The 'E' Type Forum

Has anybody got experience of fitting the door top chromes to new skins. My car has undergone a bare metal respray and unfortunately I didn't strip it. The door skins have been replaced and I need to drill new holes for the riveted clips. I have been told the clips locate in the four circles on the back of the chrome and then the chromes slide along the channel and are located by two screws from inside the door. I have all the necessary parts but want to check before I start drilling to try and fit. Thanks Colin

If you've got undrilled painted bodywork I'd seriously think about leaving them off. Try Photoshopping an image and see if you like it. Windows Paint allows you to pick up the car colour and brush out the strip. I think the 2+2 chromes make the cabin look taller.

Just thinking aloud here, given the pig of a job figuring out where the holes go (sod's law says that one of them will be off by a squiff and make things ugly when trying to slide the chrome finished along the inch or so it need to move, on nicely painted sheetmetal).... what about attaching the chrome finisher with bits of double sided foam tape.

The tape is available in various qualities, the best I've come across is VHB from 3M, it's a permanent fixing though. You wouldn't need to tape the entire length, just strategic points. If chosing a less sticky quality then you would actually have the option of carefully removing the trim if you didn't like the look in real life (never mind photoshop). People often laugh at double sided tape, but it's in use in the automotive (and truck/bus) industry every day.

Just some thoughts...

PeterCrespin wrote:If you've got undrilled painted bodywork I'd seriously think about leaving them off. Try Photoshopping an image and see if you like it. Windows Paint allows you to pick up the car colour and brush out the strip. I think the 2+2 chromes make the cabin look taller.

Thanks for the reply managed to get them on not easy but made a template out of lining paper and stuck it to the door worked pretty well

David Oslo wrote:Just thinking aloud here, given the pig of a job figuring out where the holes go (sod's law says that one of them will be off by a squiff and make things ugly when trying to slide the chrome finished along the inch or so it need to move, on nicely painted sheetmetal).... what about attaching the chrome finisher with bits of double sided foam tape.

The tape is available in various qualities, the best I've come across is VHB from 3M, it's a permanent fixing though. You wouldn't need to tape the entire length, just strategic points. If chosing a less sticky quality then you would actually have the option of carefully removing the trim if you didn't like the look in real life (never mind photoshop). People often laugh at double sided tape, but it's in use in the automotive (and truck/bus) industry every day.

Just some thoughts...

Thanks for the reply managed to get them on not easy but made a template out of lining paper and stuck it to the door worked pretty well. to be honest you really only need a couple of the rivets and double sided tape or sealant would have done the job just as good.