We are having a little heat wave here where I live so I got a chance to get out and get started on my vinyl. I lost sunlight quickly so I only got the hood pinstripes and the window banner. I still have the flames and rear windows to go. I am saving my how to for the flames because they are the largest and hardest. Here is what I have done so far:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture125.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture126.jpg
More to come. :beer: The pinstripes look a little crooked because of the angle I had to take the shot so I could catch the light. I'll get better shots in the day time. ;)

Hot stripes, Man!

The ace of spades!

Looking good! Hey, are those pins from Streamline Design?

www.TwistedChrome.com for the pinstripes www.SoCalHHRs.com for the window banner.

Wash that grille man! lol Hey I like that Ace of spades, that really looks sharp. Now all you need is Lemmy to cruise with ya! Because you are a Motorhead! D'OH

Wash that grille man!

I'll just ditch it for the billet one that will be here today. :D

looking great cannot wait to see the rest

looking great cannot wait to see the rest

Thank you! :D

Cool!!! Keep us posted.

Once you get the new grill, do you want to part with your stock one? I am interested, if it is a chrome one, which it looks like it is. I still would like to filled lower air damn with matching bars from top. It may be possible to separate some of the grill bars, I know that are molded together, fabricate some brackets and be good to go. So if you want to get rid of it at a reasonable price, let me know. I may go for it and hack it up!!

Cool!!! Keep us posted.

Once you get the new grill, do you want to part with your stock one? I am interested, if it is a chrome one, which it looks like it is. I still would like to filled lower air damn with matching bars from top. It may be possible to separate some of the grill bars, I know that are molded together, fabricate some brackets and be good to go. So if you want to get rid of it at a reasonable price, let me know. I may go for it and hack it up!!

Yeah it is the bright chrome one. I'll put some thought into selling it.

Hey I went back into the forums to jog my memory and it was you, WHERE are those side Flames?????

Think about the stock grill, no rush!!

Later

Hey I went back into the forums to jog my memory and it was you, WHERE are those side Flames?????

I ran out of sunlight yesterday. I'm hoping to have enough time when I get home today to get them done. I started with the small stuff knowing I could get it done in the amount of time I had. I'm planning flames tonight, grills tomorrow, and my speakers over the weekend at some point if I get enough time.

Almost done! Flames on and I'm waiting for the last of my vinyl to dry.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture130.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture131.jpg
I'm a little bit pissed a FedEx. They never brought my billet grills and seeing as how I didn't pay for Saturday delivery so I don't expect them untill Monday. I'll have to track them again. I'll get better daytime shots tomorrow.

Looking VERY cool CH! :thumb:

Can't wait to see the daytime shots!

What's that MASSIVE sticker in the back window?

Is it a "Cops: LEAVE ME ALONE!" sticker? :D

Done! Audio decals and the lucky 7. Now I just have to get full daytime shots.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture133.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture132.jpg

Now I have to get my speakers done seeing as how I have the decal on. :roll:

I love it. Looks great with the flames. I have the silverstone metallic. What color flames would you put on mine?

Purple............Just kidding! :p:

Howdy, I usually don't like flames on the HHR, but these are nice and simple. Goes good with the car color.

Howdy, I usually don't like flames on the HHR, but these are nice and simple. Goes good with the car color.

Thank you! I didn't want to over do it. It is glass etching vinyl so it lightens up the shade of your paint a tone or two. The pictures don't really do it justice because it acts just like ghost flames. It works on pretty much any color and shade of vehicle.You can see the flames more or less depending on the angle and the light hitting it. You'll see what I mean when I take some day shots. I would love a custom paint job but it's not in the budget right now. I figured vinyl is easy and I've done it lots of times on lots of vehicles. If you could have only saw my Mustang, hopefully I'll find some good shots of it someday. I know I said I would post a how to but seeing as how I was racing for time I didn't take any in process pictures. If anyone is still interested I can post a written how to but there won't be many pics.

Love the flames, I have plans to do some flame work with mine. Sooner or later. Your setup is looking great, can't wait to see the see the grill setup!!

Thank you! :D Damn FedEx! :mad:

Great job, Howdy! I think you may be done on the outside. Like you said, you don't want to overdo it. :beer:

Great job, Howdy! I think you may be done on the outside. Like you said, you don't want to overdo it. :beer:

Thank you! You're right, the outside is almost done for the time being. :beer: At least untill I can afford a custom paint job. The only things I still plan on doing to the outside is my billet grills, blue dot tail lights, and a few other small trim things. Maybe rims come summer time. :confused: Maybe underbody lighting just for the hell of it. :confused: We need more parts to come out for the HHR. :mad:

What kind of a paint job to you attend to do?

