How to place tail stripe? EDIT now on, air bubbles?

[miller]

I just received my R/T tail stripe in the mail... does anyone know exactly where it should be placed?

[Silver R/T]

hope this helps

[miller]

Thank you very much, but the car is really a 69' only the front end is a 68, so I have the 69 tail markers and 69 stripe, if you happen to have a picture of a 69's stripe that would be great, but thanks for your input!

[1969chargerrtse]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,34954.160.html

There are many threads on where it goes.  You can start on my #450 thread?

I just went equal between the side marker and followed it upward.

Get the R/T as straight as you can, I had to angle mine a hair but it's explained why in my thread.  ( I had to follow the pattern of a painted on stripe ) I did the sides first and then made sure they were equal length from the leading edge and then matched up the trunk V'd stripe to center and edge.  

The center stripe is no fun, you really need to know how to apply it or you will get air bubbles etc...  I know I went through several.  Performance Car graphics in FL is where I got my Mopar certified kit.  125.00 a set or you  can buy each piece separately thank God.  

http://www.performancecargraphics.com/

[bill440rt]

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29293.0.html

[1969chargerrtse]

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,29293.0.html

Yep, that be the threads of threads when it comes to applying the stripe. 

[miller]

Thank you for all the information, if someone could measure the distance from the reflector to the bottom the the R/T I would really appreciate it!

[bill440rt]

There is really no "exact" measurement. In a perfect world, the R/T should be centered with the body line. That is, the center body crease should pass thru the bottom of the "R" and the top of the "T".
HOWEVER, you have the upper belt body line to contend with. The side stripes have a bend to them that must match the upper belt line, or they'll look like they have a zig-zag to them at this line. Make sure the stripe falls correctly on the upper belt line, and the R/T "should" fall into place. Once the side stripes are in place, the deck stripe should be easy.
With the lousy tolerances these cars have, you might have to play give and take in lining up the stripe. For instance, on one side of my car the R/T is slightly lower than the other (maybe 1/8" - 1/4"), but up top it lines up good.
Good luck!

[miller]

Well I had a local collision shop put the stripe on and there are air bubbles all over it... will the air bubbles dry up once the car is in the sun? The small one are the size of pin heads and there is one big one the size of a half a dime.

[Ryan]

sounds like you need to have them redo it.

[tan top]

sounds like  they did not know how to fit it !!  could stick a pin in the bubble & let the air out 

[miller]

Well thats not half the story, the local body shop claimed that the angle in the stripe did not match the angle on the trunk, and because of that they had to cut the excess from one side and put it on the other side which was not covered by the stripe. The result is a patched together mess of a stripe on my trunk. I was a little bit disgusted and the body shop didnt charge anything until I find out whose fault it is.

[superbirdtom]

make those idiots buy you a new kit. then go to a sign shop where they deal with vinyl lettering everyday. they have a special gel for putting on the decals. I have done many decals  and its not that big of a deal. I will use a spray bottle with some mild soap and water in it. I will tape stripe in place first to locate where it goes . then mark areas where edges will go with blue quarter inch waterproof vinyl tape.

Then hose down car and the stripe with the soapy water bottle solution.  you should be able to slide the decal around. now have a buddy hold it where it is marked then with slight pressure start from the middle and squegee from the center to the outside . I use a 3m rubber sanding pad for my squegee as the hard plastic ones can scar your decal.

I did a challenger huge blackout hood decal about 3 years ago ,the challenge is too keep the area and yourselves dust free one speck of dust can ruin your whole job.

These boobs just have no experience doing decals. and owe you a new kit. you need to find someone who knows what the hell theyre doing. and you must state no bubbles and right location or you will want a new kit

[hemi-hampton]

I do them all the time but the body shop I work at had the new guy put stripes on a new car. He screwed it up with air bubbles everywhere, crooked, uneven ect, ect. They then sent to the local sign/graphics place around corner to do. This place does entire car wraps & truck/van wraps. I mean huge decals that cover the entire Vehicle. To my surprise it came back with mega air bubbles every where. I was surprised such a crappy job since I though they where pro's. I could of done better myself then both of those guys but the boss never asked me. LEON.

[superbirdtom]

We have a place here called sign por it is a national chain and they do vehicle wraps too.  We nicked them bubble pro as every job they do has bubbles in it . they recently did a 2010 camaro vinyl ss stripes and theyre all bubbled up as is everything else they do .i just don't get it and huge ones too. Only thing to do if you get a couple is to pop them with the tiniest needle you can and just put it out in the sun and hope for the best,