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Topic: Chrome on Side moldings (Read 10683 times) previous topic - next topic

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #30
Lightly enough it didn't go through the paint. This is a very small grinder not an agressive grinder.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #31
Quote from: thunderjet302;262823
How much would something like that cost to have tooled up? I have $$$ ammount of money not $$$$$$$$$$:hick:

You know I have an uncle who is a mold maker by trade (he and my grandfather used to have a shop they ran together). I wonder if he has any idea of how much it would cost to make it.......



This is the process that is used to create the molding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrusion

I once owned a patent on a product that was used on rv's

http://www.rvaccessorypart.exactwebsites.com/page/page/3352092.htm

that used this process to create the molding.

the cost of the die,is not that exspensive (I believe it was around $700.00 for ours).where the cost comes in, is,the packageing of the product.to have the product actually run,is very cheap, depending on how many feet of the product is run. (the more ,the cheaper).

Now to have the chrome strip added to this,would probably run into more money,but the molding itself,would be fairly cheap to have produced.

If anyone is seriously considering this,I can look into it further.The guy that ownes "Rainkap" now,is my brother-inlaw and I can see what kinds of prices he is dealing with rite now and the company he is working with,to have the product made.
Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily: 
  [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily:
1983 base model,1969 302 (originally a v6),upraded c5,currently 30,441 original miles.

chrome on side molding

Reply #32
all xr-7 people-body side chrome needs resto-the mold sounds good- with a "real chrome" side-made to factory-in bulk  the price may pay for all  xr-7 cars.maybe someone could  make the trims to factory specs.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #33
I just thought of a few things

how many diff. types of side moldings, are on these cars? because a dye would have to be made or modify the original ,for each type/shape of the molding.

I also would suggest making one piece,the entire lenght of the car,and you cut to suit.this would keep the exspense down.
Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily: 
  [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
:birdsmily: :birdsmily: :birdsmily::birdsmily:
1983 base model,1969 302 (originally a v6),upraded c5,currently 30,441 original miles.

chrome on side molding

Reply #34
the 85-86 wide side moldings are the same .eric should know that.calling eric-parts interchange xr-7 body side pieces.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #35
If someone made repops of original moldings for a resonable price I would 100% be on board to buy some.  And by resonable I would say at the most $300 for the hole shabang.  But I just don't see it happening any time soon...there is just not enough of a fan base for our cars to warrant anyone investing money into something with such a limited amount of potential sales.  I guess thats the price you pay to have something different, but it still sucks for all of us! 

As my car sits right now I have brand new paint on the car and so-so moldings with py chrome.  Like I said earlier, its kinda like a supermodel with bad teeth.  You'd probably still date her, but every time she smiles you have to look away.  And I don't like looking away from my car...

Unless someone with far more money than me becomes a nut for our cars and decides to invest some serious dough in making parts for such a small community, we will always be delegated to scrounging s yards and/or just dealing with it!  Time will tell I guess.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #36
Quote from: 50tbrd88;262393
I have done a search on this and it looks like some of you guys (I think maybe Eric did this) have covered the fake chrome strip that runs in the body side molding with say a 3M brand 1/2" chrome striping.  I assume you can find this stuff at say Autozone or Advance Auto.  Does this work and fit well?  Does it look OK? 

Is there anyone that could post up some pics so I can see what this looks like?  Since I got the car painted it really makes that crusty old chrome trim stand out more and look HORRIBLE.  Its kind of like a supermodel with bad teeth...:punchballs:

Thanks for the help guys.


I tried it on my '85.  The problem I had was the curvature of the chrome strip was too much making the top and bottom edge of the 3M chrome tape peel right back up making the only contact run the center line.  Basically the chrome tape I had was too thick.  If you find chrome tape that is paper thin and strong adhesive on the back side, it would work.
"lol.. because not too many people care for that style of car"
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Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #37
Has anyone tried one of those 3M tape remover wheels?

