BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

So on another board the topic of Carbon fiber t-tops came up... I couldn't afford to get the real stuff, so I ordered some 3m Scotchprint Hi gloss vinyl for my lexan tops.

Couple weekends ago I got it put on! It looks great, but I really wish the "high-gloss" was actually high gloss. Some areas the "grain" of the weave is distorted from stretching the vinyl. The stuff is super sticky... infact it took off the paint where I re-painted the top trim, when removing the excess.

Should I leave it or peel it?











I still need to take a better whole car outside pic, but this is what I got in the shadows in direct sunlight.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

I have never seen fhat but I think it looks great on a modded car like yours. Probably not so much on a stocker looking car. How much was the roll you used?

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

Real carbon fiber isn't "high gloss" per se, so I think it actually looks better that it isn't too glossy. I kinda like the look, but it's a little TOO much CF for my taste. Plus you don't get the light coming in from the roof, which I always liked.

I have the 3m 1080 carbon fiber vinyl at work and it's good lookin' stuff.

NufNuffZ28

iTrader: (10)

rock it for a while, then decide!

I like it

sid rs91

I think it looks good. I've been toying with idea of doing the same thing.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks man. I got that CF grill, and figured I needed something else to try and tie it together. I got it on Ebay for $60 shipped.


Yeah I know that raw carbon fiber is not a gloss, but in a lot of applications a uv coating is applied, and I prefer the look of the gloss to go with the gloss of the black on my car. I actually prefer to block out the light inside. If I want light in I take them off LOL!

I plan on it.

Do it man! There are a couple other small parts that I might do as well. Heating it and stretching give so many options, but just kinda messes with the pattern a little. I will post more pics if I do more with it.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

The only thing is, since it is on the lexan t tops, the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to remove it. It may mess up the finish. It is different, but I prefer the look of the glass t tops.

87350IROC

iTrader: (2)

Looks like you did a nice job installing it. The only bummer is that is a big piece and you can see the "wobbly" rows if you look in the correct direction. I say leave it and then do it for real. A single layer of carbon would not cost much at all and would make a nice winter project.

By the way, I think your car looked 10 times better with the polished lips on the wheels.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I'm not normaly a fan of stuff like that but I think I like it. Maybe do the hood blisters or photoshop it and see if it looks cool..

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

My lexan tops had one small section of "clearcoat" de-laminating, and it was driving me nuts. This was WAY easier than sanding and re-finishing the tops.

Yeah in a couple areas I needed to kinda stretch the vinyl to get it to go on smooth, and it totally showed in "weave" of it. I actually was thinking about using the sheet of adhesive backed carbon fiber for the tops if I really liked the look. Its different, but doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

Yeah I'm not set on them either. I have a couple other things I'm trying that might "pull" it together. Wondering if anyone would notice

I actually had thought of that, and still may to them. Figured it might look good with the stripe change I had working on...




But I got pissed off at the plasti-dip crap, and peeled it all off! Maybe when I'm not trying to balance 2 camaro projects I can do it...

91ORANGEZ28

looks good... ive been wanting the real stuff for a while

Camaroguy18

Can you get some better pics from the top-down?

I'd love to see what it looks like from a good vantage, and from far back.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Yeah I'm planning on taking more pics, just been to busy to go out at a good time of day to take some. I will though

onthedownlow

iTrader: (4)

Personally I really like it, as was stated earlier on a modded car like yours it looks great.

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

I was thinking yesterday it would maybe look cool to do this to the black areas on the taillights. even between the red, yellow, and white sections.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I could see that looking really cool with tinted lights. Wonder if the small strips of the stuff I have left over could be used?

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Yea mine are nightshaded. I dont know that it would look good with stock lights.

watajob

iTrader: (29)

Me likey.

ontogenesis

I like it as long as (like yours) the car is in good shape and not beat up

Pro-mo

And , for me, on a dark car. Just dont think this would look good on say a white car. But I do like it.

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Interesting alternative to privacy tint. I'll agree that this will not look good on all cars, but you pull it off.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Carbon Fiber stripes!!!!!!

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

IMO fake = sucks

I kinda like the look, and agree a gloss finish would be better, but if your gonna do CF, make some CF t-tops for real. CF is not THAT hard to make if you invest a little bit of $$$ and a lot of time and patience learning how.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Maybe even Matte Black stripes, thats what im gonna do when I repaint the black z28....

