Late style Body side molding
Installation
OK guys, an exterior refinish is not complete without attention to the details and a new body molding strip down the side is a must. There are 2 styles (early and late), the early style body molding uses a real stainless steel streamer with a rubber insert at the middle. The streamer is a cover where the upper and lower panels are riveted to the main body side support. That sounds like the way to go but wait a minute, why did they change? That SS streamer is rare and all it takes is one ding and the look goes to pot. In this case, the bod molding is more fragile and sensitive that the side of the coach it is trying to protect!
Likewise, there were opening between the riveted panels under the streamer that allowed in water. The second design used an "H" mold running for and aft, the top and bottom panels were captured in the H mold and were held tight, the outside edge of the molding allowed for a flat straight surface for the second design vinyl stick on molding. Not only was this a vast design improvement for the body but the molding could now be replaced very easily and being made of vinyl actually was a protecting bumper that was easy to replace. This is the molding kit we will be installing.
If you have an early model coach with the style one molding, rip it off, replace it with a length od 1/8x2" aluminum flat stock, countersink the rivets and seam seal the top edge-- now you can install the second design body molding kit as we are talking about here. Hey, it is America and you can deal with the early style body molding issue any way you like-- this is what I do.
Step 1: Reinstall your original side
marker light-- sounds simple, right?
Man, that looks like crap! one screw broken off and the other rusted, nope, not
gonna do it! First of all, you should clean up the lens and
after using my handy-dandy method for cleaning up genuine simulated plastic
chrome
,
retap the mounting hole and install new #8 stainless pan head Philips screws
-- oh, seal the light to the body with black RTV .
Boy, be careful with those lens-- they are pretty strong parts but if you break
one, big daddy wants big bucks for those! They can be had but at over $25
each-- well thats folding cash. So the side marker lights are all in-- but
wait, did ya replace that bulb?
You know that 5 minutes after you seal that lens in place that 30 year old bulb
will go!
NOW, you are finished with the side marker lights
You must have the side marker lights in place before you install the body
molding kit. See, there's more to this than meets the eye!
Now, wonder how that stick on body molding
stays on? Yes, there is a trick, first prep the surface with an "adhesion
promoter".
This stuff is really nasty, it is designed to clean all waxes and grease and
give the paint a good "bite" surface. Our body mold kit has precut "ends"
to surround the side marker light and tastefully end the molding. Oh sure
you could cut it off, but you would not have this look
.
Install these ends on all 4 side marker lights. Our kit also comes with a
length of high quality vinyl strip using 3M VHB (very high bond) adhesive strips
,
the red peal liner tells you it's VHB 3M product-- use no other. So butt
up to one of the ends and stick the bulk molding in place. Be sure to keep
the line straight-- duuuuu, no jock dummy! Cut the molding tight to the
end at the other end and push it into position. This is "pressure
sensitive" adhesive so go back and press in on the molding with a rag
,
go back and forth a couple of times to give the tape a good bite. Trim the
molding to let the door open and binga bang, you are done!
Phils's body Molding is on, this detail is done. Take your time, think about all of the things that need doing-- and do them. This kit comes in satin black as you see here or the original silver/black style, I like the solid black but you choose. Either style kit is $185. You will only need to pick up the adhesion promoter at your local auto paint supply house. Give us a call if you would like one of these kits-- we're as close as UPS!
