[Plumbermark]

I found what can be an easy alternative to painting your tank panels. Wrap them in vinyl. All the materials were under $30.

1. A half yard of your choice of vinyl.
(That was the minimum the upholstery shop would sell. I decided to match my seat.)

2. 3M 27 spray adhesive.

3. Vinyl edging to wrap the exterior and hide gaps from over cutting the upholstery to keep it tight around corners. ( I found it a TAP plastics in Sacramento California. It actually had an adhesive inside the channel to help hold it but I used silicone as well for extra strength.)

4. 3m adhesive tape. ( I think the number was 4921. It took three layers to make it thick enough to stick the icon badges back on but they are as strong as the factory tape. Probably the same stuff.)

Remove the badges and panels same as described in many other threads. Clean them with wax and grease remover.

Cut out the vinyl upholstery about an inch and a half larger than the panel.

Spray glue is applied to both the panel and the vinyl. Use multiple coats, about a minute apart, before actually sticking the pieces together.

Lay vinyl over the panel.
Press out any bubbles from the center of the panel out to the edge.

Flip panel over respray inside of panel where the excess material will wrap the edge. I cut triangles out alone the entire edge to help keep from wrinkling rounded edges and tight corners.
I let the panels dry over night and finished the edge in the morning.

The edge vinyl was pretty easy. I put the seem at the bottom of the panel where it would be harder to see the joint. Warming it up in the dryer or leaving it in the sun helped make the corners. The channel simply wrapped the entire edge and has stayed put pretty well. I did reinforce it with silicone on the back side and time will tell how it does in the summer heat.
Finally the panels were reinstalled and the badges were stuck back into place. If I could sew I would have stitches a border or a pattern in the material prior to gluing it but it still look nice.
Give it a try. It's cheap and not very difficult. Upholstery options are unlimited.

 

[ichitz]

very nice. Great job. I'm curious to the texture. Is it hard like plastic?

 

[Plumbermark]

Car and boat vinyl very similar to the scrambler seat. That's why I picked it.

 

[SouthernIcon]

Looks good! Thanks for the pics.

 

[SCR Berliner]

Hi P.Mark,
the panel is ok but the side panel with bone rat sticker is FANTASTIC!! TOP for me! I'd like me toooo! Could you sell me the R/L side panel with bone rat stickers ??

 

[SCR Berliner]

Side panel rat bone :cussing::angryfire::angryfire::sad2:I won't it !!!!

 

[Plumbermark]

I can add to my post I think I called number plate. Pretty simple to make and cheap. I'll don't a short step by step and show you the parts I used. All local suppliers or easy on line finds. Thanks for noticing. Mark

 

[Outdoor_funguy]

View attachment 4719 View attachment 4720 View attachment 4721 View attachment 4722 View attachment 4719 View attachment 4720 View attachment 4721 View attachment 4722 I found what can be an easy alternative to painting your tank panels. Wrap them in vinyl. All the materials were under $30.

1. A half yard of your choice of vinyl.
(That was the minimum the upholstery shop would sell. I decided to match my seat.)

2. 3M 27 spray adhesive.

3. Vinyl edging to wrap the exterior and hide gaps from over cutting the upholstery to keep it tight around corners. ( I found it a TAP plastics in Sacramento California. It actually had an adhesive inside the channel to help hold it but I used silicone as well for extra strength.)

4. 3m adhesive tape. ( I think the number was 4921. It took three layers to make it thick enough to stick the icon badges back on but they are as strong as the factory tape. Probably the same stuff.)

Remove the badges and panels same as described in many other threads. Clean them with wax and grease remover.

Cut out the vinyl upholstery about an inch and a half larger than the panel.

Spray glue is applied to both the panel and the vinyl. Use multiple coats, about a minute apart, before actually sticking the pieces together.

Lay vinyl over the panel.
Press out any bubbles from the center of the panel out to the edge.

Flip panel over respray inside of panel where the excess material will wrap the edge. I cut triangles out alone the entire edge to help keep from wrinkling rounded edges and tight corners.
I let the panels dry over night and finished the edge in the morning.

The edge vinyl was pretty easy. I put the seem at the bottom of the panel where it would be harder to see the joint. Warming it up in the dryer or leaving it in the sun helped make the corners. The channel simply wrapped the entire edge and has stayed put pretty well. I did reinforce it with silicone on the back side and time will tell how it does in the summer heat.
Finally the panels were reinstalled and the badges were stuck back into place. If I could sew I would have stitches a border or a pattern in the material prior to gluing it but it still look nice.
Give it a try. It's cheap and not very difficult. Upholstery options are unlimited.

Wow! That looks freakin awesome! I like your idea! I'll consider doing my own vinyl wrap project as well but will probably seek some professional help from www.gatorwraps.com, I heard they are the best in wrapping all kinds of crazy things.

 

[autoMATTic]

Looks like it'll hold up better than my plasti dipped panels haha. Did you just cut out a hole for the screw to reattach them?

 

[avonnieda]

Wow, those look great!

 

[Plumbermark]

Yes I did just cut the screw holes out. The badges are just stuck over the holes with 3m double adhesive tape.

 

[Rsgixer]

Looks good.
Might try carbon fibre wrap. Do you have a better description of the edging?