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Yeah I somewhat argree with the fakeness of it, but this is a means to a better end result. I know that I will not be molding my own t-tops out of carbon fiber, but now that I have seen that it looks pretty good on there. I will be planning on using a real carbon fiber sheet overlay for them.


Yeah I posted pics of what I was doing with my matte/satin black stripes above... I peeled it off for another day when I have more time to get it done better

Camaroguy18

Still waiting for updated photos??

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Sorry man the car I haven't had a chance to take good pics of the tops. I have a big show this weekend and will take lots of pics. Not sure if these help...

Camaroguy18

Any chance you could get some from the top down, literally birds-eye???

Sharp looking ride, I must say

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

I feel like a broken record... I will man! Last two times I had it out I forgot about snapping a "birds eye" type shot, and when I was taking pics there was no way to get elevated enough to do it.

Thanks! LOVE your car too

HotRodLarry

I like it. I have used some of the "faux carbon fiber" on the hood louvers and it looks good.

Wonder how it would look on glass T-Tops.Hmmm

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks! I think it would look just as good or better.

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

I've always loved the look of your car. Good to see you are experimenting with it still. The CF looks good except like mentioned before, it's not glossy. The pictures make it look like the top is either faded, or you have condensation still on the tops. Everytime I look at it though, it's growing on me, even the wheels(still prefer before plasti-dip though.)
Look forward to more pictures of the what you are doing with the stripe.

LHernandezJr

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BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Thanks man. I would love for them to be a glossier finish, and I might buy some real carbon fiber sheet for an overlay. The stripes did not work out like I wanted to in the plasti-dip, so I quit with that. It needs to just be painted.

The finish doesn't look bad, but I would prefer it to be glossy to "blend" in a little better. I plan on leaving it on until I find a better method for more realistic look.

I peeled the plasti-dip from the wheels... back to the "old wheels'

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

Just thinking outside the box for a minute or two...since the material is removeable what about spraying the tops with a clearcoat to get the gloss you're wanting? What's the worst that could happen, you'd have to rewrap the tops again? Bodyshops have been spraying over decals on cars since forever and they're vinyl... I think it looks good btw.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Topping the vinyl as they call it... Thought of it, and tried it on some strips I had. It does not work. Just turns it gloss black and it does not look like cf at that point. 3M states that this product should not be "topped" in the instructions for care. Great minds huh?

Thanks for the compliment

LHernandezJr

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BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

That handle is how I would really like to have the tops look. I ordered the Scotchprint 1080 cause it said that it had the "wet" gloss look... that is not very wet looking from what I know. Oh well.

Where does your body get his carbon fiber sheet? The tops are flat enough and have a nice enough edge to trim against I think I would try this one my self. Worst case I start over and re-finish the lexan

LHernandezJr

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birshking

To make the vinyl look more glossy.use valspar clear.you can buy at Lowes.don't use any other clear.just valspar.i tried them all and this is better.it will make it pop out more.just to ensure your vinyl is the same as i use.try a sample first and no more than 3 coats.or it will full in and just look black

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

At first when I seen thr title I was like nooooooooo lol. Since im on the process of making some actual cf t top and custom z28 spoiler and I wanted to be the only one. Looks good for being wrapped though

Coolwheels84

iTrader: (5)

I think it looks pretty badass. I like it

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Actually the Valspar is the brand of gloss clear I used when attempting to top the vinyl. It took one tiny coat and it just became black textured vinyl. On to the real stuff!

Make sure to post up pics of your carbon projects. I'd love to see the real deal ones

Thanks buddy! Almost as badass as your two tone paint job!

Coolwheels84

iTrader: (5)

How do you think it would look as a single
Racing stripe on my black cowl hood and rear deck?
I'm thinking it might look sick with a matching
metallic silver pinstripe outlining it like I have
separating my 2 colors. Thanks for the compliment.

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

Sure will just trying to plan everything out with my composite teacher that way i get it done right.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

How has it held up a year later? I have been curious to try that but with the 3M dinoc stuff.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Looks just the same. Held up really well.

Tibo

iTrader: (15)

Did it black out the tops so no light gets through? I'm interested in it also as a way to prevent the new interior pieces from sunfading as quickly when parking outside.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Yes it blacked it out.

91banditt2

iTrader: (1)

Back from the dead
Any chance on getting a long term update, interested in seeing how this vinyl is holding up?