Painting is coming up and one door needs to have the body side moldings taken off for a dent repair. Not sure molding will be replaceable due to some deformation from the dent. Replacement is impossible since no one has OEM moldings anymore so should I remove all the side moldings and replace with what's available or just remove and not replace?

 

If you're painting, then take it all off. Then don't put any back on and enjoy the smooth, clean appearance of the car, the way it was designed to look.

 

If you park in the car in public places I would get replacements unless you like door dings and dents.

 

This car will see very little public parking at all. It is garage kept and I only plan on driving it locally or to local shows.

The count is:
1 for leaving off
1 for replacing

 

In that case I would leave them off.

 

I would leave them off too if parked in the garage, and only car shows..

 

I prefer them. Reproductions are available although not 100% identical to the original...

 

Score:
3 for leaving off
2 for replacing

 

Another vote for leave the side body moldings off.

I do like door edge guards though. Mostly to protect me from me.

 

Appearance items are highly subjective (IOW, it's your car; make it look like you want it to look), so the only thing I'll add is that if you decide to replace those moldings and you're doing it yourself, make sure you get them on there perfectly straight. I've seen at least one 3rd gen repaint where that wasn't the case, and it looked beyond awful; those crooked moldings drew your eye directly to them.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

Leave them off. And if you are replacing the door seals, leave the drip rails off too.

 

Off

 

That ups the survey
6 for leaving off
2 for replacing

 

I didn't think about leaving off the drip rails. If possible, could you post some close up pics of the drip rail area? Yes, I will be replacing the door seals. I have another thread asking for vendor opinions on the weatherstripping. Are they screwed on or glued? Yours and Firechicken82 do look good without side moldings

 

I Like the painted molding on the later cars. Not a fan of the black molding on the earlier.

 

Best that I have. The drip rails mount between the roof and the door seal channel and have screws holding them on. Simply leave them off when you put the channels back on. I used Steele Rubber seals.

 

My 1984 Trans AM has the factory has the body side moldings and are there to stay. In my opinion it enhances the appearance the car by breaking up the curvature of the doors.

 

We are up to:
6 for leaving off
3 for replacing
1 No earlier years, yes later years

 

You know you can make a poll, right? So you don't have manually count. Now that I've said that out loud I feel like it's lazy, LOL, but still. .....as the guy with no early, but leave 'em on the later years, since your car is an 88, you can consider my vote as a put 'em back on, vote.

....and finally, I noticed you have a '16 too. So do I. Hyper Blue 2SS with the m6. Amazing car.

 

Didn't know about making polls. This way keeps me involved
6 for leaving off
4 for replacing

My '16 Camaro is Mosiac Black Metallic and it looks awesome. Ordered it will all the bells and whistles. Had to get the 8 speed so the wife can drive it. I do regret that, though.

 

My molding was removed when the car was painted because of acid rain, still in the 90's.
I bought NOS replacements, many years ago, but haven't reinstalled because I'm afraid of ruining them during the install by not getting them on correct.

I vote to put them back on.

Any tips on getting them on straight?

 

The vote is getting real close:
6 for leaving off
5 for replacing

If I was able to buy NOS, I would think very seriously about replacing the molding. I am not too confident in aftermarket moldings looking too good

As for putting them on straight, I would use a laser to keep it straight. If you car is not level, I would mark both ends and jack up the low end of the car until the two marks line up with the laser and use it as a guide

 

I just removed the body side molding on the drivers side where the dent is. I was surprised that the molding came off pretty easily with heat. The molding is solid plastic taped on to the car with double sided tape. Seems to be painted with body color paint which is now chipping.

If I decide to reuse the molding, what’s the best way to remove the old paint without damaging the molding? I assume standard black automotive 3M tape would work for reattaching it.

 

I personally would leave them off, but if you wanted them on, could you not reuse your existing ones with new adhesive?

 

That’s my question. The moldings are in good shape but if I want to reuse them, how would I remove the paint on them? I am not sure regular paint remover would damage them. Sanding might damage them too. Removing the tape residue should be straight forward with adhesive remover.

 

My car is my daily, so I vote leave them on. Maybe even explore the aftermarket for something you like more than the originals. I see the way some of these folks park, I'm not taking any chances.