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Any tips for installing the chrome trim on the t-tops for a 1970? Car is freshly painted and the front trim piece presses on and will clearly scratch the paint some (which will be hidden). Any tips from those who put these back on after painting? Thanks
Maybe this might help with “T-Top Trim” installation without scratching fresh paint.
These are the two tools that I used, a pair of snap ring expanders and a
easily modified mini C-Clamp. (See 2- attached photos)
I gently spread the trim apart with the snap ring pliers, once in place I crimped
the trim at the factory crimp positions with the “point” I had made on the C-Clamp.
(NOTE: I was working with a 1978 Model - Your Trim might be different?)
Use plenty of “Blue Tape” to protect Your NEW Paint 🙂 NOTE: Modified C-Clamp “POINT”
After painting the tops we waited two weeks before putting the trim back on, i ran a bar of soap along the edge of the tee top and used a small file to scrap the sharp edge inside of the chrome channel. Since you don't know how far to push the chrome onto the top. measure the depth of the chrome slot and put a couple pieces of masking tape on the tops so you know when to stop.
I'm pretty sure the person who put those on at the factory didn't have special tools, other than some good way to hold the T-top so he/she could use two hands to install the trim.
I was a bit nervous about tapping the trim on, my main concern was the paint sliding from the pressure of the trim. I used a bit of lubricant on the top side, maybe a bit of candle wax or vasoline. its been a while but I did wait a few months before trim installation. Should go fine!
I used a wooden block to tap this trim back on and very carefully measured how they would end up as in measure 4 times and tap once. I had put 3 coats of base and 4 to 6 coats of clear plus who knows how much primer ect ect so I was concerned about whether my tee top was too thick for the trim, but miked and it was ok. I did sand a little bit on the underside to clean up and make sure though. Also I used a very little bit of GOOP on the ends to hopefully insure the trim would stay. I like Goop as it is like rubber cement and you can get it off without damage if need be. Hope this helps, good advice above too. Oh, paint bc/cc was really really dry so hard. I could see waiting 3 or 4 months for the paint to throughly dry similar to waiting until you could wax a new paint job.
Maybe this might help with “T-Top Trim” installation without scratching fresh paint.
These are the two tools that I used, a pair of snap ring expanders and a
easily modified mini C-Clamp. (See 2- attached photos)
I gently spread the trim apart with the snap ring pliers, once in place I crimped
the trim at the factory crimp positions with the “point” I had made on the C-Clamp.
(NOTE: I was working with a 1978 Model - Your Trim might be different?)
Use plenty of “Blue Tape” to protect Your NEW Paint 🙂 NOTE: Modified C-Clamp “POINT”
Installing chrome trim on t-tops
