Any tips for putting on my Roush windshield decal on straight the first time?
Its about 3 1/2" x 40" and does not lay flat because it was shipped rolled up.

 

First thing to do, is to lay it flat in the sun for a day if you can help it.
Use improvised weight at each end to force it flat.
If you have a picnic table, it'll work great.
If not, sandwich it between 2 long 2x4s (again, with weights) somewhere in your house.
Truth be told, you almost don't need to do all this...
When you pull the back paper, the vinyl will take the shape of your windshield anyhow.

As for putting it on, soapy water is the way to go.
It allows you to move/position it around before you start to squidgee the water out.
Once the water is out, it's stuck on there.
Then you trim the excess with an exacto knife or razor blade.

If you're not up to this, call a window tint guy and ask for a quote. Or drive to them.
It can't be expensive...

 

i agree w/ everything pascal said...dont go light on the soapy water either...u can always work it out but once its stuck u cant add more water...make sure u get a good tool 2 work out all the water...creditcards are alright but the scrapers made just for this work great...watch my tint guy do it all the time...

 

i just paid the vinyl guy we use at work,he charged me 10 bucks,

 

I've been cutting and installing vinyl for the last 4 years and a windshield banner can be a big challenge on a curved windshield. If you don't have the decal cut with a slight arch to match the curve of the windshield it can look as if the decal has a big frown......both ends can taper down from the center. The crazy horse decal on my windshield is right around 4x42 with a slight arch precut into it to make the install a little easier (just kind of a PITA to get straight)

Soapy water will be a big help to install that 8x30 decal. Dawn dish soap seems to work as a homebrew application fluid.....just don't use to much soap in your mix (a few drops to a quart spray bottle is enough).



Madd Maxx

 

The way I've seen my old mechanic do it was to frame everything out w/ masking tape so that you know your boundarys before you ever even lay the decal down since its so easy to drift in the wrong direction w/o even knowing it.

 

that would be the only thing I'd add to pascal and zak's posts!

 

The decal was cut by Roush for the S197 so I hope it
matches the curvature of the S197s windshield.
I have installed one before but it was smaller and I cant
remember exactly how I did it. I have also installed lots of
window tint but removed the glass from the vehicle to do it.
Nothing harder than the curved back glass of a 73 VW SuperBeetle.
I will get a squeegie kit for window tint and just go for it.
The masking tape idea should work like a charm.
Its the soap thing I was not sure about. Liquid dishwashing soap?
Is there a better brand that does not have all the hand softeners in it?
Should I do it in the shade or sun and warm or hot day?

 

make sure u clean the window real good with rubbing alcohol or soapy water and id use a blade just to make sure everythings off the window....dont install in the sun ..but if u want after squeegying u can let it sit in the sun just to dry up some of ur soapy water..if u put too much soap in u water just let it set up for awhile in the sun ..itll be fine..ur pob better off having too many drops then not enough......and every Roush window decal ive installed DID have an arch to it...not enough in my opinion but it will look fine...make sure to find center on ur lettering and then on ur windshield...cuz it is easy to get a little lost....as for the soapy water ur gonna have some time to move around alittle bit ,so make sure ur where u wanna be before u go crazy with ur squeegie....start squeegie in the middle and work ur way out on each letter.....im thinkin the decal is just an outline that says roush right?? make sure its stuck really really good before u try and take off the carrier.,.cuz that thin outline lettering is weak compared to the carrier on top and itll wanna pull it back off again,,,ok so now that we all scared u ,,,get ur *** out there and install some lettering ..