Getting a G35C used. Car's almost exactly what I want, but I really can't stand those side moldings stuck on the doors. It looks like just double sided 3M tape or something holding them on. Has anyone successfully removed side moldings? If so what tools, chemicals, method did you use? Any tips from someone whos done this would be greatly appreciated.

 

all i can say is its a b!tch. =). the removal is easy, but the goo removal isnt. i was told to use some acetate and an eye dropper to loosen the the adhesive. it worked so so. heres what i did and you dont need anything out of the ordinary, except a roll of dental floss, a towel, clay bar, wax, and lots of patience (maybe some goo gone but i didnt use any)

take about 20 feet of dental floss and make as many loops as possible (the more loops the better as it may eventually snap so be careful). tie off the 2 loose ends. put the towel over your hands, wrap the floss over that so as to protect your hands. take your would-be killer tool and tug away at the moldings.

the acetate did loosen the adhesive but it loosened it between the molding and the adhesive and not the car and the adhesive (if that makes any sense). the acetate made it harder for me to remove the remaining glue so i only used it on one molding.

remove the remaining adhesive however you want. i just used my thumbs (poor thumbs). clay bar and wax after all is said and done. mine was on for a good 8 months and there is no shadowing, granted i have dg...

godspeed.

 

Thanks so much. Just knowing it can be done makes my day. I assume when you say make loops you mean looping it around my hands. I've been doing a frame off restoration of a 66 Chevelle for 3 years now so patience won't be a problem. I just don't want to rub off any paint with the floss or use any chemicals that will hurt the paint. Mine is DG also so hopefully there won't be any noticable fade. If anyone else has another technique I'll need all the help I can get.

 

That floss method sounds good.
To remove any adhesive just use rubbing alcohol, soak the area and then buff off.
If that doesnt work then switch over to paint-thinner, soak+buff. It may take a few passes but it will work. (paint thinner will not remove any of your car's cured paint- so dont worry- paint thinner is simply kerosene or one of those gasolines/natural oils)
Remember to wash+wax the area afterwards.

<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c-6MT-DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust/350Z-intake/AVIC-N1-double-din

 

Well I got them off. Took about four hours but it took me a while to find a method. Here’s how I did it.

1. At the age of 8 I moved to Texas. This made it so that I could do this on any day of the summer with no heat gun and still be acclimated to the heat.

2. Looped waxed floss around two fingers on one hand about 30 times and two fingers on the other hand about 6 times leaving about a foot of floss in the middle.

3. Flossed the moldings off. As the floss got a little nappy ( about 10-15 passes) I moved 3 loops from one hand to the other.

4. Now the moldings were off, but most of the tape was still on. I sprayed the tape with goo gone let it sit a few minutes and then wiped it off.

5. The tape was easiest to remove when slightly moist so working with 8 inches at a time I sprayed goo gone on it again and whipped it again. If it’s too wet you can’t get any traction on it with your thumbs, if it’s too dry it sticks better.

6. Rubbed tape with thumb from one end to the other until it was all off.

7. Washed car.

Uh oh I could see fade (or lack there of) where the moldings use to be. Nothing anyone will ever noticed unless the car is in the shade they are at just the right angle and I point it out, but still you can distinctly see where the moldings use to be. Here’s what I tried to fix this

1. Maybe it’s just wax. Used polishing compound to rub the surface down a little and see if I could smooth it out. Nope, can still see the fade.

2. Maybe wax will cover it up. Waxed the car. Nope can still see the fade.

3. Well maybe if the car just lays out in the sun it will defuse the fade. If laying out in the sun doesn’t work maybe a full body message and a sea weed wrap.

The fade is hardly noticeable and I hope it will eventually correct itself. In the mean time it still looks a whole lot better than those stupid moldings.

 

To add to this thread, monofilimant fishing line works and won't break like floss. Use adheasive remover (which is based pretty much like Goof Off cleaner. It won't harm the clear coat. I too use my finger nails, but you could use a plastic scraper as well. Then use a clay bar or Meguires Scratch-X to remove the build up dirt when the molding/trim/lettering used to be.

Don't tell your wife you did this to her car and see if she notices the difference.

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2004 G35 Coupe 6MT, Desert Platinum
1968 Chevy C10, never ending hobby