Definitely rims. So, now that it's snowing like crazy, how about a few more pictures?! You knew it wasn't going to last.
You've had the HHR for a while, what's up with the temporary registration?

Definitely rims. So, now that it's snowing like crazy, how about a few more pictures?! You knew it wasn't going to last. You've had the HHR for a while, what's up with the temporary registration?

I'm lazy, I have had the registation for some time but I just haven't put it on. It's in my glove compartment in case I get pulled over. The snow ruined my picture plans so I'll have to wait untill next week when we're in the 50's again. On a side not I got my billet grills today. :D FedEx delivered them on a Saturday because they screwed up and went to the wrong house. :roll: Once again the snow screws up my plans. Damn snow! :mad:

What kind of a paint job to you attend to do?

I like the idea of flat or semigloss black with an old school flame job. :one:

I had a casualty! :( I lost the window banner. I was in a hurry, being lazy and I didn't properly clean all of the ice off of my wiper blades. :roll: A piece of ice wedged under the tip of one of the flames peeling it back. The window wiper caught it and tore the tip off. :( I peeled the window banner off for now, I figured better not to have it than drive around with it messed up. :( Don't be surprised if you see another order from me soon SoCal. ;)

Looks great!

Straight shootin Capt! Cept I thought you would go with snake eyes on the dice! D'OH! Seriously, looking good bud! :beer: :p:

Thanks guys! I have to get some better daytime shots once all of this snow goes away again and I have my grills on. If only snake eyes were available! The 7 was part of the companies logo that I cut out and put to my own use.

I had a casualty! :( I lost the window banner.)

MAJOR bummer! Sorry to hear that CH.
I was hoping to see the pics of it on soon.

Better luck next time! :beer:

I'll order another one off of you soon and put it on during the next heat wave. :thumb: I wasn't too pissed, I wasn't thinking and I learned from my mistake. ;) Next time I'll remember to clean all of the ice off of my blades so I don't do it again. :roll: At least it wasn't an expensive part or anything. I miss it already though because it looked really good with the side flames. :(

Why is this your fault, Howdy? Shouldn't the banner be made for installation on the INSIDE?! ;)

All of the windshield banners I have ever seen are applied to the outside of the glass. It would be nice to have one from the inside but it wouldn't be as visible, the rear view mirror would be in the way of the installation, and the little dots on the inside of the glass would be visble over the vinyl from the outside of the vehicle. I feel it's my fault for not cleaning my blades and window better and not the fault of the decal, supplier, or my application methods. If I truely want to avoid doing it again i would just tint something into my front window but I can't think of anything good other than maybe a Chevy bowtie to each side of the mirror. :confused:

Coming soon, I will post, how I tinted Flames into my front windows and sunroof. This past weekend had it done, I stenciled out the design, it is cool & subtle!!! Just need to find time, take good pictures, right now weather crappy!!! I did a windshield strip, but decided against, any design there, but front windows and sunroof. The sunroof is more for when inside, kind of like having a custom headliner. Orginally thought you may see the desgin, when sunroof propt/tilted open, but that tint is pretty dark. If you like Hot Rod type flames, you may like.

Coming soon, I will post, how I tinted Flames into my front windows and sunroof. This past weekend had it done, I stenciled out the design, it is cool & subtle!!! Just need to find time, take good pictures, right now weather crappy!!! I did a windshield strip, but decided against, any design there, but front windows and sunroof. The sunroof is more for when inside, kind of like having a custom headliner. Orginally thought you may see the desgin, when sunroof propt/tilted open, but that tint is pretty dark. If you like Hot Rod type flames, you may like.

Did you use colored tint for the flames and then dark tint over the the flames afterwards? Or did you just tint in the flames and leave the rest of the window clear? A couple of skulls tinted into the front would be kind of cool. :confused: Maybe I should just tint something in. :confused:

The flames are a Bronze colored tint, and then had 20% put over. The bronze goes with my Sandstone HHR, but still really close too the 20% regular tint. At night, they are not really noticeable from outside, inside noticeable!! During the day, they are noticeable in some light and certain angles!! Most likelythis weekend will photo and share!!! I had saw a trick truck with 2 different % tints, done and thought it was a good idea. Found a decent tint person, at first she wanted to make the flames, had to slow here down, and told her I would make the template. I have many times seen some really (in my opinion) bad flames!!! When I came back with Hot Rod Style Flames Stencil, she said whoa "You really did makes some nice flames". Anyways, came out pretty cool!!! Played with stencil and design for about 4-5 hours.

