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C5Z BSM removal


sol740

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There seems to be some dissent on the factory option body side moldings (door ding protection) for the C5 vettes, I've heard that some people love em, and some not so much. I fall very much into the latter. Personally I think the added line is unattractive, and breaks up the flow of the door. Also it's a hunk of plastic 3M taped to side of the car, that bugs me enough all by itself.

 

Items Used:

 

30lb test fishing line

3M adhesive remover

Porter Cable 7424xp

Extra fine polish

Meguiars Gold Class

Elbow grease and patience

Terry and MF cloths

 

Before

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/7.jpg

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/6.jpg

 

Using the fishing line and gloves, I made a sawing motion moving up and down, while pulling toward the BSM, and pulling gently back. It took some time to get through it all, its been on there for some time now. There was a little concern about the color under the BSM not quite matching, but after reading some threads on Vette forums, that never really seemed to be an issue, and I can see no difference now that it's done.

 

Now you can see it with the BSM freshly removed. So much nasty adhesive stuck to the door. The picture doesn't really show how thick it actually was.

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/5-1.jpg

 

The next part is the most tedious and most awful part. First I cleaned as best I could with a rag and some soapy water to get as much dirt away from the paint as possible, before I started slowly massaging the adhesive off, using liberal amounts of adhesive remover to help loosen the guck. Now my fingers are sore. I read about some people using a soft-ish plastic puddy knife but I was too afraid of scraping my paint. After doing that shit for a half hour or more per side, and cleaning, and more rubbing, and more cleaning, you end up with something like this.

 

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/4-2.jpg?t=1301280977

 

 

Here is the glob of junk I got off one side.

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/1-2.jpg?t=1301280981

 

Already looking better. However there was a faint outline on mine, that was particularly stubborn. I cleaned again, and busted out the porter cable. Using a very fine polish, and polishing pad pretty much completely got rid of any noticeable outline, and ended up with this.

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/3-2.jpg

 

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k21/sol740/2-2.jpg

 

Anyways I much prefer it this way, even if now I need a new sig-pic.

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looks good! time for a new sig

Fixed. :D

Looks soooo much better without it, nice work! I took the moldings off my Camaro the first day I had it. Oh, and I love that color. I want your car :cool:

I assume it was just as much a pain in the ass.

looks good with the brutus fathead

 

Nice eye.

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Looks sharp. Maybe a heat gun would have saved you some labor?

 

I had read to use a heat gun or hair dryer, and I tryed using a hair dryer at first but it didn't really seem to make any difference for me, so I didn't list it. That said maybe it simply wasn't getting hot enough.

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Looks much better. I pulled them off my MS3 with a hair dryer and a little gas/solvent to remove the little bit of stubborn foam/glue that stuck in couple areas.

 

LOL at the paid for option...so true. In my case now the MS3's don't even have them on the new body style. Clean shaven....way I like my cars and women.

 

With:

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/105666227original

 

Without:

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/110434931/original

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Looks much better. I pulled them off my MS3 with a hair dryer and a little gas/solvent to remove the little bit of stubborn foam/glue that stuck in couple areas.

 

LOL at the paid for option...so true. In my case now the MS3's don't even have them on the new body style. Clean shaven....way I like my cars and women.

 

With:

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/105666227original

 

Without:

http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/110434931/original

 

Looks nice too!

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