Door Sills
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 24
From: Las Vegas NV
Door Sills
I'm thinking of getting the chrome door sills with corvette emblem...I've heard that it goes over your existing sill using 3M tape from a vendor...another vendor says to remove the existing door sill using a hair blower and remove any existing adhesive before applying the new sills. Has anyone done it and which method did you use? Please post a pic if avail...thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,502
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
I'm thinking of getting the chrome door sills with corvette emblem...I've heard that it goes over your existing sill using 3M tape from a vendor...another vendor says to remove the existing door sill using a hair blower and remove any existing adhesive before applying the new sills. Has anyone done it and which method did you use? Please post a pic if avail...thanks.
I pulled off the passenger side after marking the position with a few strips of tape- using a hair dryer to heat it and make it pliable - - pulled off the larger chunks of adhesive - -about the consistency of school "rubber cement". I started from one corner to line things up and then rolled the new one out using a flat plastic paddle and peeling off the backing material. I used the hair dryer to smooth it and get out bubbles, but some of the uneveness of the remaining glue still leaves visible bumps.
On the drivers side, I took the time to remove all the glue using WD40, a flat plastic paddle, hair dryer, adhesive remover and several beers. After cleaning thoroughly with simple green and using the same tape marks for positioning, I put down the new stainless door sill removing the backing paper as I went and smoothing each section out with the hair dryer, plastic blade and stubby fingers until it was smooth.
What a difference another 20 minutes and some patience makes!
I'm sure it can be done more quickly, but I took about an hour start to finish with the previously referenced beer and obligatory obsessing.
Good luck - -
Last edited by CQRT; Mar 14, 2009 at 01:57 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
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St. Jude Donor '07
I'm thinking of getting the chrome door sills with corvette emblem...I've heard that it goes over your existing sill using 3M tape from a vendor...another vendor says to remove the existing door sill using a hair blower and remove any existing adhesive before applying the new sills. Has anyone done it and which method did you use? Please post a pic if avail...thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
I bought the stainless looking sills from GM parts direct ( about $55 ea)to replace the black plastic door sills on my `05 . . and encourage you to take the extra time to remove the old sill, take all the glue off and start fresh.
I pulled off the passenger side after marking the position with a few strips of tape- using a hair dryer to heat it and make it pliable - - pulled off the larger chunks of adhesive - -about the consistency of school "rubber cement". I started from one corner to line things up and then rolled the new one out using a flat plastic paddle and peeling off the backing material. I used the hair dryer to smooth it and get out bubbles, but some of the uneveness of the remaining glue still leaves visible bumps.
On the drivers side, I took the time to remove all the glue using WD40, a flat plastic paddle, hair dryer, adhesive remover and several beers. After cleaning thoroughly with simple green and using the same tape marks for positioning, I put down the new stainless door sill removing the backing paper as I went and smoothing each section out with the hair dryer, plastic blade and stubby fingers until it was smooth.
What a difference another 20 minutes and some patience makes!
I'm sure it can be done more quickly, but I took about an hour start to finish with the previously referenced beer and obligatory obsessing.
Good luck - -
I pulled off the passenger side after marking the position with a few strips of tape- using a hair dryer to heat it and make it pliable - - pulled off the larger chunks of adhesive - -about the consistency of school "rubber cement". I started from one corner to line things up and then rolled the new one out using a flat plastic paddle and peeling off the backing material. I used the hair dryer to smooth it and get out bubbles, but some of the uneveness of the remaining glue still leaves visible bumps.
On the drivers side, I took the time to remove all the glue using WD40, a flat plastic paddle, hair dryer, adhesive remover and several beers. After cleaning thoroughly with simple green and using the same tape marks for positioning, I put down the new stainless door sill removing the backing paper as I went and smoothing each section out with the hair dryer, plastic blade and stubby fingers until it was smooth.
What a difference another 20 minutes and some patience makes!
I'm sure it can be done more quickly, but I took about an hour start to finish with the previously referenced beer and obligatory obsessing.
Good luck - -
Looks great. I'm sure the beer helped.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,933
Likes: 13
From: The Beautiful Inland Empire WA.
.....take the time to take off your old ones, I don't think you will regret it.....I am not sure that you need to take off all the old adhesive if your new one is very good....I'd also wait until the temperature is up in at least the upper 50's or lower 60's to do this too....lots easier when its warmer....
Last edited by C6NRED; Mar 14, 2009 at 03:51 PM.
