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Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 5:36 pm
by davidmuir
Folks,What type of sill/wheelarch trim should a '67 Morris Mini have, Standard or Deluxe?(will be getting the trim from Phoenix) Also, what is the foolproof way of getting it to go 'round the corners' without kinks? I remember having a bit of a battle doing this on a later car back in the 80s!
thanks
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 8:45 pm
by Spitz
Not sure about which trim for your car.
I used the deluxe on my PUP.
I spent about three hours with a hair dryer set on hot, and a lot of patience.
Initially I tried a heat gun....then had to order another roll after I melted a portion.
I imagine the "standard" trim would be a little easier to fit as it doesn't have the contour.
The deluxe is the way to go IMO....I also riveted in place
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:50 pm
by InimiaD
The nice lady at Phoenix told me to use a hair dryer on a low to medium heat setting and warm the trim from the underside, not the top or side.
Her good advice worked a treat.
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Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:42 am
by Andrew1967
The Phoenix trim is very good, I have to say.
We try to wait for a hot day (Ok, not very often here
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) and leave them on top of the roof for an hour or two to soften up. They usually go straight on with no problem.
One thing is for sure, you have to use new trim, not 'NOS' as that will be as hard as **** and won't go on, in our experience.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:25 am
by billycooper
I bought some off Rich at Minispares, used the wifes hair dryer and had both sides done in half hour, i made sure the trims were room temperature first, and i also warmed the trim from the underside, not the top or side, as per InimiaD, they didn't kink or bend and look great
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Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:47 pm
by Simon776
It also helps if you try and pull it straight before trying to fit it - heat helps with this too.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:55 pm
by rich@minispares.com
swearing also helps
lots and lots of swearing
the reason the er-cooper s hasn't yet got its chrome strips on is that I ran out of swears, tore the kinked and melted mess of the side of it and threw it away
I made a proper arse of it
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 1:00 pm
by InimiaD
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:04 pm
by billycooper
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:34 pm
by rich@minispares.com
oh, the blame was completely in my clumsy hands - it was like 'amateur hour' when I tried to fit it

Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 9:46 am
by 850man
I have had to fit trim a few times lately and the last two cars I did I also made a right arse of it. It seems the quality of the trim has dropped off and the plastic is much harder than it used to be. I have seen two types lately, one had a clear backside and the other was solid silver, both were very hard and they kinked so much I tossed them in the bin.
The panel shop I dealt with 20 years ago used to put the trim in the paint oven it heat it up, I usually use hot water/heat gun/hair dryer but lately its been a pain in the rear end.
KG Engineering here in Melbourne used to have the machine that made the trim, they could make all different colours and patterns. I believe the machine is now used to make trim for furniture.
Who is this Phoenix supplier you speak of? Anyone got s link?
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:19 am
by Dr S
Hmm, I started on mine last night. It's kinked as supplied from Minispares on one of the sections. I foresee many hours work to get it into a decent state to even consider offering up to the car.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:35 am
by mk1
"It's kinked as supplied from Minispares"
How can this be the case? It is usually supplied in large rolls.
I have only had trouble fitting this stuff once when the plastic was very brittle. A bit of patience with a heat gun & it usually goes very easily.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:37 am
by Dr S
Its been wound one way then back the other way then taped up in a loop. Just careless packing. E.g. Three loops one way then turn it over and two loops the other way.
Oddly enough its got a bloody great kink in already.. will spend sometime in front of the fire working it out.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:43 am
by mk1
I'd send it back if I was you. That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
I know it will take a while you being where you are, but sending a trim out like that is not good at all.
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:46 am
by almond cooper
I was given some advice by Somerford Minis on how to fit the trim,
unroll the trim and push it on to a long piece of angle iron, leave it for a few days
so it take the curl out of the trim, then it fits on a treat.
(works better on a warm day)
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:10 pm
by swifty
I don't want to sound like I'm a magician or bragging how brilliant I am , but I've just fitted today some of this trim from minispares . I didn't use one bit of heat , hot water or anything else . Didn't even have it un stretched in a room . Just grabbed hold of it a pushed it on starting from the back . As you can see the results speak for themselves . ..... Ken
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:37 pm
by rich@minispares.com
you must have magic hands!
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:48 pm
by coop12g295
Just bought some trim from Kaye at Brooklands,I've helped her with screen rubbers
and fitting advice on screens,the arch trim needs a warm day and heat/hairdryer on the underside
it is softer and def better than brittle nos
Phone Phoenix on 01884 849294 or email
kaye@phoenixtrim.co.uk
Re: Sill/wheelarch trim
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 3:56 pm
by mk1coopers
I think some of the past trouble with fitting the trim was down to cars having repairs around the sill area making the panel lip thicker, it goes on much easier when when the edge is 'factory' thickness