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #38
the factory adhesive is a pita like eric said. I tried everything under the sun and ended up using a putty knife.  Even at that rate, some residue remained behind that i had to grind off with one of those 3m scotch brite type sanding wheels.  The problem with those is they fill up real fast and become useless.

I would just do what is suggested, let the car get some sun on it and pry out the old chrome molding inside the black. Get a roll of new stuff and lay it in there.

I noticed its totally different on the bumpers, atleast from what i could tell.  the side moldings allow the center trim to come out more easy than the bumpers.  I am to this day not sure if the center molding in the bumper is removeable or not.

This is the reason why I decided to lay red 3m 1/2'' electrical tape over top the chrome in the center.  I was able to smoosh in the tiny tiny extra deep into the cracks with a credit card.

I think it turned out ok on my white coug.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #39
Well I'll be trying something new then I guess. I'll post pics when I get started.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #40
Aaaannnndddd 8 years later I found something that works, at least for the 87-88 cars. It's made by 3m, Silver Polyester Metalized Film Tape 1/2" Width.

https://www.grainger.com/product/15C477?gclid=COflnqTds9ICfornicate5wAodrvMFuQ&cm_mmc=PPC:GOOGLEPLAA-_-Adhesives%2C%20Sealants%20and%20Tape-_-Tapes-_-15C477&AL!2966!3!50916781677!!!g!104636078517!&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916781677!!!g!104636078517!&ef_id=V0NsfgAABDQah4wP:20170228212508:s

Grainger sells it. A 5 yard roll (15 feet) is enough to do the rubber side moldings between the wheels. It has an acrylic backing (like body side molding tape) and, if applied to a clean, grease free surface, sticks like crazy. It only needs to be trimmed at the ends as it is the perfect width to cover the chrome strip in the moldings .
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #41
I used 3M trim tape, only in black.
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing:

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #42
Quote from: thunderjet302;459518
Aaaannnndddd 8 years later I found something that works, at least for the 87-88 cars. It's made by 3m, Silver Polyester Metalized Film Tape 1/2" Width.

https://www.grainger.com/product/15C477?gclid=COflnqTds9ICfornicate5wAodrvMFuQ&cm_mmc=PPC:GOOGLEPLAA-_-Adhesives%2C%20Sealants%20and%20Tape-_-Tapes-_-15C477&AL!2966!3!50916781677!!!g!104636078517!&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916781677!!!g!104636078517!&ef_id=V0NsfgAABDQah4wP:20170228212508:s

Grainger sells it. A 5 yard roll (15 feet) is enough to do the rubber side moldings between the wheels. It has an acrylic backing (like body side molding tape) and, if applied to a clean, grease free surface, sticks like crazy. It only needs to be trimmed at the ends as it is the perfect width to cover the chrome strip in the moldings .



I am so ordering this today!  Thanks for figuring it out for the rest of us!!
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #43
Post up how it works on the front and rear bumper covers.  My concern is with going around the corners and staying flat and not bunching up.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Chrome on Side moldings

Reply #44
Quote from: 50tbrd88;459526
I am so ordering this today!  Thanks for figuring it out for the rest of us!!

I've had the tape on one of the moldings on my car since August of last year as a test. After several washings it has shown no signs of peeling or fading. However, I hand wash my Thunderbird and don't expose it to the elements so that may make the tape more durable. The tape is outdoor rated so it should last for several years. If it ends up not lasting I'll replace it with some chrome vinyl.

When you install the metalized film tap clean the chrome strip on the moldings with wax remover to get any gunk off of it. Dry the molding, then just apply the tape over the chrome strip and trim the edges. Done.

Quote from: Aerocoupe;459528
Post up how it works on the front and rear bumper covers.  My concern is with going around the corners and staying flat and not bunching up.

I haven't tried it on the chrome strip on the 87-88 bumper covers as there is no need to. The chrome strip is replaceable, unlike the strip on the rubber moldings between the wheels. I'll just end up installing a new chrome strip in the front and rear bumper cover after the car is painted in a couple of months.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.