One of my t-tops recently got badly scratched up and really scuffed up the stainless trim, I need to replace without removing the rubber moulding, as I'm trying to retain as much originality to this car. It looks like it is crimped on for a portion and then screwed on, HOWEVER there is a rivet, does that just hold the joint together, or does it run into the fiberglass and need to be drilled out to remove/replace this trim? Thanks, Warren
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Re: Stainless trim on edge of t-tops of '70 to '72
Warren, the details of the molding installation is shown in your AIM, UPC 1 Sheet F31. There is a pop rivet that retains the small corner "cap" molding that covers the joint between the T-top front molding and the side molding (retained by pop rivets).
Once the little molding "cap" has been removed, the front molding is attached with only a very tight fit on the front edge of the fiberglass. If you work carefully starting from one end, you can ease them off the front without damage. Once you have the front moldings off, you will note a narrow rubber strip built into the back of the molding...I believe this rubber strip (in addition to sealing the molding) increases the grip of the molding on the fiberglass. Don't bend them...they are not that easy to find. -
Re: Stainless trim on edge of t-tops of '70 to '72
Chuck: Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it!Comment
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Re: Stainless trim on edge of t-tops of '70 to '72
Warren,
I'm not familiar with the part you speak of, but if I were in your shoes I would first try to sand out the scratches and buff out them out while the part was still installed.
1) Mask off the adjacent areas with quality masking tape and then cover the masking tape with aluminum foil duct tape to protect the surrounding area. (put masking tape down first because the aluminum foil tape is extremely sticky and may lift paint when removed)
2) Sand the scratches out with progressively finer grades of wet or dry sandpaper. Start with 220 and end up with 400 grit.
3) Get a 3 or 4 inch wheel buff in a high speed die grinder and some white compound and finish to a mirror shine.
4) Pull the tape and go spend the money you saved on something else
Ain't that tough of a job and sound cheaper, easier and you keep your original pieces that the General installed.
What have you got to lose?
good luck,
tcComment
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Re: Stainless trim on edge of t-tops of '70 to '72
I agree with Tracy because unless you are going to change it the best way to polish it is to put it on a T-top to hold properly with out bending.. DavidComment
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Re: Stainless trim on edge of t-tops of '70 to '72
Tracy & David: Thanks for the replies, I really scuffed up the top, has pretty deep gouges in the fiberglass and a couple of small divits in it. The stainless is really nicked up and BADLY scraped in many places. WarrenComment
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