it comes out pretty good. I've never done a long stripe down the side of vehicle.

I think I would get some help. At close to $200 a set it would suck to goof up the installation. I've seen decals and emblems that were not installed correctly and you can spot them at quite a distance. I know a guy who regulary shows his '70 El Camino SS clone who installed his own fender emblems. When I was looking at the car during a large indoor show I noticed that the emblems were not even (two single S emblems) and looked staggered from a distance. You have to drill holes to install these bad boys, so it was a double ouch (measure twice...drill once). Anyway, if you can get someone with experience to help you with mounting the decals you will be way ahead of the game. My 2 cents

Thanks guys. I'm dropping the Elky off tonight, and I'll ask him to quote putting them on. I went ahead and took off almost all the trim, so he won't have nearly as much masking as when he first quoted the job. Maybe he can cut me a break.

I'll keep you posted.

You might try a shop in your area that specializes on installing those big vinyl graphics on large trucks and buses. I have a friend in that business who even makes the vinyl graphics on really large printers and cutters. His crew could probably install the stripes on your Elky in minutes.

Thats a great idea. I've had a simular type company install our new company logos (decals) on our fleet of trucks (doors & boxes) when we changed ownership.

Well, I dropped the Elky off at the body shop today. After discussing the stripes with them, I was convinced they could do a much better job than me. They have an indoor, climate controlled facility, and being in the Detroit area, plenty of experience striping classic muscle cars.

If I were to do it myself, I would have to wait until April or May, and spend all day on the project. They quoted $100 for the labor. It would take me all day to do the job, and at my billing rate, its much more cost effective to have them do it than me!

I going to drop off the graphics and reference photos (of a73elkyss's Premonition II) as a guide!

Evening Steve. I think it is a wise move to have a professional install it for you. That stripe will really "make" your elky, in my opinion. And getting it nice and straight is key.

If you need some more pictures or a different angle of picture, just let me know and I'll get it for you. Thanks for the props, also!


Let me know. Good luck with the project.

Hey Jay, that would be great. I just sent you a graphic showing the areas I could use some help with. Let me know if you have any problems receiving it.

Steve. I sent you a zip file with some quick pictures of what I believe your looking for. Let me know if it doesn't come out correctly. The zip file was about 1.7 Mb.

Well a $100 certainly sounds reasonable.

Well a $100 certainly sounds reasonable.

Yeah, I "did the math" and came to the same conclusion!

I finally got the Elky back! I had the body shop put the decals on for $100, and I couldn't be happier!

I had a chance to get out for some pictures today! Check them out in my gallery:

"New Year's Day - New Paint Job" (http://www.necoa.org/modules.php?set_albumName=album272&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php)

By the way, this photo shows the General Motors World Headquarters in the background....

http://elcaminocentral.com/users/77ss/forumpics/new_album.jpg