Chrome wheel arch trims

[mk1coopers]

Today (after lots went wrong when so much should have gone right ) I tried to fit new trims down the side of the car as the old ones are getting quite water marked, I've been fitting these for a long time, used all the tricks, hot water, hot air guns, hot day, straightening it out as much as possible before hand, using the direction of the roll for the tight curve off and on to the main arch etc etc, could I get it to go on without kinking.......could I heck...... is it just a case of the new (deluxe style) stuff just not being as good a quality as the old because I've never had this sort of trouble before (especially on a car that doesn't have multiple layers on the sill lip)

I've got a complete set of stainless trims, although it's technically not correct for the car I'm very tempted to put that on and be done with it !

Any tips on the best supplier of this out there (this was not cheap eBay trim) or additional fitting tips

[abs]

I know what you mean as I used to be able to fit those things without a lot of effort but the last ones bought at Castle Combe were a bit of a bugger so I ended up popping them in a spray booth at 35 C for a hour. I then placed them on a 1" wide strip of 1.6 mm steel and then bent the steel to mimic the car. I had to use a piece of cardboard box as a spreader with a clamp on the tight radius to stop them opening up and left it for a day.
Then they fell on the car a treat.

I have bought from https://phoenixtrim.co.uk/ at shows in the past and the quality and ease of fitment have been very good but i`m not sure how big the rolled length would be via mail order.
At the shows they would be around 30" diameter.

[mk1coopers]

Thanks for that info, hopefully another attempt with the other roll I have will be more successful (it can't be any worse than the first one, can it ? ) if not time to buy some new again

[Aussie Bill B]

Have experienced similar issues fitting the curved profile style.
There are definitely different qualities out there. The first ones I tried to fit recently kinked with almost no effort. Bought another pair which were obviously thicker and more glossy. Fitted with the usual struggle, but did't kink.
And, we don't need a spray booth to get 35ºC days.

The bulk rolls these are cut from seem to always have the upper, curved surface on the outside of the roll. When fitting to the car, this means the curve given to the plastic by the way it is rolled and stored, suits the large diameter sweep over the wheel arches. But you are always bending the extrusion 'against the grain' in the tight inner corners which are the hard bits.

[Nick W]

Ive recently fitted some with no issues, I bought them from COH Bains

[mk1coopers]

Currently they are hung up from the stairs at work so they can start to straighten under their own weight , I will get them on somehow (last resort will be the stainless ones) thanks for that COH info

[rogerotto66s]

I purchased a 1/2“ PVC pipe 10’ long and slid the chrome trim inside.
Letting is sit for a few days may help it relax.
I then slid the chrome out as I placed it on the car.
It was very easy.
I believe it is best to start from the rear to the front.
I then used the rivets to hold it in place.
I did this by myself.

[Nick W]

the COH Bains stuff come in quite a large bag, so is in quite a large loop, this helps it form over the arches.
as they are a major supplier of aluminium/plastic trim..its likely there products are quite freshly manufactured,
I dont think its much different to others on the market but the reasons above might just be enough to make it work.

[woodypup59]

IMHO the natural curve of the trim should go round the tight bends either side of the sill.

The trim then goes round the two wheel arches against the natural curve" but I reckon that helps it to grip better.

[Peter Laidler]

Admittedly I only use the U style finisher but the bend problem is the same. I just stretched it out and laid it down on the black tarmac drive on a hot day. That heated it up and made it stay flat but pliable while I put it on. Instead of a rivet I just used a small piece of double sided stick-on number-plate sticker at each end. Been there for years now!

[mk1]

The quality of this trim can be variable, it seems that the mix of the plastic is what varies & causes issues. I bought some once that just kinked & cracked as soon as you looked at it.

I have fitted 6 sides (3 cars) in the last 6 months, all of it came from Minispares & all went on perfectly first time.

[mk1coopers]

They were showing out of stock on the Minispares web site last time I looked (probably best to try the Premium Northern branch direct next time ), got it out in the sun today stretching it out slowly, guess the next two days will be my best chance before I have to order more

[mk1]

Good luck.

[mk1coopers]

All went horribly wrong again, despite a full day in the sun and hairdryer action they still kinked, so I've bitten the bullet and ordered some of the COH Bains trim, I'll report back when that arrives

[minibitz]

I fitted 2 rolls of the MS deluxe trim to a GT today. Went on without an issue.....well, other than a bit of a wrestling match to keep hold of the coiled end while pressing onto the seam, but that's normal. No heat, no hair drier, straight out the box and on.

I've only ever had issue when trying to use heat to apply the trim.

As for the normal trim, that stuff is a total bugger to get on!

[mk1coopers]

I've noticed that the trim that's come off is the same style as is listed on the Minispares website with the extra lip, the trim I've got isn't this style so perhaps that's making it more difficult, be interesting to see what comes from COH


http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/GZF105A.aspx

[mk1coopers]

Finally got some more time and parts to have a go at this again and prove to myself I’ve not just got worse and doing this sort of thing

These are the findings, the trim I had to start with was a few years old, normal thing, you loose a piece and don’t have a replacement to hand so you order some in ‘just in case’ then never loose another, as well as being older it was also coiled with the clear plastic edge on the top of the curve, so I was fighting it both ways and no amount of heating was helping.

The COH Bains trim was OK, profile is a bit off and the effect is much more of a brushed metal look, so
great if that’s what you are going for, the silver effect also carries on into the fixing lip.

I also managed to get hold of some new Minispares trim from the premium Northern branch, this is what I fitted as it’s a much brighter chrome effect, it went on perfectly with a little heating from a hairdryer is the tight spots, a really good product which I will buy again, (but won’t hold in stock for years )

[Highnumbers]

After collecting info from this thread and others, I finally decided to have a go at putting the plastic chrome arch trim on my ‘66 car.

Have to admit I was nervous about linking the material but it couldn’t have been easier. My condolences to those who struggled with this, but it only took about 10 min each side.

First off, I used the Minispares type with the extra lip. I even had some non-MS type trim and it’s night/day compared to the Minispares stuff. The other stuff material was thinner and instantly kinked just holding it, I can’t imagine trying to fit it.

I used a heat gun on low setting only to gently straighten the material from the coil, in 1’ sections (doesn’t need to by fully straight, by any means). Then I added a bit more heat at the smaller arch-to-sill bends. Not much heat, but enough that it’s warm to the touch, and I gently bent it into the curve that I wanted, then tap it into place by hand. So easy.

Anyway, to anybody trying this for the first time, make sure you get the Minispares stuff, it will make the job much easier.

[bwaminispeed]

Yep, done 3 cars in the last two years, using the Mini Spares stuff, no problems at all with kinking......

Going to be doing Gumby in the next few weeks, don't anticipate any problems.....

[Andrew1967]

As an up to date observation, just fitted some MiniSpares deluxe trim to HOY that I purchased last week.

Went on without any problems or kinking. Kept it in the airing cupboard for a week and then in front of an electric fire for an hour, but I don't think it made a lot of difference really.