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RESTO My semi resto 96 XP project
- Thread starter suke
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suke
Well-Known Member
Well I'm all done with one side. Thought I was going to puke I was so nervous and my hands were shaking like a crack head that needs a fix. I've never done any kind of graphics work in my life. I spent a bunch of time watching vids online and took all the methods that I liked and sort of combined them and made my own.....I guess. lol I thought I took a bunch of pics but I guess I just blacked out and woke up when I was done.
Mocked up in place
All done
They are INSANELY bright. Like WOAH bright! I LOVE EM!!!! They look and feel like REALLY high quality material. Look much thicker than stock, and the colors are definitely brighter and more defined.
Racer I took a ton of measurements with pics with a higher res camera. I'll upload them and email them on as soon as I can. I can take more once they're all on as well if the others aren't whatcha need.
Mocked up in place
All done
They are INSANELY bright. Like WOAH bright! I LOVE EM!!!! They look and feel like REALLY high quality material. Look much thicker than stock, and the colors are definitely brighter and more defined.
Racer I took a ton of measurements with pics with a higher res camera. I'll upload them and email them on as soon as I can. I can take more once they're all on as well if the others aren't whatcha need.
El Toro 33809
Well-Known Member
Looks like it just rolled out of the showroom!!! Very nice.
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
excellent work.
That looks TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Nice job on the install. Now for the questions. Could you see your old lines where the gel coat was pulled up? I assume the top of the arch (by the XP logo) and the all around that is standard, the only thing I see that looks short is where it wraps around the back of the ski-- totally not a deal breaker because they look awesome. Also the front graphics look short where it wraps up towards the nose, but is by your knees close to original? Again, I am so not nit picking at all but just curious and looking at all the details. Man I can't get over how good they look--but I don't think I could part ways with that much for decals, it's almost what I paid for my XP! Yeah, when you get the time you have my email?? shoot me the hi-res so I can do my low-budg decals. I have traced the OEM decals on one side of the HX already so I can strip them and buff that out and then "create" my own hand cut replica graphics for it, wish I would have done that for the XP. I know I'm nuts for hand cutting graphics but I put around 50 hours into scaling and cutting stencils for my scaled down replica lifeguard stand for my pool, but the compliments I get wash away the pain.
In the words of Jimmie Walker
In the words of Jimmie Walker
Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
ya'll make me feel lazy, i just stripped off the old ones, stuck on a couple of blacktip stickers and called it a day ..
suke
Well-Known Member
That looks TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Nice job on the install. Now for the questions. Could you see your old lines where the gel coat was pulled up? I assume the top of the arch (by the XP logo) and the all around that is standard, the only thing I see that looks short is where it wraps around the back of the ski-- totally not a deal breaker because they look awesome. Also the front graphics look short where it wraps up towards the nose, but is by your knees close to original? Again, I am so not nit picking at all but just curious and looking at all the details. Man I can't get over how good they look--but I don't think I could part ways with that much for decals, it's almost what I paid for my XP! Yeah, when you get the time you have my email?? shoot me the hi-res so I can do my low-budg decals. I have traced the OEM decals on one side of the HX already so I can strip them and buff that out and then "create" my own hand cut replica graphics for it, wish I would have done that for the XP. I know I'm nuts for hand cutting graphics but I put around 50 hours into scaling and cutting stencils for my scaled down replica lifeguard stand for my pool, but the compliments I get wash away the pain.
In the words of Jimmie Walker
Yeah they are no where close to the stock size. There are some definitive differences like you pointed out. You're spot on with those assumptions. the only people that will really know are folks like us. Yup I have your email.....I shoot them over hopefully sometime today.
Install went about as planned. Not perfect, but pretty damn good. My stock graphics didn't quite line up so I didn't expect these to line up 100% perfect either. The front tips of those graphics, one went high, the other side went low. About an inch off, and only way you can tell is if you're directly nose on and looking for it. The stock graphics were way off on the rear. One went way high and one way low. I'll just deal with it.
I wet sanded the hell outta the lines around the graphics so they're not visible. Otherwise I'd predict it'd be pretty noticeable where the stockers were.
Just plain wow.
Theres one thing I see wrong....you need an extra set of hands. You gotta have at least 4 around with decals as expensive as this.
Theres one thing I see wrong....you need an extra set of hands. You gotta have at least 4 around with decals as expensive as this.
suke
Well-Known Member
I thought about that, but to be honest I think another person would have just got in the way. I had a pretty big bondo squeegee that worked out really well. Also had a couple smaller ones for the smaller parts of the graphics.
