Best plastic chrome sill/arch trim?

[tweedy998]

Hi all,

I'm looking to replace the plastic arch / sill finisher side trims on our 1965 Cooper as the old ones are just starting to 'go' at the ends - where I think moisture over the years gets between the plastic and chrome insert.

I ordered some up from Mini Spares (part no: GZF105A) as some research had suggested these were the best currently available, however, looking at them this weekend they seem to have a more 'brushed aluminium' look to them than the ones fitted which are definitely more of a chrome look which matches well with the other chrome on the car. I'm probably splitting hairs, but the Mini Spares items just don't look quite right as they also have a squarer profile to the 'fluting', I think they'd be fine on a later car, but don't look right on the Mk1.

I wondered if perhaps to try a different supplier, such as Somerfords maybe?

Any advice on sourcing a more original looking trim would be most welcome. Cheers!

Ed.

[AndyPen]

I got some from Somerford and it went on well, though needed my other half and her hairdryer. I have an offcut here somewhere if you need a shot of the profile. Our originals are long gone so can't speak for the accuracy sorry, but it does look shiny and we are happy with the result.

Kat n side chrome.jpg

[tweedy998]

Ah yes, the old hairdryer trick, very wise especially for the bits where the trim contours out onto the arch extensions in your case.

If you wouldn't mind taking a pic of your offcut for me to have a look at that would be really very helpful! Thanks.

[AndyPen]

No problem, hope to get over too my unit tomorrow, work permitting

[tweedy998]

Thanks @AndyPen , much appreciated!

[InnoCooperExport]

I ordered some up from Mini Spares (part no: GZF105A) as some research had suggested these were the best currently available, however, looking at them this weekend they seem to have a more 'brushed aluminium' look to them than the ones fitted which are definitely more of a chrome look which matches well with the other chrome on the car. I'm probably splitting hairs, but the Mini Spares items just don't look quite right as they also have a squarer profile to the 'fluting', I think they'd be fine on a later car, but don't look right on the Mk1.

I spoke to MiniSpares about this a while back, and it was because the process they used to make the chrome shiny trim has been banned due to its toxicity. I have some of the new trim and I don't mind it's look. Still a pain in the proverbial to fit mind!

[AndyPen]

Managed to sneak over earlier, so here you go. Hopefully these pics will help but I can't help but wonder if they've run into the same problem as minispares by now??? I got this last summer. May be worth asking???

trim profile.jpg

trim pic 1.jpg

trim offcuts.jpg

[tweedy998]

Thanks for those pics @AndyPen, the chrome on those offcuts definitely looks more like what I'm looking for!

Given the info regarding the process change with the Mini Spares ones, I'm crossing my fingers Somerfords will still have some of this type.

Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

[tweedy998]

I spoke to MiniSpares about this a while back, and it was because the process they used to make the chrome shiny trim has been banned due to its toxicity. I have some of the new trim and I don't mind it's look. Still a pain in the proverbial to fit mind!

Thanks for the info, really interesting to hear this. With the fitting, years ago I used to use a bucket of hot water, but hear this isn't the done thing these days and it's hairdryer or heatgun. I think my plan was to hope for a hot, sunny day on which to attempt the fitting... which in the North of England will probably mean I'll be waiting until eternity given the recent weather!!

[minibitz]

I spoke to MiniSpares about this a while back, and it was because the process they used to make the chrome shiny trim has been banned due to its toxicity. I have some of the new trim and I don't mind it's look. Still a pain in the proverbial to fit mind!

Thanks for the info, really interesting to hear this. With the fitting, years ago I used to use a bucket of hot water, but hear this isn't the done thing these days and it's hairdryer or heatgun. I think my plan was to hope for a hot, sunny day on which to attempt the fitting... which in the North of England will probably mean I'll be waiting until eternity given the recent weather!!

