Going on a road trip (what kind of tape for temporary aero mods?)

[HydroJim]

I can't take my car because my sister can't drive a manual and she feels unsafe in case of an emergency, so we're going to be using my sister's 2001 Saturn LS1 and figured I would do some temporary aeromods.

Would it be ok to make grill block and attach it with masking tape? I don't want to mess up the paint on the car and wasn't sure what would happen to the tape when it baked in the sun and potentially got wet in the rain.

Any other ideas? All mods have to be taped on because I don't have permission to drill holes in the car.

[Flakbadger]

Blue painter's tape may look like hell, but shouldn't leave any residue.

[MetroMPG]

Zip ties or wire would work for a grille block as well if you fish them through.

[LeanBurn]

Gaffers Tape...like duct tape but not supposed to leave residue.

[mort]

Originally Posted by HydroJim

Would it be ok to make grill block and attach it with masking tape? I don't want to mess up the paint on the car and wasn't sure what would happen to the tape when it baked in the sun and potentially got wet in the rain.(

Hi HydroJim,
Just to clarify... that beige masking tape adhesive cures in the sun and could damage a car's paint after several days. Blue painter's tape comes either "for delicate surfaces" which doesn't stick, or long life which is stickier, and leaves no residue for up to 60 days. Both are thin, weak paper. Also 3M sez:

None of the ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tapes are recommended for use on lacquered surfaces

For more money you can get gaffer's tape (or stage tape). A good hardware store will have some, a music store might be better. It comes in colors, (or this) is pretty strong cloth, very sticky and leaves little residue.
Zip ties also come in colors.

OK, LeanBurn beat me to it.
-mort

[mcrews]

I USED packing tape (the cheap clear kind) and drove across ca, az, nm &texas in early may. left no residual.....to my slight surprise!
I had tape left over from packing....got the tape at the dollar store to boot!

[ksa8907]

If you wax the car real well first, you should be fine with most tapes.

[Sporty Modder]

I have used duct tape, the expensive non residue stuff. Probably the same as gaffers tape.

[NeilBlanchard]

Residue can be cleaned off with GooGone, and on a trip, it is not likely to leave much residue. I like the transparent 3M "duct" tape. It will stay in place in rain, etc.

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by mort

[...] Blue painter's tape comes either "for delicate surfaces" which doesn't stick, or long-life, which is stickier and leaves no residue for up to 60 days. Both are thin, weak paper. Also 3M sez:

Thank you for the clarification, I didn't know any better when I suggested blue painter's tape!

~Matt