Sounds cool! :thumb: I can't wait to see the pictures. :beer:

Better daytime shots. They still kind of look like s**t because of the rain and snow but at least they are better than the night ones.
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture154.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture158.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture159.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture160.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture161.jpg
I'll get better ones on a nice day. SoCal I'll be ordering another windshield banner off of you this week. ;)

Why don't you get somebody to make you vinyl skulls like you have on either side of the pic you're using? I think you can take a file into a sign shop and they'll make you some little ones you can put in the corners of your windows.

I could have a custom one made, there are enough shops around here. All of the precut skull windshield banners I have seen are pretty ugly except for one and it was no where near as large as I would like it. The flaming Chevy bowtie I had on looked really good on my HHR for the couple of days I had it on and it matched my flames so well that I am just going to get another one off of SoCal.

CH - your skull graphics would look cool in the little window panels in the rear doors! Know what I mean?

I have something planned for there. :D I'll put them on the next time it gets decent out. It's going to be snowing for a couple of days. :(

MAJOR BUMMER! I feel bad because I just open the garage door and run my "California Duster" over the HHR and it always has a show shine.....must be rough in Roch!

You know it. ;) I have one of those also but if I run it over my HHR now all that will happen is I'll push dirty slush around. :D For some reason I feel I can never leave New York though. :confused: If I'm away to long I start to miss my state. :red:

30-below winds in January...sorry, but I would never miss that!

(actually, I'd never live through it! :D )

BTW - just had to say once again how good your vinyl job looks! :thumb:

Thank you! :red:

Here is another set of flames to look at.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/TomsHHR/DSC01188.jpg

From the Front, and this was before the stubby antenna from socal.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/TomsHHR/DSC01190.jpg

Vinyl? :confused: Paint? :confused: I have the same antenna. :thumb: :beer:
It looks like vinyl to me but the nose throws me for a loop. :confused:

They are Vinyl had them put on a week after I got the HHR. The RR door and rear quarter was repaired this week due to a deer tring to get in my back seat. So I will have the rest of what was not used.
I bought a stubby antenna from socal 3 weeks ago and installed it.
The pics are the first part of Nov.

any tips on putting on vinyl
i bought some racing stripes for my daughters cobalt and some smoke chaf for the sides... the hood and roof stripes look huge and hard to do,,, the trunk was real hard and i messed up one bad

thought about letting someone that knows what they are doing do it for me

Clean the area you are putting the vinyl on really good with denatured alcohol to strip the wax. Spay the entire area down with either vinyl application fluid or water with a drop of dish soap in it. Peel the backing off of the sticky side of the vinyl, as you pull it off keep wetting the decal. Leave the vinyl stuck to the application tape and put it in the area you're applying it to. Measure and line it up properly. Spray down the application tape. Take your card and work all of the fluid and air out of the decal, usually starting from the middle. Give it about a half hour or so to dry and then peel off the application tape. Respray the decal with fluid and work out any liquid and air that may be traped. It's very important to keep it wet durring this part if you are working on paint unless you want little scratches in the paint job. Let it dry. That's basic vinyl installation. If you end up with little fluid or air bubbles after the install you can pop them with a small pin. I personaly have never had to use a pin because I have never had that problem. The only other lessons to teach are cutting and forming but it sound like you bought a precut vehicle specific kit. I bought a non vehicle specific kit and cut and trimed it to fit. The flames were a pain in the a** to get seated in the door buldge properly. I ender up having to heat form them. I should have done a how to but I was in such a hurry to put them on while it was nice out. Maybe I'll do a small how to when I get my new windshield banner which I am ordering today. Maybe by next week I'll have a basic how to with pictures in the how to section. :)

The RR door and rear quarter was repaired this week due to a deer tring to get in my back seat.

Dating kinda rough there in Wisconsin isn't it? :-) (And no, I'm not married to my cousin, we just sleep together...)

jerij

Lol! :D :beer:

CH - your skull graphics would look cool in the little window panels in the rear doors! Know what I mean?

