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Bodywork question ...molding

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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 11:27 AM
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Default Bodywork question ...molding

Early C4s came with the black molding strip that ran around the entire body on the exterior. Later yrs did away with this and made the door and fenders smooth....solid paint,.

I've seen it done to early (87) yrs, and it looks great. Question is, I know filler of gel type for the doors and other solid sections is appropriate to fill the 'valley' where the trim used to bolt in, what about the bumpers? Does the rear bumper use a fiber-glass filler material? or something else? same for the front...what to use to fill the front bumper groove where trim used to be?
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by leesvet
Early C4s came with the black molding strip that ran around the entire body on the exterior. Later yrs did away with this and made the door and fenders smooth....solid paint,.

I've seen it done to early (87) yrs, and it looks great. Question is, I know filler of gel type for the doors and other solid sections is appropriate to fill the 'valley' where the trim used to bolt in, what about the bumpers? Does the rear bumper use a fiber-glass filler material? or something else? same for the front...what to use to fill the front bumper groove where trim used to be?
The molding is part of the front cover, rear cover and the fender panels of the '91+ cars with only the doors and the front of the quarters being serviced parts. You can NOT duplicate that in any fashion on an earlier car without buying parts and changing the panels.

None of the panels are "smooth" - the molding is raised regardless.
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by leesvet
Question is, I know filler of gel type for the doors and other solid sections is appropriate to fill the 'valley' where the trim used to bolt in, what about the bumpers? Does the rear bumper use a fiber-glass filler material? or something else? same for the front...what to use to fill the front bumper groove where trim used to be?
Body shops have urethane fillers to repair bumpers. You'd want something along those lines. Fiberglass/body filler won't work on urethane. I'm betting you'll have to hit a body shop supplier to find the stuff....or look online.
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 07:00 PM
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Thanks Greg !

its an 87 so all the strips are bolt on...I hadn't thought much about the bumpers until now...

its something that I've been interested in doing since I saw one. Really cleaned up the whole car...the paint looked better, the whole style was cleaner, smoother in appearance. Since this car has to be totally stripped when I do the "make-over" I figured I'd go ahead and do this too.
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 07:15 PM
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I also hate the look of the seperated panels by the black beltline. When my car was done the belytline was painted to match the reast of the car
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 08:26 PM
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OP - The "coloring" of the molding will yield a substantially better end result if you insist on doing something. On the fender panels there is nothing to fill, the molding is the upper aspect of the fender panel to the hood.

"Hooked073" did it and many others have done it and it looks much better than any attempt that even a quality experienced person could accomplish. It requires proper preparation but it certainly can be done.
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Old Apr 30, 2014 | 10:38 PM
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I also hate the look of the seperated panels by the black beltline. When my car was done the belytline was painted to match the reast of the car
That is the way I'd go too.
My '35th Anni has white belt molding to match the body color and looks great, IMO.
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