| Prevent most minor dings, paint-chips and | | | | end to get a parallel line. Stick the masking |
| body blemishes that can happen when someone | | | | tape at one end, and hold it a few inches |
| parks next to you, opens their door and | | | | away from the car while pulling tape off the |
| whacks your vehicle. Many vehicles had | | | | roll to the other end, eyeball your line, |
| factory-installed decorative/protective side | | | | then stick it down lightly. Step back and |
| moldings strategically placed at "door-ding | | | | look to see the lines are right, change if |
| height" to help prevent this problem. But in | | | | necessary. It is easy to change the tape at |
| the last few years, these moldings have been | | | | this point. Once the body molding is |
| left off to save a few dollars in this very | | | | installed and the glue sets for a few days, |
| competitive market. | | | | it does not come off! |
| | | | |
| If your vehicle lacks protective molding, you | | | | Once the straight line of masking tape is in |
| should consider installing it yourself. | | | | place to provide a guide, use pieces of |
| Installing auto body molding is a fairly | | | | masking tape to temporarily "dry-fit" the |
| simple undertaking for DIY, provided that you | | | | entire length of body molding in place on the |
| take the time to apply it carefully and give | | | | vehicle. |
| it your full attention. | | | | |
| | | | Determine where you'll need to cut the body |
| Materials: Body Side Molding kit, Sharp | | | | molding for the doors and seams for a precise |
| Cutting tool, Rubbing alcohol, Clean white | | | | and accurate installation. Use pieces of tape |
| rag, Masking tape, Grease pencil (marks will | | | | or a grease pencil to mark the exact |
| easily rub off). A warm garage or a sunny day | | | | locations on the molding where you'll make |
| makes the whole job a lot easier. | | | | the cuts. At the door openings, and where the |
| | | | molding ends at the edge of wheel-wells, you |
| Quality moldings with 3M peel-and-stick tape | | | | may need to cut angles to match the vehicle |
| are best installed at temperatures warmer | | | | lines. Allow 1/8" minimum gap for door |
| than 65 degrees. Plastic moldings are more | | | | clearance. At the hinge side of the door you |
| flexible, easier to manipulate and cut when | | | | may need to bevel the end of the molding so |
| warmer than 70 degrees. Smaller moldings can | | | | there is enough clearance when the door is |
| be easily cut with heavy sharp kitchen shears | | | | opened. |
| or tin snips. For larger moldings, more than | | | | |
| 1 inch wide or 3/16 thick, a clean straight | | | | Once you've marked all the locations, |
| cut is somewhat more difficult. A clean sharp | | | | carefully cut the molding. The molding is |
| anvil pruner will make it easier to get a | | | | made from a relatively soft plastic. Cutting |
| straight cut on all sizes. A carpenter's | | | | isn't difficult, but it is easier when the |
| utility knife with razor blade inserts also | | | | molding is warmer than when it is colder. |
| works well, but not one with the break-off | | | | |
| blades. | | | | Work with one section at a time, peel about a |
| | | | foot of the backing from the adhesive strips |
| The professional tool used by automotive | | | | and press the molding into place. Then pull |
| installers to cut molding looks very similar | | | | on the loose end of the backing and move |
| to a set of anvil pruners, except the blade | | | | along the molding, pressing it into place. |
| is 3.5 inch long replaceable razor blade. A | | | | After it is applied to the vehicle surface, |
| thirteen dollar anvil pruner from your local | | | | rub the section of molding firmly with a soft |
| garden or hardware store will do nearly the | | | | clean cloth to help ensure that it is seated |
| same job if it is sharp and clean. | | | | securely. You may want to come back a few |
| | | | hours later, or the next day, to give it |
| Prepare the vehicle bonding surface by | | | | another pressure rub to ensure the best |
| cleaning it thoroughly with alcohol and a | | | | adhesion. |
| clean white cotton rag. This removes wax | | | | |
| residues so the peel-and-stick adhesive can | | | | Open and close the doors slowly, watching to |
| bond to it securely. Avoid using colored | | | | ensure that the side molding is not touched |
| cloth for this purpose, as the dyes in the | | | | or rubbed as the door moves. Allow the |
| fabric may leave colored residue behind. | | | | molding adhesive to set up for at least 24 |
| | | | hours before washing your vehicle. Maximum |
| If you do not have a ridge or body line to | | | | adhesion is reached after 3-5 days in |
| follow on the car, apply a strip of masking | | | | temperatures above 70 degrees, longer if it |
| tape to be a guide to help position the auto | | | | is cooler. |
| moulding to be perfectly straight. You may | | | | |
| want to measure up from the ground at each | | | | That's it, Now you're protected. |