Ditched the matte black hood wrap on my 1LE!

Todd_Cooperider · 04-30-2018, 06:59 PM

...and much happier!

I just wasn't feeling the OEM matte black vinyl wrap on the hood of the ZL1 1LE, as it didn't match all of the other blacks on the car. I think they should have gone with a satin vinyl wrap that matched the rockers.

We ripped it off, disassembled the hood, then polished out the carbon fiber because they (all) have a lot of sanding marks, swirls, haze, etc. Then I coated the carbon fiber, and wrapped the hood (and the rest of the car) in STEK paint protection film for the ultimate in clarity.

All of the details will come out in the future videos (performance mod video to be released within the next 24-48 hours), but you can clearly see that I added Forgeline wheels, Michelin 4S tires, tinted windows, etc.

Everybody who has seen this car before and after prefers the look without the matte black hood.

And for the obligatory artsy shot...

trakdayz · 04-30-2018, 07:06 PM

well done!

Bow Tie Fanatic · 04-30-2018, 07:14 PM

I like it. That looks great!

waterman · 04-30-2018, 08:01 PM

I have been considering this as well. I like it.

Do the Forgelines match OEM offsets? Or did you have to use spacers?

Looking forward to your new videos.

nighttowl · 04-30-2018, 08:10 PM

The flat black didnt last too long on my car.
I just had it swapped out with a satin wrap a couple weeks ago.
I agree - definately looks better with the satin.

curtisd · 04-30-2018, 08:19 PM

Looks awesome!

Got a glimpse of it this morning when I dropped off my 1LE.

Gabhart · 05-01-2018, 05:41 AM

Now what Todd? I was looking forward to you guys showing us the right way to maintain the matte hood! Car looks great btw...

Todd_Cooperider · 05-01-2018, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trakdayz

well done!

Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bow Tie Fanatic

I like it. That looks great!

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterman

I have been considering this as well. I like it.

Do the Forgelines match OEM offsets? Or did you have to use spacers?

Looking forward to your new videos.

Thanks! The wheels are OEM-spec in terms of size and offset.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nighttowl

The flat black didnt last too long on my car.
I just had it swapped out with a satin wrap a couple weeks ago.
I agree - definately looks better with the satin.

I may run satin at some point...figured I would go with the stripped-down look for a while!

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtisd

Looks awesome!

Got a glimpse of it this morning when I dropped off my 1LE.

Thanks, and sorry I missed you when you stopped by! Hopefully I'll get a chance to chat with you when you pick it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabhart

Now what Todd? I was looking forward to you guys showing us the right way to maintain the matte hood! Car looks great btw...

This IS the best way to maintain it!

S.T.A.R. · 05-01-2018, 06:32 AM

We added Suntek over the top of the matte hood, it gave it a deeper black satin look...much better.
Just a heads up.

Todd_Cooperider · 05-01-2018, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.T.A.R.

We added Suntek over the top of the matte hood, it gave it a deeper black satin look...much better.
Just a heads up.

Yes, we've done that to some 1LE hoods too, and it does look better. It still doesn't match the rest of the black trim on the car though.

zfuzz · 05-01-2018, 08:05 AM

Great looking ride!

What was your process for polishing the carbon fiber? Can it be treated just like standard clear coat?

Than manual say not to "wax" it so that has me concerned that it needs to be treated differently and like you said it needs some polishing.

Todd_Cooperider · 05-01-2018, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zfuzz

Great looking ride!

What was your process for polishing the carbon fiber? Can it be treated just like standard clear coat?

Than manual say not to "wax" it so that has me concerned that it needs to be treated differently and like you said it needs some polishing.

Thank you.

Yes, you treat it just like paint because it's clearcoated. Like I said, every single carbon fiber insert looks "less than good". I have yet to see any carbon fiber from any manufacturer that can't be improved upon...OEM or aftermarket.

