C-5 Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
C-5 Question
Being a C-2 and C-3 Corvette owner for years I have to admit I don't know much about C-5's. Right now I am in the market for one though, Bone Stock, with low miles. Automatic preferred being my wife would like to drive it but stick would also be considered being both my C-2 and C-3 have a 4spd manual trans.
Might be a stupid question but I see many C-5's for sale with body side moldings. Have to admit based on pictures I have seen I really don't care for the look of side molding on the C-5. Does anyone know if they are removable without messing up the paint on the body? In other words is it 3m tape that holds them on or are they mounted with some sort of body clips? If I know they can be removed with out doing damage it would open up more C-5's for me to take a look at.
Might be a stupid question but I see many C-5's for sale with body side moldings. Have to admit based on pictures I have seen I really don't care for the look of side molding on the C-5. Does anyone know if they are removable without messing up the paint on the body? In other words is it 3m tape that holds them on or are they mounted with some sort of body clips? If I know they can be removed with out doing damage it would open up more C-5's for me to take a look at.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
Many cars don't have them. Don't let a car having them be the reason for not buying them. Heck, you can remove them easily and sell them too for a little extra cash, although they don't usually fetch all that much money.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 332
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From: Lees Summit Mo
Mine had them.... pulled them off no problem.. Parked it outside on a hot day and ran a piece of fishing line under them and they came right off. Cleaned up the residue from the tape with some Goo Gone and she looks really good... Se for yourself!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Cruise-In IX Veteran
If you do remove them...play it safe as many c5s have been repainted at one time or another and body shops usually paint the panels with the side moldings on the car. This will cause a paint buildup around the side molding if they are removed.
My suggestion is to remove the small molding in the front first to see if there has been any paint work done to the vehicle.
My suggestion is to remove the small molding in the front first to see if there has been any paint work done to the vehicle.
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Verdad Gallardo
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Yep....ez to remove (although I kept mine for added protection....don't mind them at all) with some nylon/fish line and a hairdryer.
BTW being new to the C5 you may want to take a look at the C5 Sticky at the top. TONS of great useful information.
BTW being new to the C5 you may want to take a look at the C5 Sticky at the top. TONS of great useful information.
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Grand Blanc MI
removed mine a few weeks ago, can't tell anything was ever there. The tip about starting with one of the small moldings on fender first, was helpful. One observation, there were different adhesives used on each side of the car. One was black, the other gray. Gray was harder to cut through, but there was hardly any residue to clean up afterwards.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 21
From: Somerset, NJ
Thanks for the great response. I am going to take a look at a C-5 Coupe on Sunday without the side moldings. If I like the car I plan on taking it home with me on my car trailer. Thanks again for the heads up to my question.
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Easily removed like mentioned above, but there is a chance that the paint under the molding will be a slightly different shade than the rest of the panels due to fading.
