Unexpected Stinger owner

[Max Noh]

Thanks, guys. The valve caps I got have plastic inserts, so there’s no metal-on-metal thread contact.

Re. the paint chips. I wonder if everyone who encountered that issue has the 2018 model year? When I was researching the Stinger, one of the few issues I saw mentioned was paint defects in the early cars. I have watched videos of badge removal with heat guns without issues (I used a hairdryer, because the fishing line was getting stuck and hardly moving through the glue).

Anyway, now I get to learn a new skill.

 

[Volfy]

Re. the paint chips. I wonder if everyone who encountered that issue has the 2018 model year? When I was researching the Stinger, one of the few issues I saw mentioned was paint defects in the early cars. I have watched videos of badge removal with heat guns without issues (I used a hairdryer, because the fishing line was getting stuck and hardly moving through the glue).

I doubt the model year makes any difference. Problem with using heat is not everyone does it correctly. To do it right, you are supposed to heat the emblem ONLY. The substrate under the front emblem is plastic. Unlike metal, paint over plastic panel is very easy to overheat. Some would recommend using a hair dryer because you can supposedly dial down the heat, but most hair dryers I know cannot control the hot air dispersion very well - make sense when the purpose is to dry a head of hair, not so much when you are trying to heat a very small emblem without heating up the surrounding paint. I prefer a dedicated heat gun because of this.

Regardless of what tool you use, knowing how to use it properly is the key.

As for adhesive remover, I've use several. Goo Gone is probably the most popular, but 3M make a good one too. Soak it into the remnant, let it sit a while, and rub off as much as you can before the liquid dries up. Then repeat the process, until the adhesive is all gone. I prefer not to use any power tool. Patience and elbow grease work the best and are the safest. But your mileage may vary.

 

[Max Noh]

I used a hairdryer at both the front and rear, but only got paint flakes at the rear. The main difference was that at the front I used the eraser wheel only very lightly, on the surface of the remaining glue just to take off some of it, and then used Goo Gone for the rest. At the rear, I used the eraser wheel a bit more aggressivel, so maybe that was a factor?

Anyway, awaiting delivery of the touch-up paint and actually quite looking forward to that process. Yesterday, I had an auto restorer restitch part of my steering wheel where the threads had been worn through, and explained to him what I was planning to do with the paint: he said it was exactly what he would do, and gave me some tips.

 

[Snicklefritz]

^^eraser wheel? eek? what is that. never heard of it.

 

[Max Noh]

An eraser wheel is a drill attachment. Basically exactly what the name suggests: a big circular eraser. It is used for removing adhesives from hard surfaces. @Rodtheviking mentioned using one and I have also seen them used without issue in YouTube rebadging videos.

 

[Snicklefritz]

An eraser wheel is a drill attachment. Basically exactly what the name suggests: a big circular eraser. It is used for removing adhesives from hard surfaces. @Rodtheviking mentioned using one and I have also seen them used without issue in YouTube rebadging videos.

thanks for the explanation. not going there in the event of removing glue / tape adhesive from paint. I'll use elbow grease and my fingers.

 

[Max Noh]

Finally got the paint redone and the re-badging completed.

 

[A1doz]

Finally got the paint redone and the re-badging completed.

View attachment 83737

Looks good! That Panthera Metal paint looks great

 

[Max Noh]

Finally got some snow this week, justifying the expense of the winter tyres, and am enjoying how well the Stinger (AWD) handles.

 

[Max Noh]

It finally happened. On the ferry, I overheard a man pointing out my Stinger to his wife: ‘Nice Maserati’.

Now I am wondering, given how much debadging and rebadging of Stingers goes on, whether anyone has cheekily slapped a set of Maserati badges on one?