Body impact moulding removal
 

Hey y'all, just not getting back to work on my camaro after it sitting for a few years. I've been searching and can only find people doing it to their 4th gens, but I could've sworn I seen it on here back in the day. Has anyone removed their door and body panel impact moulding? (Talking about the strip of metal with rubber/plastic on it) if so how so? I think it's just 3m'd on there but not sure and don't wanna damage the car any more than I have to

Re: Body impact moulding removal
 

All the factory stuff is just double sided taped in place. A little heat and careful work with a putty knife can get the molding off, then the tape residue has to come off. Heat, and adhesive remover, lots of time. Expect the paint underneath to possibly come up, or be faded differently. The OE moldings aren't available, so don't throw em out.

Re: Body impact moulding removal
 

A heat gun and 30 lbs. fishing line works too. Heat, then saw back and forth thru the tape.

Re: Body impact moulding removal
 

Last fall I had a body shop remove the door moldings. There was one spot were it took a patch of paint with it and it cost me a lot of money to repaint the panel. Just saying that is a risk.

Makes the car look a little more modern by smoothing the body lines. There is no mercy in the parking lots though. Anything that touches the door will scratch or dent.

Re: Body impact moulding removal
 

The door is a tricky spot anyway. You've got a nearly 2" diameter impact bar down the body line about 1/2" inside the door skin. There are dabs of adhesive every 6" or so between the skin and the impact bar to keep the door skin from rattling. If you get any dent along that body line, if it's not exactly on a dab of adhesive, it'll dent the panel deep to the impact bar. Take it from me, you don't want dents on that body line. It's a real pain in the *** getting them out since it's nearly impossible to get at the back side of the panel with the impact bar in the way.