I can get the MInispares deluxe trim on fairly easily without heat. I've done a LOT of cars and developed a bit of a technique for nudging the trim on straight from the roll. I've found the most vital part is making sure the lip it goes on is straight, has no bumps, filler, old rivets, silicone etc. The most tricky part is where the rear arch transitions to the sill as there are 3 layers of panel on the underside which are often not dressed up tightly together. I alway check and remedy this before starting.

As for their standard trim, that's another story has the dull finish you don't like and an absolute **** to fit without kinking.

[AndyPen]

That transition from rear arch to straight is key isn't it? I also check for cleaness of the metal, at least as much as possible.

Just out of interest, I smear a thin layer of Tigerseal at critical points on the underside of the seams and give it a good 24 hours before painting to match. Later when fitting, it saves having to use a rivet at the ends for example - as the extra grip means they are not usually required.

[mk1]

As for their standard trim, that's another story has the dull finish you don't like and an absolute **** to fit without kinking.

Agreed! The "Standard" trim is impossible to fit. I tried once, scrapped 2 lengths & opted for deluxe. That went on straight from the roll as always.

[abs]

I used this company about 4 years ago and it was spot on at the time.
https://phoenixtrim.co.uk/
They would supply any length

[DUF2 ‘65 Elf]

I am struggling with the chrome side trims. I have a ‘65 Elf with small wheel arch extensions and I have the Somerford trim GZF105. I have tried to research which is the best method, some say immerse in hot water, others say don’t, some say use a warm air gun, some say don’t.
I attempted to work from the rear, anchoring the start of the trim to the bottom of the wheel arch extension, warming the trim as I tried to get it around the 90 degree turn at the rearmost edge of the arch.

C27DB849-4850-4E7D-86E4-D24CEA203F2D.jpeg

As you can see the first bend is rubbish! I warmed the trim gently until it had softened a bit, but all it did was to kink.

84F39ECB-D268-49DF-A303-CA877E062930.jpeg

The trim fitted easily over the wheel arch extension, until I got to the transition between the arch extension and the horizontal sill. Again this looks shite!
Which is the best way to do this? I now have one knackered trim, but I can use this to play about with for a trial fit, but thought I would ask on here as I’m sure I am not the only one with this query.

[AndyPen]

The front of the arches never looks right. When I dug out old pics of the car and looked online, they cut them short of the end curve back in. So in the end I did that too.

The tight curves like the front arch to sill edge is where the hairdryer was used on ours. I don’t the transitions there will ever be perfect due to angle changes and such like.

[indigo]

For the transition from arch to straight, I always get a straight piece of sheet metal, say 3 inch by 10 inch by 0.8mm, insert it into the trim at the point where the bend is to go, gently heat that section and slowley bend the metal with the trim over it into the radius I am chasing.

[Terence]

For the transition from arch to straight, I always get a straight piece of sheet metal, say 3 inch by 10 inch by 0.8mm, insert it into the trim at the point where the bend is to go, gently heat that section and slowley bend the metal with the trim over it into the radius I am chasing.

Agreed, I use the same process.

[AndyPen]

Here's mine with the arches. As you can see we warmed it with the hairdryer and tried to get the transition to flow, but that does leave a slightly odd gap. Front trim seems to vary enormously between cars, but only the thinner suff seems to go around the corner successfully.

arch trim detail 1s.jpg

arch trim detail 2s.jpg

arch trim detail 3s.jpg

[Nick W]

When fitting the trim in this awkward transition area, it needs to be warmed with gentle heat, but more importantly it needs to be manipulated slowly, it usually take several cycles of warming and bending to do it without kinking, each time the plastic will stretch a little more...
Adding the metal strip seems a good Idea to help it stretch.

[mk1]

As Nick says, patience is the most important thing with fitting this stuff. I have very rarely had any issues & find the MS stuff both aesthetically acceptable & easy-ish to fit. When I did the trim on the Hillclimber, I fitted the usual trim to the car that had the massive group 5 arches on with no issues at all.