EL CHEAPO CROME BELT TRIM HOW TO FOR YOUR PT

[ptprice]

(pardon the spelling error) I guess those pre-cut expensive chrome belt trim kits have their place in the grand scheme of things. As for me $7.99 for 49 feet of 8MM adhesive chrome molding trim, shipping included, is a no brainer. To ease you way to a decision as to, "do I want to do it?" I did and SOOO BIG no longer needs suspenders.

Through the heat of our Florida summer sun and the freezing low 40 degree temperatures of our winter, rain, wind and washings this trim on SOOO BIG been there for over eight months without any deterioration or lifting.

I honestly think the chrome belt trim on a PT is the one thing Chrysler never thought of on on our PTs. It really sets off the PT's natural flow of curves as a contrast. Being this narrow, it's not an overstatement. I chose the 8MM as it's narrow enough to pass under the front hood emblem and allow that full beautiful sweep of chrome around the perimeter of the hood. If you have a plain painted fuel filler door instead of chrome, don't feel shorted. A continuing chrome strip on there really blings it up.

Make all your end cuts square. In the long run trying to match the edge angles is a study in trial and error. And the square cuts add a consistent factory like look to the installation.

Here's an ebay access for the stuff;

chrome trim molding | eBay

Now to make it really easy for you, here's the true measurements for the four door PT; Go for it! Maybe a Vert PTer can give us those measurements.


HOOD 117"
FRONT DOORS 41 1/8" X 2
REAR DOORS 37 3/8" X 2
REAR QUARTERS 25 1/2" x2
REAR HATCH 48 1/2"

Here's a few peeks at SOOO BIG with his new belt. Show the Forum your results.

Happy PTin', ptprice
http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/...tpost&p=646711
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[ptprice]

As an addition to the instructions I posted for putting on the the chrome trim;

To insure your installing the adhesive chrome trim as straight as possible I've found that using a narrow diameter wooded dowel temporarily taped in the belt line that goes around the PT gives you a good guide for installing long runs of chrome trim straight and true. Of course around the hood you can use the edge as a guide. I temporarily taped a yard stick to the underside edge of the hood as a guide. On the curve of the rear corners a short run of masking tape positioned just above the trim position width will guide the curve of the trim accurately. On these rear curves the trim'll fight you just a bit.

Slightly notching the guide dowel every few inches will allow it to follow the slow curve of the sections like the front and rear doors and the rear hatch while still retaining its straight integrity and defining that straight belt line to help as a guide.

Put the adhesive chrome trim on with just the most gentle of pressure at first. This will allow slight adjustments, as once good pressure is installed the chrome trim is on permanently.

Happy Ptin', ptprice

[PTJoey]

Good tips; looks great. Did you use any type of adhesion promoter when applying the trim?

[ptprice]

Originally Posted by PTJoey

Good tips; looks great. Did you use any type of adhesion promoter when applying the trim?

I found that no adhesion promoter was necessary. This stuff seems to "stick like glue" when pressure is finally applied. Do be sure that the surface where the chrome trim is applied is clean. I finished that process with a wipe down of alcohol and let it completely dry.
As you pull the chrome trim backer off be sure not to compromise the adhesive. I exposed just the beginning end of the adhesive surface, positioned the chrome trim properly at its start point and pulled the backer off as I went down the length of the chrome trim with the application using the afore mentioned guides for positioning..
You can't beat $7.99 and a little careful work for the end results.
As other PTers put a "chrome belt " on their PTs show us the photos.

Happy Ptin', ptprice