I did a multi-stage polishing process that really brought out the clarity and detail in the carbon fiber. As you can see from the before / after photos below, clarity was improved significantly. Now you can clearly see all of the individual strands.

"Before" condition: sanding marks, buffer trails, haziness.

"After" condition.

Clarity!

Reflectivity and depth (Before applying any coating)

Koldunic · 05-01-2018, 09:21 AM

The Red 1LE is much more beautiful without that matte wrap!!!

Thinking of doing the same with my future Black 1LE.

Can'tHave2MuchHP · 05-01-2018, 09:29 AM

Here's their performance upgrade video:

04-30-2018, 06:59 PM	#1
Todd_Cooperider Drives: 2022 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 79	Ditched the matte black hood wrap on my 1LE! ...and much happier! I just wasn't feeling the OEM matte black vinyl wrap on the hood of the ZL1 1LE, as it didn't match all of the other blacks on the car. I think they should have gone with a satin vinyl wrap that matched the rockers. We ripped it off, disassembled the hood, then polished out the carbon fiber because they (all) have a lot of sanding marks, swirls, haze, etc. Then I coated the carbon fiber, and wrapped the hood (and the rest of the car) in STEK paint protection film for the ultimate in clarity. All of the details will come out in the future videos (performance mod video to be released within the next 24-48 hours), but you can clearly see that I added Forgeline wheels, Michelin 4S tires, tinted windows, etc. Everybody who has seen this car before and after prefers the look without the matte black hood. And for the obligatory artsy shot...

04-30-2018, 08:01 PM	#4
waterman Drives: Grandad's C2 L89 Join Date: May 2017 Location: 2051.50N 15629.60W Posts: 1,711	I have been considering this as well. I like it. Do the Forgelines match OEM offsets? Or did you have to use spacers? Looking forward to your new videos. __________________ 2018 ZL1 1LE sw/PDR

04-30-2018, 08:10 PM	#5
nighttowl Sarcasm loading -------- Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX Posts: 1,805 View My Garage	The flat black didnt last too long on my car. I just had it swapped out with a satin wrap a couple weeks ago. I agree - definately looks better with the satin. __________________ "The salesman actually told me to stop getting it sideways during the test drive" 2018 MBM ZL1 1LE - Stock 2014 CRT ZL1 574 rwhp, 537 rwtq - SOLD 2010 IBM SS Camaro VVT L99 w/ TR6060 swap, 489 rwhp, 444 rwtq - SOLD

04-30-2018, 07:06 PM	#2
trakdayz Drives: E92 M3 & E36 M3 (Full Race car) Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: new york Posts: 92	well done!

04-30-2018, 07:14 PM	#3
Bow Tie Fanatic Drives: 2018 Mosaic Black Metallic ZL1 A10 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: NC Posts: 79	I like it. That looks great!

04-30-2018, 08:19 PM	#6
curtisd Drives: 22 Wild Cherry 2SS. Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: KY Posts: 78 View My Garage	Looks awesome! Got a glimpse of it this morning when I dropped off my 1LE.

05-01-2018, 05:41 AM	#7
Gabhart Drives: 2018 Hyper Blue 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 198	Now what Todd? I was looking forward to you guys showing us the right way to maintain the matte hood! Car looks great btw...

05-01-2018, 06:32 AM	#9
S.T.A.R. Drives: 18'-1LE Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: SHENANDOAH, PA Posts: 430	We added Suntek over the top of the matte hood, it gave it a deeper black satin look...much better. Just a heads up.

05-01-2018, 08:05 AM	#11
zfuzz Drives: 69 Z28 / 12 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 409 View My Garage	Great looking ride! What was your process for polishing the carbon fiber? Can it be treated just like standard clear coat? Than manual say not to "wax" it so that has me concerned that it needs to be treated differently and like you said it needs some polishing.

05-01-2018, 09:21 AM	#13
Koldunic Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Canada Posts: 189	The Red 1LE is much more beautiful without that matte wrap!!! Thinking of doing the same with my future Black 1LE.

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