TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:48 pm

okay...been working hard on the buggy. I installed a full roll cage, side brush guards, fiberglass the dash to the hood and reshaped around the front roll bar legs..even added the old longacre convex mirror off the race car. Starting to really come together. I will post some pics tomorrow...

The quesion is....

Do I paint it or just cover it in a wrap? Have you guys explored this one? 3M makes a carbon fiber sheet that can be applied over just about any surface. All kinds of mumblings at SEMA over it. Many of the aftermarket guys are using this on wheels, interior pannels and even wrapping entire cars.

I am seriously thinking about buying enough to wrap the entire tub in carbon fiber.

Whatcha think?

Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:12 pm

I assume you're speaking of Di-noc. What worries me about covering an entire car in it is longevity as it only has a 4 year "vertical life span" outdoors and it's not easily removable according to their FAQ.
http://www.carbonfiberfilm.com/faq/
I'm actually thinking of covering my dash in it but I'll not sure it would look right with the interior panels I'm installing.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:02 pm

Wrapping a car is far from easy, and the funky shape of a Buggy would not be easy. Unless you have done a wrap before!

With that being said, it would be a great looking buggy!

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:11 pm

3M has a couple different films... I wasn't aware of Di-Noc. I got in samples weeks ago of their carbon fiber wrap films and it wasn't labeled Di-Noc, so that may be a different product. Their CF wrap films have a performance life of 3 to 5 years and are not gasoline resistant, so keep that in mind. That said, I do have a sample board outside in the yard with their various films with a couple of coats of automotive clear over them to see how they react. It's only been a month or so but so far, so good!

And yes, if you haven't wrapped before get someone who has.. and be prepared to pay for the 3M name.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:14 pm

We're covering my buggy for a comic convention next month. It's 3M 1080...something. It's available in carbon fibre, flat black. Loads of colours. I priced it about and it's about $150 for enough to do the exterior. I have a friend that's going to do it for me. It's NOT easy I wanted experiment with it (because we're taking it off again) and I tried putting a piece on a compound curve, I eff'd it.

It does come off easy and did nothing to the paint underneith.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:24 pm

Quote: .. and be prepared to pay for the 3M name.

A 3M sales rep I met at an environmental convention told me what 3M stood for......Make More Money.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:31 pm

I think the trick is to find someone that's not going to try and make 300% on you. I was quoted $35 a yard for 3M. I think $150 is pretty decent for material. Installation is the killer.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:46 pm

The November 2010 issue of Hot VWs has a 4 page article about wrapping a drag bug. The girl from Signart Graphix in Vista CA used a heat gun to help shrink it around the curves on the beetle.

I have seen one wrapped correctly and I had a hard time telling it was a wrap and not paint.

Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:32 pm

I've done some small parts for my motorcycle and what I learned is to pay someone to do it for you or order 2-3 times what you need. You will screw up most of the material on your first and possibly second attempt. You can get some off ebay to practice on. Make sure you have a couple hair dryers handy also.

Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:42 am

no worries on application...not my first rodeo...

I ended up listening to my 8 year old daughter.

She said to nothing. Here was her reasoning...mind you she is 8.

"the license plate is BUGGERD right? Then why would you want to be new looking? It should look broken right daddy?"

Duh....???

I am going to leave the stress cracked, chipped paint in place with all its holes and fiber glassed patched glory. It has character. Only gonna spend $ on go fast parts and mechanical. :)

Here comes the turbo EFI system....can you hear it?

Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:49 am

:lol: Priceless!

Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:27 am

Real or wrapped

Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:54 am

Wrapped.

Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:52 pm

Wrapped.

Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:49 pm

wrapped

Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:59 am

Cool.

Mark

Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:11 pm

crashtestdumba$$ wrote:
I am going to leave the stress cracked, chipped paint in place with all its holes and fiber glassed patched glory. It has character. Only gonna spend $ on go fast parts and mechanical. :)

Nothing wrong with that.