Sail Panel Vinyl Installation, ...Step-by-Step Options

[Eric_Shea]

I searched the site for a step-by-step on installing sail panel vinyl. I found people who had done it but no detailed instructions to give you an idea of what’s involved and/or give you the tools to carry on for yourself. With cars that are 28-34 years old, I’m sure there’s more than a few of us driving around out there with peeling, unsightly sail panel vinyl. This is a “Big” job when done right. You’ll have a good portion of your car torn apart. Plan on a weekend where you prep one day and assemble the next. Here’s what it will take to get yours back to new.

Tools and Supplies:

 Phillips Head Screwdriver – Medium
 Phillips Head Screwdriver – Small
 Phillips Head Screwdriver – Short
 Flat Head Screwdriver – Medium
 8mm Socket with Long Extension
 10mm Socket
 17mm Socket
 Small 1” Putty Knife
 Utility Knife with Plenty of Sharp Blades
 Blue Masking Tape
 Regular Masking Tape
 Roll of Butchers Paper (or a bunch of newspapers)
 Spray Trim Adhesive
 Adhesive Remover
 Sail Panel Vinyl Kit (various vendors)

Step 1: Remove Trim

You’ll obviously need to take off all the trim pieces before digging into this task. Remove your (cars) top and start with the large pieces that trim the back of each sail panel. You may want to remove the rear wheel to access the 8mm nut underneath the car. This holds a clip that holds the trim piece at the base. There is one other mount and that’s a Phillips screw. Next would be the front side of the sail panel where you’ll need to remove the rubber weather strip at the back of the door and then remove the Phillips screws holding the mounting track. Use the putty knife to get under the mounting track trim piece as they are glued on with a nice sticky tar substance. I’ll let you work your way through the remaining pieces (basically un-screw, un-screw, un-screw…)

[rpc]

Very helpful writeup. A couple of quick questions.

- What spray vinyl did you use? Is 3m Super 77 okay?

- How did you handle the spot where the untrimmed targa bar piece overlaps the space where the sail piece goes during installation? Did you trim the end of the targa ends before installing the sail vinyl?

Thanks

[Eric_Shea]

Very helpful writeup. A couple of quick questions.

- What spray vinyl did you use? Is 3m Super 77 okay?

- How did you handle the spot where the untrimmed targa bar piece overlaps the space where the sail piece goes during installation? Did you trim the end of the targa ends before installing the sail vinyl?

Thanks

Super 90 is best. Follow the instructions for set-up time and pattern spray (left/right and top/bottom).

The section in question with the overlap gets what they call a "double cut". This is where you lay the piece over top the other and make a single cut through, cutting both pieces. You then remove the lower piece and press the top piece in it's place.

If done properly, it's almost impossible to see the seam on some materials.

Hope that helps.

Toast - I always slice/cut toward the bottom of the trim piece. Good point. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[rpc]

Thanks Eric. I bought some 3M Super Trim Adhesive 08090, which may be a bit of overkill, but seems like it will work as well as the Super 90.