GTS- Finished the Stripes!

[OKViper]

I love the GTS with stripes, but always wondered why the factory didn't fill in the license plate surround (a la 96's) and was happy with that crummy plastic cowl on a Halo car like the Viper.
So, here are my two touches to finish the factory stripes on my '99 GTS:

First, I took the car to a local Paint shop and they did an "overnight" paint job on the license area. I think it looks really nice now and gives it a "finished" look:

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Next, I took off the cowl and Dremeled out the recessed area for a little ventilation and painted it myself. Easy job, but it does take a while (4+ hours for me):

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I highly suggest these mods to anyone that was thinking about doing them - they make the look different and it "personalizes" it just a little...

 

[DEVILDOG]

Looks nice, however, just my .02, I would have painted the trunk lock silver too and the cowl screening would also carry through the striping silver and black or all black versus silver.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Looks very nice. I really like the painted cowl! I can't decide if I like the lock silver or black. With it silver, it would blend in and not be as noticeable. Then again, I like the black/silver contrast especially since your car is black/silver. My final conclusion--do it however you like it

 

[SSSSE YA]

Looks Great, Will You do mine next?

 

[Burt G]

Sweeeeeet!

 

[OKViper]

Looks nice, however, just my .02, I would have painted the trunk lock silver too and the cowl screening would also carry through the striping silver and black or all black versus silver.

I like the contrast. I see it as this: The black lock looks like Cindy Crawford's mole and with it painted silver it would look like Cindy Crawford's Zit. It's there either way, but painting it silver wouldn't conceal it, it would just be a matching zit...

As far as the screen, I couldn't decide - so just went with silver...

Thanks for the compliments. I wonder why more people don't do this?

 

[DEVILDOG]

Looks nice, however, just my .02, I would have painted the trunk lock silver too and the cowl screening would also carry through the striping silver and black or all black versus silver.

I like the contrast. I see it as this: The black lock looks like Cindy Crawford's mole and with it painted silver it would look like Cindy Crawford's Zit. It's there either way, but painting it silver wouldn't conceal it, it would just be a matching zit...

As far as the screen, I couldn't decide - so just went with silver...

Thanks for the compliments. I wonder why more people don't do this?

Thanks for taking my comment as an opinion and suggestion/observation as it was intended. In either case it looks much better than stock and you did a great job. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...is that a mole or a blackhead? Just to carry on the discussion, concerning the screen I definitely think it would look best all black and blend in with the windshield surround. Would also match the black speaker grills which are a smaller mesh screening. The silver looks kinda "Home Depot" to me...again just my .02! BTW, how about those Longhorns!!!

Hey Austin...how about a photoshop comparison?

 

[GT40DOC]

I like it, I think the contrast of the lock with the silver works. Maybe it looks right to me because I am from Okla....LOL I also have a GTS without stripes but am really leaning toward having them put on.

 

[OKViper]

Damn! Now i'm starting to think that Devildog might be right about the screen being black. A photoshop would help...

I appreciate the opinion/suggestions - that is the beauty of this forum - If only one opinion was right, we would all be driving the same car!

I almost drilled holes into the cowl (like Mustangs) for venting vs. cutting out an opening, but was worried that I wouldn't be able to get a clean pattern.
I think it would look good, and there would be no need for screens. Anyone try that approach?

 

[hemibeep]

What is that screen.?
How is the screen held in place.?

Did temps drop with screen?

P.S. The tail looks "finished" now.

 

[OKViper]

What is that screen.?
How is the screen held in place.?

Did temps drop with screen?

P.S. The tail looks "finished" now.

Don't know where the screen was from, I had it laying around in my attic "car stuff" but I think it was from a Z06 brake duct kit I did on one of my Vettes. It is held in with JB Weld on the backside of the cowl.

Don't know if the temps dropped since it is cool here now, but the amount of engine heat that escapes is amazing - so it must help some...

 

[Batboy]

What does a job like that on the rear cost? Well done! Looks great!

 

[OKViper]

What does a job like that on the rear cost? Well done! Looks great!

Thanks! Total cost would have been $150 P&L, but after it was done the owner of the shop asked if he could take pictures of the car in front of his shop for advertisements and I said sure. After that, he said "no charge"...

 

[crazyspeed]

When using vinyl stripes, just wondering how install would work in the NACA duct .....on the later model hoods.

 

[DodgeViper01]

Looks good.