Stull Side Trim

[PTPaul]

I just got my trim in....really neat looking. Has anyone installed this? Seems pretty straight forward...remove red tape, press in place. I'm just concerned about keeping every piece in line! I also here not to install the strip for the hood, as it can fly off! Any input? Finally, will the glue hurt the paint?

[OC CRUZER]

Hey PTPaul , I put my molding on about a month ago . It's pretty straight forward . Before you take off the red tape , take each piece and test fit it where it goes to get a feel for how it fits . As far as the hood piece goes , there is no way it will fly off and once you get it on you'll love it . As far as lining up the pieces , on the longer pieces , I did the front doors first and the rear hatch piece last . I found it easier to line up the side hood and rear door trim that way . I did the gas door piece last since you can adjust that around alot . On the longer pieces , pull the tape off each end about an inch , leave that piece of tape sticking out so you can get hold of it , stick one end then the other end to the car , then pull the red tape out gradually the rest of the way starting at one end . One thing really helped me . I got a round ball point pen , put that in the belt line crease and as I pressed the molding on , I moved the pen along the crease , made sure the molding was touching the top of the pen as I put it in place , you kinda try to do that but at the same time make sure the ends line up . [you might want to eyeball your belt line crease to be sure it lines up one panel to the next , mine did]. Be VERY CAREFULL lining the pieces up , once the adhesive just touches the car , it doesn't come off . I had a problem with one piece and to get it off I stuck a piece of dental floss between the trim and body and pulled it along till it seperated , then I had to find more of the tape . Whole thing was a big hassel . Clean the body where the trim goes on VERY VERY good , then clean it again . I used mineral spirits first then rubbing alcohol . The only piece I had a problem with was the rear drivers side corner between the hatch and rear door . It didn't fit exactly right , but now that it's on it looks fine . some of the pieces may need to be bent a little to fit right . the metal is soft so just use your hands , tools would mark it up . After I put on each piece I used a hair dryer to heat it up and pushed on it a little more . the heat really helps the tape bond good . Good luck . It's really pretty and this post is really long . Remember , make SURE you have it right before it touches the car , you can't just pull it off and try again . As far as harming the paint , I don't know . It is the same adhesive used by the car makers for trim , ect.



Edited by - OCCRUZER on 10/16/2001 20:35:58