El Toro 33809
Well-Known Member
Looks awesome!!! Any idea when you will have the project complete?
suke
Well-Known Member
I guess it took me about a few weeks to take it apart......guessing it'll take me a few months to get it back together. lol I should be done by spring time. Have it water tested....then fix anything at that time. So by summer she'll be ready to go.
I still need to pull the prop, clean up the edges, and change the pump oil. Then clean the motor, and exhaust. Look into the tank recall, order up some other parts then reinstall everything. UGH!
I still need to pull the prop, clean up the edges, and change the pump oil. Then clean the motor, and exhaust. Look into the tank recall, order up some other parts then reinstall everything. UGH!
Jetskigoodies
Well-Known Member
Looks like your semi resto is turning into a full blown restoration. What are you planning on doing with the seat cover? Stock yellow? I wonder if you can get a stock seat cover with the seadoo logo on it?
suke
Well-Known Member
I picked up a blacktip cover during black friday. I've been stalking forums, ebay, craigslist, etc to try and find a stock looking cover. I about resorted to getting yellow vinyl and painting on the SeaDoo logo. I just don't know how well that would have worked, and for $39 shipped I figured it was best case scenario just to buy a cover.
I'm not doing any engine work, guess that's why I put "semi" resto. lol
suke
Well-Known Member
Sooooo if you're incapable of painting folks....just don't do it. Someone throughout this ski's life someone painted this and did a terrible job of it. To fix this took hours of wetsanding and buffing. So I have another hood cover that I bought with another hood but it was painted black. I wanted yellow and figured trying to get the black paint off of yellow would have been more of a pain.
Before tons of this half assed paint job.
After wetsanding with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit, then buffing with super heavy cut compound, followed by finesse it, followed by a lighter compound, followed by polish.
Trying to figure out placement. This graphic was actually harder than the larger ones......for some reason.
taped in place
All done! HOLY SHIT does it look good!
Also managed to get the gauges out of the old hood. I need to figure out what I'm going to do about the gauges. Seems like ones that are in good shape are hella expensive. Really don't feel like dropping $200 on guages(don't need a multi gauge). I'm sure you think that's silly given how much I've spent on other stuff, but if I bought every thing I wanted I'd be in $5k deep in this resto.
Before tons of this half assed paint job.
After wetsanding with 1000 grit, then 2000 grit, then buffing with super heavy cut compound, followed by finesse it, followed by a lighter compound, followed by polish.
Trying to figure out placement. This graphic was actually harder than the larger ones......for some reason.
taped in place
All done! HOLY SHIT does it look good!
Also managed to get the gauges out of the old hood. I need to figure out what I'm going to do about the gauges. Seems like ones that are in good shape are hella expensive. Really don't feel like dropping $200 on guages(don't need a multi gauge). I'm sure you think that's silly given how much I've spent on other stuff, but if I bought every thing I wanted I'd be in $5k deep in this resto.
manolocross
Well-Known Member
Hey suke did you use soapy water to help with placement of decals??? Got to do my spx decals and just want some pointers...
Jetskigoodies
Well-Known Member
Yes you want to use soapy water. I use a spray bottle and soak the area that you are going to apply the decal. The water allows you to pull the decal off if it isnt placed exactly where you want it, it also alows you to move it around. It also alows you to get air bubbles out with the squegee. If you dont use it, once you put it on thats it you are stuck with the placement.
suke
Well-Known Member
Yup this. I used just a drop of soap in a spray bottle. I also combined the wet method(what goodies described) with a squeegee. I used a lot of this guys ideas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HUYgj6BBQ8
Especially taping down the middle and cutting a section of the protective backing then squeegee out. I didn't use a ton of water, just a couple of sprays where I planned to lay the graphics down. I'm a total newb, so I dunno if you really wanna follow my lead. lol I only had to pull back one part of my graphics to lay down better.
suke
Well-Known Member
OUCH! So I've kept track of every penny I spent( mainly so I don't get outta control with spending) and I just finalized all my parts orders for the last little bits. My total for this project, just the ski and parts( no tools, trailer, trailer parts, etc) and my total was $2331! Which means if I was to try and sell this, not that I would just saying, I'd lose my ass on this. Whoops! Also didn't include parts that I ordered several of to try and get the best one. I'll be selling the extras to try and recoup some of my costs. I won't rape people like I got raped. So I'll maybe at best get back $100 total. Live and learn I suppose.
But I also didn't sport $360 for graphics. I have some numbers to tally but my number well be posted when I'm done.Post some pictures, maybe you have something I could use for my 96 SPX.
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