clear coat on decals?

[72 cuda]

Is it a good thing to clear coat over your decal's ?
thanks for any input.
Mark

[Changin Gears]

I have it, looks good, no issues...

[heminut]

I did it on a set of Harley gas tanks years ago and that bike sat outside most of the time. The tanks are now hanging in the garage and the clearcoat and decals still look great!

[Aussie Challenger]

  Does protect the decals from little fingers that try to peel back an edge.   

[ChallengerGary]

Only problem is most of the stripes were originally Matte Black from the factory.  If you clear coat them, they will no longer look factory...It will however add years onto the life of your stripes.

[elitecustombody]

not a good idea, I recommend getting stencils made and paint the graphics/stripes,e.t.c. on and then apply clearcoat

[heminut]

not a good idea,

Why not?

[the_engineers]

not a good idea, I recommend getting stencils made and paint the graphics/stripes,e.t.c. on and then apply clearcoat

Wouldn't you have the same issue that ChallengerGary pointed out?  If you're going to the trouble of painting on your graphics, I'd protect them from any clear coat that alters their appearance.

[pink panther]

my bumble bee stripe is clear coated, looks good, not original, but looks really good

[peterro]

My side stripes are clear coated and I'm very happy with the results.

[elitecustombody]

Wouldn't you have the same issue that ChallengerGary pointed out?  If you're going to the trouble of painting on your graphics, I'd protect them from any clear coat that alters their appearance.

automotive clearcoat does not expand and shrink as much as the vnyl ,because of this you're taking a chance of cracking clearcoat in the areas where it was applied over vinyl after few years of exposure to the low or high temparatures, especially when there is a sudden change of the temperature of the paint surface ,trust me, I've been in autobody industry for 20 years and pretty much have seen it all,

Sefan

[heminut]

Well, as I said earlier, I clearcoated over the decals on my Harley tanks and have never had a problem. Those tanks have been through some pretty extreme temp changes and it hasn't affected them. Harley has been clearcoating over decals for a long time and they don't seem to have any problems.

[elitecustombody]

decals vary as the clearcoats, most clearcoats that are applied at the factory have alot more flex as well as it's more scratch,chip resistant than most clears on the market,the reason is ,most paint shops never bother to mix in flex agent into the clear,any who, I just figured I'd throw in my 02. cents,

as I said before, I'd never do it on my car or any of my customer's cars for a simple fact,that there is a chance of splitting,cracking issues over the years, though I guarantee my work as long as you own your car, I do not want to take that chance and fix a problem that could have been avoided by simply using the same stripes/billboards/decals you were planning on applying before the clearcoat or even after the paint job is completed, if you'd like me to explain that process, just ask

Stefan   

 

[72 cuda]

Guys, many thanks for the input.

Let me try to tell you a little more of the story:
I purchased a '72 Cuda, alot like the one I had fifteen years ago.
But the new one is a former drag car. So I'm thinking pro street and a little strip.
Some of the paint was unflattering, large lettering, neon colors etc
but had a brilliant clear coat.

It has a 440 in it, 3 speed torque flight and 4-10 solid posi (no slip).
This is a project car.
The previous owner had ground the mounts down to the frame
and had mounted the motor thru the water pump.
A little rough welding and we have mounts somewhat, but she no longer overheats!

It has a Hurst shifter with a nitrous button (no nitrous yet) and a roll cage. The leaf springs have been moved
inward giving more room for tires.

Pictures soon

Any input is greatly welcomed.
Mark

[elitecustombody]

sounds like it'll be a great project,was it gutted and tubbed with a cage?