Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Hey everyone! I bought this crossfire back in December, i liked the car mostly because you don't see them everywhere. Unlike Mustangs and Camaro's...

Modifying cars has always been a hobby of mine and considering i got this car relatively cheap (had a bad RCM and the seller didn't know what to do), i have some cash left over to customize it. So lets start!

First things first, i've never been a huge fan of red...

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/3...0709190219.jpg

Unfortunately paint is too expensive, and decreases resale value. My best option is to vinyl wrap. I purchased some of SimCarbon's white carbon fiber vinyl wrap. White crossfires have always looked the best IMO, but i figure if i'm going to wrap i might as well make it something paint can't do. This wrap does that very well.

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/3...0709190709.jpg

These are the tools i used. A few drops of dish soap in a bucket of water to clean the exterior, rubbing alcohol to make sure it's clean, scissors, a razor blade, a credit card in a microfiber case, a hair dryer, and a whole lat of patience.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/772...0709213055.jpg

First half of the hood done, not looking too bad...

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2...0709234635.jpg

Second half of the hood.... I'm going to end up redoing it. It's not too bad for a first attempt but i underestimated the amount of stretching needed when you get to the ends. to many air bubbles, especially in the hood creases. Scrap the hair dryer, i'm going to need a heat gun. Also it is impossible to get the back corners with the hood on, so i must take it off. From here on out i am going to take each body panel off as i wrap it.

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/4...0710180821.jpg

door almost off...

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/695...0710180837.jpg

Unplugging the door wiring plain sucks. The air bag wires need to be individually disconnected from it connector. You will need something to push each pin it, i used a pen. Also the vacuum connector for the door locks is nearly impossible to disconnect. I just cut the hose very close to the connector and used a razor blade to remove the remaining hose on the connector. I will slide it back on when i put the door back on.

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7...0710182851.jpg

Door off...

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/6...0710182858.jpg

Removing the rocker panel...

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/6...0710185523.jpg

Fender off. Be careful removing the fender, do not bend it. The are A LOT of bolts holding it on located under the hood, in the door jam, behind the rocker panel, in the wheel well, and attached the the front bumper. Take your time.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7...0710190857.jpg

the side gills are held in by urethane glue and double sided foam tape. The tape must come off, i used A LOT of goo gone and a hair dryer. Took about a half hour.

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2...0710230135.jpg

Fender done, looking good!

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/9...0710230141.jpg

Here's a close up of the material, it looks really good in my opinion. Some will like it and some wont, it looks different though. I have a lot more to go and i seem to be averaging a panel a day. This wrap has micro perforations in it to allow air to escape, it makes air bubbles easy to get out. The bubbles you seen in the fender will come out after i let it sit overnight, at least they did with the hood.

HID's came it today as well, i will install those when i get the front bumper off.

Not a bad two days work, more pics soon!

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Looks good - keep it up!

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Wow keep it up I'd love to see the final product.. I think white is the second best color for these cars and your wrap should make an interesting look...

Or you could just Plastidip the whole thing..

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Hat's off to you for taking this on. Are you able to match up the carbon fiber weave?

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Looks awesome, very different. Nice job!

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Looks awesome!
I know what you are going through. I stripped and repainted my SRT6. I wanted a permanent solution so the wrapping was not my choice but for a year or two I guess this will look awesome! Post pics so we can see the beauty!

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

I thought about platidip, i don't want to have to worry about getting vinyl on my radiator though.

As long as you center the wrap decently on each piece it lines up pretty well, some parts will have opposite weave which looks just as good. ill get some pics later.

Yea my paint sucks, too many rock chips and scratches. I don't have the resources to paint it right though and i don't have the cash to have someone else do it.

EDIT: After looking at all of the wrapped parts i find there are things i really don't like... Random small holes from the hard garage floor, dirt that the wind blew under the wrap...

I need a new environment, the garage is not going to work. I'm going to put down a tarp in my living room, and do it there. I need a soft carpeted surface and no wind. Everything needs to stay clean..... Not looking forward to re doing the hood and fender, but i wont let it look like crap.

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

I can't see any pics...sounds nice though lol

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

My, you are an ambitious person aren't you?

I think it looks very cool. Keep it up!

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Very nice! I like it.

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

If you are as ambitious as this at work, you'll never be unemployed! ;)
\

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Where are you guys going to see the pics??? Maybe my work computer is blocking something? I see other pics though...hmmmm

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

I can see them, and I"m currently behind the company's firewall and internet spyware.

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

its not plain white it white carbon fiber.

Carbon Fiber Vinyl Film Wrap

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

looking forward to seeing 'finished' photos - currently looking very interesting (in a GOOD way!!)

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

well after a lot of thought i think i am going to scrap the wrap. Unfortunately i am a complete perfectionist and the small air bubbles that don't come out really, really annoy me. One of the biggest reasons I'm even doing this to my car is because of the rock chips and spider web cracks in the paint. I am going to have to spend at least another $300 in vinyl and i still may not like it after that.

But i am not completely giving up. I think I'm going to try plastidip. It appears to be a spray on wrap, and people claim it's durable. Just trying to pick a color, they are all matte.

What is everyone's thoughts on this?


I'm thinking white plastidip the whole car and black plastidip all of the silver pieces, emblems, and spoiler.

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

Either you do it the real way:

repaint

OR

pay someone to do your platicwrap.

just my 0.02$

Re: Alex's 2005 Limited Coupe Build Thread
 

The place that does wrapping here says that it's impossible for wrap to look flawless. They said it's a wrap not paint.

This is why i want to try plastidip, its paint on wrap.

like this, but im going to take off the body panels that i can and mask a lot better.