I have a 69 chevelle and a set of REPO. wheel opening moldings.
The moldings are at best a poor fit especially at the lower parts of the molding where the body line takes a jog. Its like an "S" bend, and the molding leaves a gap at these points. It looks like the molding is to long between the "S" bends.
Any way to fix this?
thanks T.C.

TC, I wish I had some magic for you but I just don't. You have to bend and shape, cut and file, redrill holes, just what ever you have to do to make it fit. If you start in the middle or at one end where it fits. Work out from there, shaping and fitting till you have reached the other end. I will think about it and see if I can put it into words, but this is a hard one.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

I cant see any way to do it without making some sort of a jig.
The molding has two raised beads with a flat center on the face,this takes a 45 into the 2"lip that is used to attach it to the car.
This makes it a difficult bend to make without smashing the beads.
I seen your post and thought you had a "Magic wand" to fix these with.
thanks T.C.

I am not as good as MARTINSR in expressing things in words, but if you need to tighten up the Bend angle( on the two ribbed face to get it to conform to the body) You must cut a PIE shaped peice from the 2" lip.
Use a protractor, scrib a line at 90 deg.
on the lip at the point of bend radi.
Masure or judge the number of deg. you need to modify thr face to lay along the body. If you judge 5 deg more . use your protractor and scribe a 5 deg. angled line from the bend rad,on the lip across the 2" lip. you now have the size of the peice of pie you need to remove to conform the trim molding. A real PITA.
As said start on one end and work your way around the wheel well.
IF this is on a finished painted body don't forget to lay 2" tape around the wheel well to prevent the dredded OH NO's!!.

GL

Wayne

Wayne, you said a mouthful, pie cutting may be needed. I have a "shrinker/stretcher" that does this sort of thing in a snap. But I am not sure if it would be use, the pie cut if done nicely with shart tin snips may be a cleaner way.

TC, if you are going to do this, go get some NEW quality snips (if you dont have any, you should) get the right hand and left hand cutting. In a brand name like "Channel lock" or Warner. DON'T get the cheapy from the Harbor Freight http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif You might as well use an ax.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

THANKS GUYS!!!
Yove been a real help as the body is still in the prime and fit stage I think thats just what I will do, cut and make the things fit!!
It may require more screws, but thats how it's gotta be.
Only one thing MARTINSR:
Im left handed so good snips are hard to find.)D http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

You don't have to use snips, you can try a dremel tool with a cut off blade. Thats what I used to shorten my molding with, it would cut the pie shape as well. Be carefull and wear eye protection though!

------------------
Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford

Ole Paint (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/olepaint1)

TC, start using your CORRECT hand for Gods sake. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif All kidding aside, if you use your right hand more you will be amazed how good you can get. I use my left had all the time, playing guitar, boxing, holding a dolly,typing, etc. After a while, they are dang near the same.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

The Dremel sounds good Big James, It can be used with either hand.
MARTINSR this stuff is so thin I bet I have sissors that will cut it, and being in the sewing machine repair business I bet I can even find a sharp pair of "left" handed ones? :d
Thanks again guys!!!!
T.C.

Try some EMT shears. Those things will cut about anything!

------------------
Frank Z.
Astro blue 70' El Camino SS 396 project in process.
http://www.geocities.com/my1970ss/
http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/PhotoShareddologin.asp?SC=Zemanek&ID=43146

When MARTINSR sugested left and right hand snips he didnt mean that you cut with your left or right hand, it just means thats the direction you can cut a circle with. good quality snips can be used fairly easily with either hand.

I know this is kinda dumb, but I do have left handed sissors.

Also when I worked a Piper Aircraft I did have a good pair of left handed right and left cut cutters. (say that fast three times):d http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I also had straight cut just to add to the confusion?
MARTINSR is rite though if your left handed you learn to use both equally well, I can drill,hammer,saw ect.... with either hand.
T.C.

Might as well keep this thread going, but I have a Question. Do thr repro mouldings have holes pre-drilled? I had to grind the screws off mine just to get them off, and when the new ones go back on, I'll need new mounting points. Thanks.
Stan71

Yes, the repos I got from NPD had holes predrilled. the only ones that lined up on the stock sheet metal were a couple at the top. It's not a big deal to drill new holes though. Once I got a screw in the top I just worked around the opening drilling holes where needed. I used a couple of small C clamps to hold the molding in place till I got it drilled.

------------------
Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford

Ole Paint (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/olepaint1)