Mustang Rocker Stripe Installation Guide

The below installation instructions work for the following products:

• Black GT Rocker Stripes
• White GT Rocker Stripes
• Silver GT Rocker Stripes
• Black Mustang Rocker Stripes
• Black Plain Rocker Stripes
• White Mustang Rocker Stripes
• White Plain Rocker Stripes
• Silver Mustang Rocker Stripes
• Silver Plain Rocker Stripes

Here at American Muscle, we're all about DIY (do it yourself). Of course, there's nothing wrong with seeking out a little bit of tech help prior to taking on an installation on your own. Our Mustang installation guides will provide valuable instructions and hopefully answer any how-to questions that you may have along the way.

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Congratulations on purchasing a new set of Mustang rocker panel stripes. No matter what style rocker panel stripes that you purchase, they all install in the same manner. This installation is about a seven out of ten on the frustrating scale so it is a good idea to perform this installation on the weekend and with a friend because it makes the work go faster. Keep in mind that even though installing rocker panel stripes is a big job, you can do it yourself and make it look professional if you follow these steps. Also remember that if you do this installation yourself, your wallet will be a little heavier too.

• Scissors (x1)
• Razor blades (x2)
• Paper towels (x1)
• Full bottle of Windex cleaner (x1)
• Ruler (x1)
• String (x1)
• Hair dryer (x1)

• Right and left side rocker panel stripes (x1)

I decided to go with a white set of rocker panel stripes and I am installing them on a 2001 Mustang convertible. When I purchased the Mustang, it came with gold rocker panel stripes that I did not like. I decided to change that and go with all white graphics.

Old Factory Rocker Stripes.

These first few steps are only relevant if you have rocker panel stripes already on your car and you are swapping them for new ones. If you are putting rocker panel stripes on for the first time on your car, read ahead.

Note: Allow the car to sit in the shade or garage for about 20 minutes to cool the surface before you begin. You should not install the Rocker Stripes in direct sunlight.

1. To remove the original or old rocker panel stripes, hold a hair dryer up to the edge of one of the decals and count to ten. Remove the hair dryer and peel the old rocker panel stripe away with your finger nail so as not to scratch the finish on the car. Continue this process until all of the original rocker panel decals have been pealed off.


2. After the decals are removed, you will be able to see the cleaner part of the car where the decals used to be. Now is a good time to wash that part of the door to remove any dirt/debris/wax that will stop the new rocker panel stripes from sticking properly. THIS STEP SHOULD BE TAKEN EVEN IF YOU ARE INSTALLING ROCKER PANEL STRIPES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME! Make sure the car is clean or they will not stick!


3. I am going to install the rocker panel stripes on the driver’s side first, but the installation instructions for the passenger side are the exact same. I started by cutting the two different sides of the rocker panel stripes into two different pieces because both sides arrive as one piece.




Note: The Mustang lettering goes towards the front of the car and it should read left to right.



4. I started with the section of rocker panel in front of the door on the driver’s side.



5. Peel off the decal and spray it with Windex. Make sure to also spray the car liberally with Windex. The more Windex used, the easier it is to position the decal. Also, the more Windex you use, the longer it takes the rocker panels to dry.


6. To make sure that they were straight, I lined up the top stripe with the trim on the car and then just measured a quarter-inch below the first stripe, and placed on the second stripe. I measured another quarter inch below the large middle stripe and then placed the thin one below that one.



7. To finish the rest of the rocker panel stripes, line up the small stripe on the top first.




8. Be sure that the decal and the car are covered with Windex so that it is easier to move the decal into place.



9. Next, place the larger middle decal on the car as shown below



10. To make sure the middle stripe is straight, take a ruler and measure a quarter inch between the thin top stripes and the large middle stripe. This will work and make the stripes straight as long as the top stripe is straight. Sometimes if you can’t make the stripes straight by using a ruler, it works to just stand up and eyeball the straightness of the stripes.



11. After positioning the stripes, wait a few minutes and squeegee out all the extra Windex that is behind the stripes so that they can dry as shown below.



12. Once the stripes are centered and on the car, it is time to cut them to the proper length. I decided to follow the cut design of the stock stripes on the car where they were cut about an inch before the end of the body panel. Many people choose not to cut the stripes, but to let them look like one continuous stripe, either design looks good it is just personal preference. It is best to use scissors or a razor blade while the stripes are still wet so that it does not move too much.




13. Once everything is cut and trimmed to where you want it to be, let it dry. After the stripe is somewhat dry, go back and make sure that all of the air bubbles are out of the stripes. Leave the car in a cool and dry place for at least 24 hours so that the rocker panel stripes have a chance to dry completely. Also, it is not a good idea to drive the car until the stripes are completely dry.


14. The installation for the passenger’s side rocker panel is the same as the drivers side and can be done while the driver’s side is drying


15. Congratulations! You have completed a fairy difficult installation on your pony. You will feel so much better knowing that you did it yourself! Now go out and show off the new look!


Finished Installation

Installation instructions provided by AmericanMuscle customer Will Rimmler 6.19.08