Removing 'Factory' pinstripe after extended time, bad idea?

[Fryguy]

Well I'm starting to plan doing a couple of things to my car (tint, partial body kit, etc) and I want to put side decals on. However I have a pinstripe that's basically 6 years old (97 eclipse), and I'm worried that taking it off will leave a wear mark in the paint behind if they paint has faded in the 6 years. Should I be worried? Short of a full repaint, is there anything I can do to patch this up if/when it occurs? Can I just super-wax it to hide it a little bit or what?

Keep in mind I don't want to take off the pinstripe and peak cuz I'll have a bi*** of a time putting it back on after it loses it's stickiness.

 

[TBSpyder]

I would think a mild rubbing compound and then wax would do the trick.

 

[bottledbird68]

Exactly, pull it off and give it good wax if it's not too faded. If it is, a little compound or a good buff should take care of it

 

[Fryguy]

so I don't need to be worried about permanent unfixable fading? Good deal

Now I just need to decide if I'm crazy enough to do nitrous or not

 

[bottledbird68]

Your cars a 97, if it were an 80 something I'd be worried about fading but you should be all set.

And yes, you are crazy enough to do nitrous

 

[Defiant]

Fill out your profile info so we know what you're dealing with.

I don't know how bad stuff fades up there in the north, and a lot of it depends on what color the car is to start with. Metallics both fade more and mask it better. Solids tend to depend on which color and how it's been kept- an outdoor red will fade much more than a blue.

Make sure that stripe isn't under the clearcoat.

And side stickers? Did you say side stickers? No. Please, don't.

 

[TSiGoesPsSsSst]

I was gonna take mine off with a heat gun...but it came right off with my fingers....Then I used lauquer thinner to wipe off the remaining glue and''BAM'' looked perfect Pinstripe isnt anything to worry about, take it right off.IMO it died in the 80's, looks terrible on cars now

 

[bosljeff]

I have a 92 and it was a HORRIBLE idea!!!!

I started to peal it away at the front, hood, end and to my surprise it came right off, no residue, no fading, nothing. Then when it was too late to go back (which was about halfway on the door) it went to hell.

What it left is not a residue, and I'll be damned if I can explain what it is, but it ain't going away. It isn't paint fade because you can feel "elevation" to whatever is left, but not matter what I used, rubbing compound, adhesive remover, anything...nothing worked. I used a heat gun, dremel tool with a buffing wheel with rubbing compound, nothing worked.

It was so late and I was so tired that I didn't notice that I had pushed so hard with the cloth I was using to try to "buff" it off that I had left little verticle "dents" up and down the pinstripe area from the front of the door almost to the rear of the car that were about 1 inch in length. You can only see them when you are at certain angles and they look like ass.

BE CAREFUL! It isn't worth it unless you are covering it with graphics or repainting car.

My .02.

Boz

 

[Omega]

Unless they are in bad shape I would suggest you leave them. You never can tell until they are gone and then it is too late to turn back.

I removed the side decals on my car (metalic gray kinda colour) and you can see where they were. I must add that you can only see the remnance in certain light and if you get up close.