Roush Installing a replacement windshield decal.

[Head Paneer]

The original “SALEEN” windshield decal has been looking pretty beat up for a year. I am finally going to replace it before the Saleen show on the 18th.

Do you have any installation tips? I have heard spraying a layer of soapy water on the windshield will aid in positioning the decal. I guess the dried soap residue doesn’t affect the decal adhesive.

 

[Saleen Mike]

Windex will work fine.

Use a credit card or similar to squeeze out the bubbles, and let it dry forever and a year before trying to peel off the top paper.

 

[Probablecause]

from experience, i would take it to a sign shop and ask them to put it on for you. my original banner went south on me and after getting a new one (smaller?) from saleen i attempted to put it on. i tried the windex thing and an id card but it looked like crap and still had bubbles. ended up getting it done full size from scratch at a sign place. the man came out and boom, had it on perfect in a minute. take it somewhere that does vehicle commercial graphics, you'll be glad you did.

 

[ponyguy]

i had no issues using soapy water, it is difficult to get rid of a couple little air bubbles, but if you take a real small needle and poke them you can then work them out with a credit card, and i left a couple and they went away after a couple weeks on their own. i also looked a t a new saleen the other day and noticed a couple so i didnt feel so bad.

also check carefully, my decal was crooked from Saleen, the S-A-L-E were straight and even spaced but the last E-N were crooked and spaced wrong, this forced me to cut the decal sheet and align last two letters manually. thanks for that Steve.

i used the soapy water to replace faded S281 and bumper numbers on front end and no issues either. just don't get carried away with soap. once decal is on, let it rest for a while, don't go playing to see if it is stuck. soap needs to dry for adhesive to take over.

 

[Head Paneer]

Thanks for the input.

The window decal is next on the "to do" list after i finish deleting the grill.

 

[sal07b]

You may find that you have to cut the sticker. It was straight and didn't follow my windshield when I put it on (i.e. when one side was lined up perfectly, the other was low). I just cut it between the "LE" and went for it.

One other issue I had. This might sound weird, but have someone in the car to take a look at the tint at the top of your windshield. For some strange reason, the factory "tint" at the top of the windshield was darker under the "SALEEN" sticker. I got it close (pure ***** house luck), but you can still see where the tint for the original sticker is off compared to the new one by a little. I'm not sure if the AZ sun had something to do with it or whatthe deal is. I would have thought that the top factory tint would have been even regardless of the sticker...

Sal

 

[Mstng2]

The Windex works but I found the alcohol makes it dry pretty fast and especially on a hot day the sticker can get stuck in the wrong position. Use 1 tsp of dish soap to 16 oz spray bottle of water. As follows:
1) Measure to find center of window, cut a little piece of masking tape and put on roof line to mark it.
2) Trim the backing paper close to the bottom of the S and the N (for measuring)
3) Dont remove any backing yet! Place the decal, center it and measure the ends at the S and the N from the roof to the bottom of the letter, now place another piece of masking tape on the windshield under each letter where you measured making sure both ends are even.
4) Now you have 3 referance points for placing the banner. Center and both ends.
5) Clean window with alchohol (windex works for this part)
6) Get someone to help you with this part, remove backing, dont let it curl up on itself.
7) Spray window with soapy solution, and lay down the banner in it's position, move it around until it's right with your marks, leaving top paper on for now, Oh and dont get top paper wet.
10) Step back 10 feet, look at it. Does it look right? If so use a squeegee and squeegee the water out from underneath the Banner.
11) Wait 3 hours to remove top paper, remove it slowy.
12) Wait 24 hours before washing the car.
13) Good Job! Get yourself a diet Pepsi!

 

[Head Paneer]

Wow. How to install a window banner in 13 easy steps. Make mine a Coke or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, though. Thanks for that very detailed install.

I was planning to use the current sticker for reference marks by placing masking tape on the inside of the windshield. I have a credit card, squeegee, j-roller and body filler spreaders. I should be set.

Thanks again.

 

[ponyguy]

i used masking tape on the inside before i took off the original decal to mark where it was located, this stays in place the whole time then since it is on the inside for easy reference.

 

[Mstng2]

An EXCELLENT idea, man I should have thought of that! Save a lot of measuring.

 

[joesgt281]

Had to resurrect this thread.....great info, only need one thing added to all this....
what is the proper spacing of the windshield decal down from the top of the windshield, preferably at the ends?
This is for a 97.
Just got the car back from the body shop after an accident and they didn't keep the old windshield for me to pull the dimensions from.
TIA
Joe