Fitting a sunstrip  

A Sunstrip can be a custom one or an off the shelf one. For a custom one you should visit any sign maker, decide on the size, fonts and type of material to be used. The price will vary accordingly. A custom one is nice as it should be unique and just the way you want it but it can be up to three times more expensive than an off the shelf one.

The Sunstrip can be a single strip along the top of the front window, any lettering or any lettering with a backround behind. Note that without a backround the sun will pass through your sun strip in case it is made of letters only.The colors will vary according to the taste of each individual.

The letters can be stuck on the backround or printed. However make sure the signmaker will measure the slope of the window properly and leave plenty of backround above and below the letters, especially if it is a 106. The reason is since we want the sunstrip to take the curve of the front window we will have to cut the backround starting from the middle and going towards each end.

Below you can read a description of the process involved in fitting a sunstrip consisting of letters only. It is an off the shelf one and was sent by Ecosse after purchasing the Spirit bonnet bulge. It is a silver sunstrip which matches the front badge, alloys and alloy fuel cap.

  Tools & Parts
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  • Sunstrip
  • Stanley knife
  • Credit card / floppy
    		•
  • White spirit
  • Spone
  • Bucket with soap and water
    		•

    Enlarge picture Here you can see the car before fitting the sunstrip. The front window has been cleaned with a sponge and then with white spirit to ensure good contact with the sunstrip.

      Step 1
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    Enlarge picture Here the sunstrip is put on the window, without removing the back paper to put some marks on the window and ensure that it will be fitted straight. Stick the sunstrip on both ends and middle with some tape, take a few steps back and see how it looks from there. Ensure that it is straight. If not remove the tape and make the required changes.

      Step 2
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    Enlarge picture Following from the previous step once you ensure that the sunstrip is straight, put some tape marks just below the sunstrip that will make a straight line under it. This is the line you will follow while fitting the sunstrip. You can see the tape marks on the picture.

      Step 3
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    Enlarge picture Once you define the line the sunstrip will follow, remove the backing paper from the sunstrip. For your own convinience stick the sunstrip by the way seen on the picture and with a stanley knife cut the backing paper away. Do the whole process in two steps ie from the middle towards the ends each time so that you will not mess the result.

      Step 4
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    Enlarge picture Once you remove the backing paper take a credit card or a floppy and start sticking the half piece of the sunstrip. Try to follow the line you have previously created with the tape and press each point of the sunstrip to ensure that no bubbles will be left. Repeat the process in the same way for the other end of the sunstrip as well.

      Step 5
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    Enlarge picture Once you ensure that the sunstrip has been pressed well with the floppy/credit card, start removing slowly the front paper from the sunstrip so that you will leave the letters only on the window, as shown on the picture. If you notice that the letters are coming off with the front paper then press them again with the floppy.

      Step 6
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    Enlarge picture Once you remove the front paper completely, remove all the pieces of tapes you have previously used and you are done. Again take a few steps back and decide if you like the end result. If not you can remove the sunstrip with a hair dryer and white spirit. However it will be unusable.

      The result
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    Enlarge picture In case you are fitting a backround as well you should follow a similar approach. Fit the backround first doing each side each time. Remove the back paper and follow your window rubber. With the floppy press the backround while you are sticking it on the window. Press it hard below the rubber and with a stanley knife cut away the excess backround. While you move to each side the excess will lessen. However be carefull not to cut the rubber of your window because you may cause a leaking on your front window.

    As soon as you fit the backround start the process described above from step 1. However ensure that the backround fitted is wide enough for the size of the letters to be fitted.


    Article written by Constantinos Petrides.