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Topic: Q about 87-88 moldings (Read 1236 times) previous topic - next topic

Q about 87-88 moldings

I took my car to get the bottom re-painted this last summer, and I had the guy replace all the chrome molding on it (you know, the little strip inside the big black strip!) Anyhow, I got the car back and the doors weren't done, he said that the chrome strip doesn't come out of the doors' molding.  Is this true? If it is true, how can I make it look better, and if it's not, how the heck do I get it out without ruining my moldings?!  Thanks for any assistance!

Jason  :cougarsmily:

Q about 87-88 moldings

Reply #1 –
lol yeah..the side mouldings are actually a part of the car unlike the front and back.  I know guys usually shave the sides to get rid of teh mouldings completely. some other guys just paint them.
1988- 3.8- T-bird- sold 2005 Grand Prix, GTP- COMP.G MODS: Inferno Hood, GXP spoiler, Liquid Metal Wheels,K&N Intake,LED taillights,LED reverse lights, LED interior lights, 180*,605s, Pacesetters :burnout:

Q about 87-88 moldings

Reply #2 –
Replacement chrome tape. Give me an email, I have some prototype stuff.

Q about 87-88 moldings

Reply #4 –
That body man is right.  The door side mouldings are comprised of a large vinyl type strip with an embedded metal strip.  They are applied to the doors like a band aid--having a strong adhesive backing to them--there are no mechanical fasteners on the door ones.  If you remove them it must be done without peeling them back and/or bending them.  Once you bend them, the metal inside is ruined.  If I was correctly informed, the method is to heat them up and then carefully use a broad sided putty knife to pry them off the car---working the top and bottom edges.  They can be reused as any shop will have the appropriate adhesive stripping (2 sided).  The other side mouldings may have both adhesive and mechanical fasteners--not sure on those.  I know that the turning lamp parts are only mechanical (and tough to repair).

Q about 87-88 moldings

Reply #5 –
The metal inside CAN be reused. It is VERY soft and simply laying the pulled molding flat on the floor with some weight on it for a few days (or a few hours in a bake booth) is more then enought to get them straight. I've reused moldings literally dozens of times with no ill effects.

Q about 87-88 moldings

Reply #6 –
Just FYI...on 1987-88 cars, looking at the side of the car, the front- and rear-most pieces are bolted on (in front of the front tires, behind the back tires). So 4 out of 10 moldings pieces bolt on. The rest are stuck on with double-sided adhesive tape. On 1983-86 cars, all 10 molding pieces are stuck on with tape.

Like Mike, I've also reused molding with the aluminum backing still on with acceptable results. The key, though, is to make sure the backing isn't all bunched up like an accordion. That can pretty much never be straightened out. Better to cut that section out or remove the aluminum completely.

I've also found that laying the pieces upside-down (with the tape facing up) on a blacktop driveway on a hot summer day (80º F+) works REALLY well for straightening them out. ;)