chrome trim strips should come with a health warning!

[Rubce]

Hi All

Whilst stripping all the paint off the top of the car, the two areas of rot I have discovered to-date have both been where the chrome trim strips fit. First incident being where the strip is situated above the sills.

The second area is on the bootlid where the strip fits on the front edge. After bare metalling the lid I have discoveredFOURTEEN small holes at the point where the strip meets the boot top surface:X. Presumably the water has got underneath at the some point in the past and the previous owner covered them up with filler:X.

Those chrome trim strips are water traps and a hazard to health of your car:X. There is a lot to be said for going for the de-cluttered Tichford Stag look:shock:.

Bruce

[nib]

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Also Bruce

When you push trims back on with your lovely new paint job,watch they dont take a load of paint off.

Mark

[Rubce]

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Hi Mark

I have been given some good advice with regards to that problem. Namely:-

1) Ensure that all the chrome trim fits correctly. Bend, straight, adjust trim to fit as requiredBEFORE painting the car and before paying for rechroming.

2) After painting car fit rechromed trim to car using silicone sealant, not the metal grips.

The sealant prevents water ingress and acts as an adhesive and eliminates paint damage during the fitment process.

I intend to heed this advice

Regards

Bruce

[Pommie Stag]

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The sealant prevents water ingress and acts as an adhesive and eliminates paint damage during the fitment process.

I intend to heed this advice


Also use a not tosticky masking tape to hold those trims with that pesky silicone till its gone off

[mjheathcote]

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Good luck using just silicon sealant, I fear you will end up using the clips, I tried and failed

On a positive note if you apply loads of waxoyle before fitting the clips, plus run plenty down when the chrome is in place, any bare metal exposed from the teeth of the clips will not rust. You can then apply some 'dum dum' if you wish along the edges.

I had to remove some of chrome strips following the above, and after 10 years no rust

[Ian B]

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mjheathcote wrote:

Good luck using just silicon sealant, I fear you will end up using the clips, I tried and failed

On a positive note if you apply loads of waxoyle before fitting the clips, plus run plenty down when the chrome is in place, any bare metal exposed from the teeth of the clips will not rust. You can then apply some 'dum dum' if you wish along the edges.

I had to remove some of chrome strips following the above, and after 10 years no rust

I had all the chrome strips re fitted to my car following a re build using just silicon, that was five years ago and so far so good.

Ian

[martin]

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Hi Bruce, the most secure way of fitting the stainless trim is a body sealant called Tiger Seal, most good trade factors keep it, with masking tape as suggested, left on overnight, the downside is that in future you will have difficulty getting them off. The original clips were made of a superior spring steel but can't be got any more, Wards tried having them made up but it proved too expensive, the ones you can buy now are pretty useless. If you're fitting newedge trims, don't forget, all four are different. Cheers, Martin.