Taping my car up for a long roadtrip

JustinTRW · 04-30-03, 05:10

Hey everyone,

I am thinking of driving from San Diego to Monterey and back with my black C32. I've decided to tape the front end up, but it may not make any difference in the long run. Can anyone recommend a place to buy racer's tape or painter's tape? I'm not sure exactly which one to buy, because this trip could take up to four days, and that seems a long time to keep tape on the surface.

I found this thread on the topic so far:
How do i protect my car for the ride home?

OUCH · 04-30-03, 06:32

Why would you wanna tape it up? Why not just get a Bra

Ben Carufel · 04-30-03, 07:59

I second OUCH. Get a bra. I use one for long road trips.

Ben Carufel · 04-30-03, 08:04

BTW, Justin, I think I've been on a few runs with you -- Palomar mountain back in late July of last year (I was riding in an E30 M3), and the Irvine Fatburger cruise back in January...

JustinTRW · 04-30-03, 08:21

Ah yes Ben, I remember you! I have only been to one meet (I guess the fatburger meet had a different C32). You are the talented photographer, yes? How much do you charge? LOL. Some nice moving shots of a group canyoning sounds fun.

Ouch,
Bras are not for me. With tape, I can basically make a custom skin to cover almost any part of the car.

JB in Irvine · 04-30-03, 08:49

Quote:

Originally posted by JustinTRW

Ouch,
Bras are not for me. With tape, I can basically make a custom skin to cover almost any part of the car.

?

Hhmmm....

Bra -

Bra + tape -

Tape along -

Sorry I don't get it. How could you get the protection that a bra offers with tape?

At a lot of Porsche concours events I see folks taping wheel arches, and around headlights etc....but it is always in conjuction with a bra.

500amg · 04-30-03, 08:57

Quote:

Bras are not for me.

LOL! I hope not

Ben Carufel · 04-30-03, 09:40

Quote:

Originally posted by JustinTRW
Ah yes Ben, I remember you! I have only been to one meet (I guess the fatburger meet had a different C32). You are the talented photographer, yes? How much do you charge? LOL. Some nice moving shots of a group canyoning sounds fun.

LOL. Yeah, I'm the "talented" photographer...there's a thread about my website in the Automotive Photography section of Autopia right now, actually.

I charge way too much

. $1450 is a standard day rate. I'm on schedule to get a Canon Digital SLR this summer, though, so I can do some nice shots at all the events after that.

Are you doing the SoCalEuro caravan up north on like May 17 or something?

bobg · 05-01-03, 05:27

Try

http://www.racecarsupply.com/html/pit_accessories.html

or

http://www.empius.com/t/tape.html

or

http://www.pitstopusa.com/RACERSTAPE.asp

kgb · 05-01-03, 05:35

When I went on the NOPI Nationals tour I drove with my buddy. We went from Detroit to Baltimore then down to Atlanta. He has a custom front clip so no bra for the car. We wrapped the front in seran wrap. It fell off 5 minutes down the express way.

:

WebDev · 05-01-03, 06:22

There is a clear coating that you can get to go on over the paint that will protect from rock chips and such. One place calls it "invisible front end shield" it's made out of a urethane. The advantage to it being that it won't rub the front end like a bra and it also doesn't obscure the paint from the sun. If you use a bra for a while you'll notice a difference in the paint color under the bra versus not under.

forrest · 05-01-03, 06:53

I use the 3M Scotchcal Paint Protection Film like they make the clear Stoneguard and Expel front end coverings out of. I just get the bulk rolls instead, which come in various widths, thicknesses and lengths.

My favorite is part # 84804 - 8 mils thick, 4" wide, and 40 yards long.

Tape the front end up, and peel it off when you get there. I know it stays on at obscene speeds (168 mph), in rain, and for several days of necessary, and removes without residue.

Order it from an automotive paint store that carries 3M products.