That's what I was refering to. Pretty soon, though, it's going to get too cluttered. Clear off what's on the rear side windows now and just put the little skulls on that vent window. You put too much crap on there and the neighbors near your place of employment are going to want to aquire your sweet ride! :D

You put too much crap on there and the neighbors near your place of employment are going to want to aquire your sweet ride! :D

That's one of the things I worry about! :D One of my empoyees had his Alpine head unit and his backpack stolen out of his car like two weeks ago. I wish Chevy would have incorporated a glass sensor into the alarm system. :( Who actually breaks in through the doors? :confused: All I do is set it off on myself. :roll: I like the Audiobahn logos. Thats where I plan on putting all of my product decals. :thumb:

Tom- That looks great. The front end is a real eye catcher.

The front end is really an eye catcher.

No offence meant but I think it makes your HHR look like it has nostrils. ;) That's the first thing that pops into my head when I look at it.

I love the vinyl flames. Where did you get them?

Windshield banner number two ordered. ;)

Order shipped! :thumb:

Lightning fast as usual. :bow:

Had a company in Duluth apply them, He does most for that dealer I bought my HHR from.

Now that my door and rear quarter was repaired, he left me the rest of the kit so I was thinking of trading the nostrils for a couple more flames.

It does make it look like it is gonna suck all them Fords and send them out the exhaust.

I love look tom. It is very cool. They did a great job. Please post the updated pictures

Tom, you need some shark teeth in the bumper grill opening.l

jerij

I guess just about anybody can do flames these days:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy-HHR-LT-2006-Brand-New-Custom-with-FLAMES_W0QQitemZ4609593999QQcategoryZ6173QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

Those are kind of ugly. I don't like how they all run together. Anyone can do vinyl! All it takes is a little practice and patience. It's kind of funny that you posted that. Over the past three days five people have asked me if my flames were dealer applied and two have asked me if I went to The Tint Shop.

Capt. dansdecals.com is now on Ebay selling the ghost flames.

Charles

Now everyone can have a set. :beer: They are a decent fit. You just have to trim the wheel wells and the door gaps. Trimming the vinyl really made me notice how odd our wheel wells are shaped. :confused:

If you read the Ebay ad, it says they couldn't sell one of their HHR's, so, they decided to try the flames and they are a hit. It also jacks up the price by $1,000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you read the Ebay ad, it says they couldn't sell one of their HHR's, so, they decided to try the flames and they are a hit. It also jacks up the price by $1,000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:eek: I didn't read it I just looked at the pictures. Don't forget the genuine Chevy exhaust tip also helps push the price up an extra $1000. :roll: I think I spent like sixty something dollars for my flames and the labor was free. So I flamed my HHR for under $70. If anyone wants a vinyl flame job I'll be more than willing to do it for 1/2 of the dealerships price. :D

You did a great job with the flames. If you can do the work yourself then you $$$. Otherwise it will cost. Thats the plus side

But not a $1000! :eek: You would have to be a complete sucker to fall for that! ;) There is one auto body place here that will respray your car for $1000.

I just got back from an old friends auto store. He has a custom decal machine (also does stereos, alarms, window tint, etc) and I wanted a graphic for the windshield to conceal my white EZPass that really stands out. I wound up also getting custom flames put on my sides (canary yellow on a red HHR). Next we are going to do something on the front hood/fenders and something on the back that goes around the tail lights. I will post photos soon. But the custom machine allowed us to size it so it stretches along the entire side of the car. They spent 5 hours on my car. It cost more that 70 but way less than a grand (actually $250). He said that he ususally charges $200 per side, and I got 2 sides and the windshield.

That's a more reasonable price. ;) It must be the geuine Chevy chrome exhaust tip that's driving the price up so high on that HHR. :roll:

These were taken during the installation. I will take a good shot tomorrow and post it. The windshield came out awesome, and does not block any of the already limited vision. The sides look great, but will be even better after I add a small flame on the front, either off the light or side of the hood. And, another flame from the rear tirewell that goes into the taillights. Plus, now that I have a yellow accent theme, something will go on the back window (HHR in Chevy bowtie?)

http://chevyhhr.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=248&c=3

Photo of installer proud of his work.

http://chevyhhr.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=249&c=3

That looks great.

