Q: Has anyone done the new GTO? Im going to handcut the hood and the fenders, as well as the door edges, but I dont want to cut the bumper by hand. Which kit covers the bumper the best? Enpro and AFF are at my disposal, unless you guys recommend someone else with a better pattern!

A: I hand cut mine, did it out of 24" for the hood and bumper, It took about an hour and a half wheel to wheel. the customer wanted more coverage on the hood. It was the "yellow"jacket" color.

A: When you ask about the new GTO are we talking about the 2004 GTO or the new 2005 which is just starting to come out? We have the kit for the 2004 and are anxiously trying to get our hands on a 2005 but our understanding of the '05 is that the largest modification is in the hood (adding a scoop) and that the balance of the front end remains largely unaffected.

We're going to check it out but off hand we're thinking that the 2004 bumper will fit the 2005 tweaked car.

Q: Ok. Explain to me how in the hell you hand cut that bumper. I had a hell of a time getting that kit to lay down, let alone having to hand cut it. I use venture, and when I stretched the mirrors to cut them, after they were cut, they started to peel off. So I had to get creative with them. I need to try a different brand apparently.

A: I can't comment on exactly how to hand cut that bumper, but I might be able to shed a little light on the mirrors for you. The reason you might have experienced adhesion problems stretching and hand cutting the mirrors with a non coated film is this. Remember that most non coated films have a good memory from an elasticity standpoint. For example, take 3M film and stretch it and then lift it back up, more than likely it will not retain 100% memory and not come back entirely to its original state it was in before you stretched it. The clearcoat helps the film maintain its new position once stretched into place, so if you were to have used 3M for example and stretched those mirrors into place, gave the material a few minutes to "learn" its new state and then hand cut them, you might not have experienced the peeling problem, plus it is easier to hand cut than a non coated film. However, you might not have given the material enough time to dry, or maybe the surface may have still had some wax or sealant which was interfering with the adhesives ability to stick before you cut. Prep the surface again, double check the solutions, gently stretch the material into position, allow enough time to dry and then cut them. Hope this helps.

A: Again sorry for the delay, was swamped here. Here is how to handcut the bumper. Take your film and lay it out across the bumper. start in the center where the license plate would be if applicable,(not here) stretch to either side to the corner, just to the outside of the foglight. then tack and stretch straight down to the outside of the light pulling everything in between tought. Squeegee down snd seal off that area. NOW, when handcutting, dont cut directly to where the film will end, go about a 1/16 of an inch out further and cut, only putting the blade through the film, not onto the bumper itself. this 16th of an inch will lay down and round the edge slightly when dry, also allowing you to give 1/16 coverage. Now, from the point that you sealed and closed, stretch upward to the wheel and around the marker light, aligning with the body line,tack and set the top, then pull down to the lower wheel well and use the suction technique to pull the fluid to the front and down, CAREFULLY trim around the marker light and to the wheel well. You may have to put a seam in the middle under the license plate, or may not depending on your stretch. If so, make a nice straight cut,(off the car) and stretch the film from the foglight in, joining the seam in the middle. and as the polish sex manual says repeat other side. NOW, I'm not saying that this is for everyone, if your not comforatable with doing a handcut then for crissakes DON'T do it, but if you feel that you can, dont be limited, the imagination is staggering.

Ok so before the kit sellers pounce on me, here is the poop, again if your not comfortable dont do it, BUT, if you want to try on an older car dont make the cuts and just see what you can do with the film, go for it, use some scraps and see if you can make it bend around a corner, learn to work teh film, not be worked by it. only thing you have to lose is some film, but the knowledge you gain by playing with it will be invaluable. Asshat and myself stretch the envelope daily, Challenge yourself to be better..Question the norm and make money, but be the best that you can be.

The man that said it couldnt be done, was interupted by the man doing it" dont know who said it, but damn it makes sense!