Where to buy the Protective Plastic material used on the front chassis

[Fatboy 18]

Can anyone help with this one?
Couple of years back I had a leak on one of my AC lines, it dumped the AC coolant along the chassis rail under the engine and a lot of it went behind that plastic sheet they use to protect the crumple zone on the front chassis (below the engine mounts) the AC Coolant had a green dye in it so now the plastic film looks crap.

It is, or should be a clear sticky back plastic, but there is also a lot of heat in that area so I want to make sure I get the correct plastic film.

I don't think there is a part number for it? So anyone have experience of what to replace it with?

Thanks

[GTS Dean]

Mine was clear tape. I suppose it is the same material used on the outer fascia corners and the side sill front edges.

How's the project coming?

[soundkillr]

Front sill and bumper edges use 3m clear bra, and it's thicker and less plyable than what is on the frame. Off the top of my head, the only thing I've seen that is close to the thickness and look of the frame plastic would be what is called crash wrap. It's extremely durable, and used to wrap cars that have broken glass and sit outside at a body shop. Go to a few body shops and ask if you can have a small section of some and see if it works for you....

[Fatboy 18]

Mine was clear tape. I suppose it is the same material used on the outer fascia corners and the side sill front edges.

How's the project coming?

I'm stuck, I have found many new parts at much better prices than the "known" Vendors, but many of these online MOPAR parts companies will not ship outside of United states. I just bought a Aluminium radiator which cost $606.00 now guess how much the shipping is? $400! So I gritted my teeth and bought it. Trouble is some parts need to come from different companies. So Im getting hit on shipping everytime. I have been watching many Youtube videos on Plastic bumper welding. I believe the viper bumper is a thermoset, polyurethane, This type of plastic can not be hot welded but you can melt new plastic rod into a formed V groove which will make a solid repair. I found out today after visiting 4 different Bodywork accident repair companies they they all said it was impossible to weld this material, what they really mean is they are not interested. They just bin everything off a car and buy new.
Sadly the UK is a throw away society, the days of repairing stuff and making things new again are long gone.

So i'm going to order the $200 dollar kit from the USA and repair it myself!

I'm sick to death of sending emails to companies (including USA parts suppliers) for them not to respond to questions.
While I'm having a rant, I also don't see any Vendor discounts when your trying to order thousands of dollars of parts!
Signing off,
Mark, Pissed off in England, God I wish I could move to the USA!

[Matt M, Pa]

3M has a Scotchguard product, bulk rolls of protection film. You can get it in rolls about 6" x 48" (and other sizes) and I also think different thicknesses. I usually have a roll on hand to put on wear prone areas of our cars. You just need to cut and apply. I'd bet it's available in the UK...

[GTS Dean]

Mark,

It sounds like what you need is a bundler to aggregate your parts order and have it shipped for a lower overall fee. That sounds like the sort of thing that PartsRack could help with - but he is GMT-10.

[dave6666]

Are you still looking? I matched up an inexpensive product for replacing the factory film some years ago.

[Fatboy 18]

Are you still looking? I matched up an inexpensive product for replacing the factory film some years ago.

Just got back from a weekend in France with the French Club 'Viper Passion' My Viper was supposed to be at the meeting but sadly had to use my French car

Still looking Dave

[lmn]

Are you still looking? I matched up an inexpensive product for replacing the factory film some years ago.

I too need to replace some of the factory film and am looking for a suitable product. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

[dave6666]

I used Scotch 3750 packing tape. Not many people would think packing tape is suitable probably because their reference point is the $3/roll stuff. This is $9 - $10 per roll. I have had it on my car for years and it has not peeled off or cracked or whatever. The adhesive is wicked strong but you should still get the frame squeaky clean to make sure it will stick forever. Then use the leftovers for other household projects.

[Kari_Lindstrom]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/XPEL-Clear-...0AAOSwOyJaoXDI

[Lemay88]

Ok, this thread needed a newbie questions

What is the use of this plastic protective material?
What if the said plastic material is damaged??

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge

Ben

[PACMAN]

Lamin x makes all kinds of protective film, ran it on my ferraris back in the day easy too peal and replace and doesn't remove paint

[AZTVR]

Ok, this thread needed a newbie questions

What is the use of this plastic protective material?
What if the said plastic material is damaged??

If you get under your car and look at the insides of the longitudinal frame rails in the general engine area, you will either see the old clear tape/film or if it is missing, you will see a rather large hole made into the frame. The tape was put there presumably to keep dirt, mud, salt, water, leaves, etc. from getting in through that hole and accumulating in the frame and causing rust, weakening it more than designed. The hole is there to create a point at which the frame will bend in a frontal impact, absorbing impact energy. That is my understanding of it.

[lmn]

I guess it boils down to how thick and where you are going to apply it.

3750 Packing Tape - 3.1 mil
XPEL Clear - 8 mil
LaminX Trackside Repair Tape - 12 mil

[Lemay88]

Thanks AZTVR for you answer.
I've been under my '97 every year for fluid changes and always wondered why this film was there.
I almost removed it when I cleaned my undercarriage the first time I got under.

Ben

[dave6666]

This thread is hilarious. High points:

1) If you bothered to actually read the thread and have a clue about the Gen 1/2 Viper, you'd realize this thread is not about paint protection film.

2) The only purpose of the protective film on the engineered crumple points is to keep water and dirt out. A "thick" film does nothing more than the factory film thickness as the film is not to enhance structural properties of the chassis.

Too many Honda fan bois buying these cars lol.

[Lemay88]

Welcome back Dave

[lmn]

This thread is hilarious. High points:

1) If you bothered to actually read the thread and have a clue about the Gen 1/2 Viper, you'd realize this thread is not about paint protection film.

2) The only purpose of the protective film on the engineered crumple points is to keep water and dirt out. A "thick" film does nothing more than the factory film thickness as the film is not to enhance structural properties of the chassis.

Too many Honda fan bois buying these cars lol.

^^ True

The second post in the thread introduced paint protection film into the discussion and thickness matters, if you are trying to closely match the original (takes a special personality type), or looking to upgrade of course .