Cladding

[vt_maverick]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-IS...611205e2#v4-38

Looks like they used the black and not the dark grey which is a better match from what I've heard.

That is freaking awesome. I wonder how much it would cost to do that? I assume since the "naked" VX pics look like they were taken in his garage that he probably did it himself though.

[VX KAT]

That is freaking awesome. I wonder how much it would cost to do that? I assume since the "naked" VX pics look like they were taken in his garage that he probably did it himself though.

I thought so too, so I wrote to the seller: Here's response:

Dear purple.kat1,

The plastic coating is called Gator Back, and it is a GM product, made for the vinyl bits of their Avalanche
trucks. I can't remember exactly where to buy it, I bought it both from their site and once from eBay, but if
you do a Google search is is easy enough to find. The color of your current panelling isn't an issue, as this is
like a paint in that it coats and covers the surface entirely, but it is actually and aerosol form of plastic, so
once it is sprayed a chemical process begins and as it cures it actually bonds with the plastic on your
cladding and becomes part of it, resurfacing the old with a new layer of plastic. It is also more fade resistant
that the stock material. I keep an extra can of it on hand to use in case anyone scratches my bumper while
parking etc... But I have not had to use it yet, so it is durable. You will need about six to eight cans of it
depending on how heavy handed you are in your application, I am usually of the more is better schoool of
thought, and you best result is going to be if you take the time to remove all the cladding entirely, give is a
good sanding with a fine grit paper, and a thorough wash and dry, then apply in a sealed area.
I can't tell you exactly how many hours of labor are involved as I did this at the same time as the cutting and
buffing of the paint, but the two together took about thirty to fourty hours of work, so if you don't have the
time and space to do it yourself, it would likely be quite expensive, although I am sure a pro could do it in
far less time.

hope that helps...C.

I recall Luna said NOT to sand the cladding. I might look into this stuff further, and as to cost.

Riff- Have you applied the TS-1 stuff yet? If not, think you'll be doing it in the near future? I'm still thinking about that product too.