Here are a few shots of it so far. It is a bold statement-yellow on red. I think a few more small flames will tie it all together nicely.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN1936.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN1939.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN1940.jpg

Hey they did not post

I know
I am still trying to figure out how to do it. I tried once and the picture was in the message. Next time, just a link. Now, :confused:

But they are in the gallery, along with my non-functional air horns. (But they look pretty)

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN1940.jpg

All you have to do is Right click on any picture from any website, then click on properties, where is says address (URL) copy the whole line from http://abcdefghijklmn.....etc.jpg and on this site click on go advance choose the image icon and then past that whole line of code and then the picture should be posted like I allready did of yours

Hah, I have the same license plate holder! :beer:

I need to get a licence plate holder. I have not found any that caught my attention. I still have my yankees one to put back on.

Hey Lee3333 it looks like you fixed it

Which one-back or front? The front is a plain chrome plate that would not fit due to the top tabs on the stock front plate holder. I had to file notches in the chrome plate-a bit of a pain. And it still is not thick enough to look right, so I am still searching for something. Perhaps I will make a new bracket and mount it under the bumper where it will not look so noticible and be safer from people backing into it. (I did this on my Saturn and it came out great) But, I dont want to have cooling problems by blocking the bottom grill.

Whats the deal with the DWIISBAD?Is that a court mandatory thing?

Nope-just the opposite. In 1987 I was driving to the Lynard Skynard concert in LI when I got rear ended in a traffic jam. I pulled over to tie up my muffler then got nailed by a drunk driver. Lost my right leg above knee and had my left leg seriously damaged. I have been involved with a group named RID-Remove Intoxicated Drivers. The plate is my message to others.

Which one-back or front?

The back:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture208.jpg
:) :beer:

We even have the same caps on the license plate bolts.

By the way, my wife HATES the flames-says they are too much contrast. But it is MY car!

Well my drunk driving landed me in a wheelchair so I dig your plate..

My wife was asking me why I wanted them on and why can't I just leave it alone. After I put them on she admited that she was wrong and that they looked nice. She said the same thing about my pinstripes until she saw them on. I have another windshield banner but I think it will be a while before I get a chance to put it on. It raining today switching over to snow for the next couple of days. :(

Lee what about some Blue pinstriping on the edge of the flames???

Thats what you get for living up north. Here in the city we just have rain. I still found a dry moment to replace the glass etching with yellow bowtie, which I think balances the look. Here it is:

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/DSCN1946c.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/DSCN1941c.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/DSCN1948c.jpg

I think I need to add HHR to either the side bowtie or inside the flame. Also, maybe blue or orange accents on the flames.

Did they black vinyl over the dots around the mirror from the inside? :confused:

Nope-had to be from the outside. I wanted to conceal the mirror and the big, white, ugly EZ Pass which are on the inside. So, they cut a piece of black vinyl for the outside, then the yellow bowtie, then the flames on each side. They had a design for a bowtie with flames coming out of each side (1 piece) but it would have covered part of the top of the window and blocked the already marginal vision. As it is now, if I am the first car waiting for a traffic light, I can't see the signal unless I duck down. So, I generally wait for the cars behind me to start honking then I know it is green. The problem is when there is no traffic. I sometimes sit at the light for hours waiting...

It looks nice! :thumb: It really makes the bowtie stand out. ;)

Thanks. I just noticed that it looks off because the bowtie is not symetrical.

My buddy wanted to add a few more flames-but used the wrong yellow so had to remove them. But now I have the chance to see if I really want them. So what do you think? The color is off, but is it too much? He also wants to put on something small coming off the headlights.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN2075.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN2071.jpg

I'm diggin' them SoCalHHR's Flames!!!

RIGHTEOUS MAN! :thumb:

Everybody at the shop liked them-especially the metalflake finish.

I've got a red one too. Couldn't figure out what color flames would look good or I'd like to have.


jerij

I like it :beer:

I know its a pt but these flames would look awesome on a black hhr..
http://www.pteazer.com/images/Index%20New%20Pics/tessman.jpg

I would have to see it up close. Real style flames either look really good or like complete s**t depending on the painter. I normally like the old hot rodding style of flames myself.

Here they are-note the small flame on the other side of the tail light.
Next, looking for a small, wide flame to come from headlight (need some yellow up front) and maybe something off the grill on the hood.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN2146.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN2149.jpg

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/3/2/4/cDSCN2147.jpg

Wow they look great. Its like your wheels are burning

Any other feedback-positive or negative?
Should I keep going? Flames off the headlights? Behind grill on hood? More behind back tires? Am I going overboard? At this rate my car will be yellow soon :D

What about the side's of the hood?