Side Molding

[DMR1986]

Just wondering how hard it is to take the side molding off my 97 Camaro. I want to try to do it but i dont want to scratch the paint, any ideas?

[Derek]

Just wondering how hard it is to take the side molding off my 97 Camaro. I want to try to do it but i dont want to scratch the paint, any ideas?

simple as can be, I'd wait until the summer on a nice warm day unless you have your car somewhere that is really heated. All I did was used fishing line and ran it along the molding behind as much of the adhesive tape as I could, while doing that I would slowly keep pulling the molding away from the car and a lot of the tape started coming with it. Some cars can get almost everything off just by doing this first part, others can take a bit of elbow grease. There will be some of the adhesive still on the car that will slowly have to be rubbed off. To get the last little bit of "goo" off I used 3M Prep-O-Sol with a clean small towel. The stuff takes the goo right off, its basically like bug and tar remover/goo gone on steroids. Make sure the goo remover you use is PAINT SAFE. After getting it all off I simply threw a coat of wax where the molding was and I was on my way. No scratches or anything.

[Kwazrollinz28]

simple as hell just ripped mine off and it only left a sticky residue.

[transampimp]

simple as can be, I'd wait until the summer on a nice warm day unless you have your car somewhere that is really heated. All I did was used fishing line and ran it along the molding behind as much of the adhesive tape as I could, while doing that I would slowly keep pulling the molding away from the car and a lot of the tape started coming with it. Some cars can get almost everything off just by doing this first part, others can take a bit of elbow grease. There will be some of the adhesive still on the car that will slowly have to be rubbed off. To get the last little bit of "goo" off I used 3M Prep-O-Sol with a clean small towel. The stuff takes the goo right off, its basically like bug and tar remover/goo gone on steroids. Make sure the goo remover you use is PAINT SAFE. After getting it all off I simply threw a coat of wax where the molding was and I was on my way. No scratches or anything.

Just follow Dereks process, its easy. Make sure its hot out, and your in the sun light.


The only suggestion I have is make sure you didn't have a body shop paint over the side molding if you ever had any body work done. If thats the case I would leave it alone.

[OIF1VET]

simple as can be, I'd wait until the summer on a nice warm day unless you have your car somewhere that is really heated. All I did was used fishing line and ran it along the molding behind as much of the adhesive tape as I could, while doing that I would slowly keep pulling the molding away from the car and a lot of the tape started coming with it. Some cars can get almost everything off just by doing this first part, others can take a bit of elbow grease. There will be some of the adhesive still on the car that will slowly have to be rubbed off. To get the last little bit of "goo" off I used 3M Prep-O-Sol with a clean small towel. The stuff takes the goo right off, its basically like bug and tar remover/goo gone on steroids. Make sure the goo remover you use is PAINT SAFE. After getting it all off I simply threw a coat of wax where the molding was and I was on my way. No scratches or anything.

Piece of cake like Derek said. Like mentioned elsewhere make sure your car hasn't been painted with the molding on. Also be prepared for the paint to be brighter under the molding as it has not been exposed to the elements. Guess it depends on the color of the car and how much exposure over the years.. I have no regrets removing mine.. Car looks so much better without that ugly trim..

[Formula Z]

i had no color difference after removing mine, and it came off pretty easy

[92conv]

Sounds like everybody has you covered on the removal process. Good luck!!

[1BADAIR]

mines gone. later removed the TRANSAM too.

[OIF1VET]

mines gone. later removed the TRANSAM too.

Couldn't get rid of my Trans am.. I bought GM Gloss black Trans am letters and removed my pewter letters.. Looks mucho bettero...

[PFormula96]

I also had mine pulled, But i had a custom body shop pull mine..To affraid of pulling the paint off. And it was cheaper to have them pull it then have the door repainted! They also kept the molding in perfect shape to. So win win i guess...just had the cost!

[Derek]

I also had mine pulled, But i had a custom body shop pull mine..To affraid of pulling the paint off. And it was cheaper to have them pull it then have the door repainted! They also kept the molding in perfect shape to. So win win i guess...just had the cost!

yea I wouldnt do that, ive NEVER heard of anyone pulling paint off before, its too easy to pay someone else to do it lol, then again im cheap!

[OIF1VET]

yea I wouldnt do that, ive NEVER heard of anyone pulling paint off before, its too easy to pay someone else to do it lol, then again im cheap!

I know a guy who pulled his clear.. So it's possible to screw things up even on something this simple..

[meissen]

I had a whole bunch of paint chips on mine when I pulled mine off - it was like some of the red paint came off with the adhesive. Just be careful and if you have any chips then get some touchup to fill it in with.

[MP81]

I wanted to pull mine off, but then it got hit.

This is a good thread, gives me an idea on how to do it in the future, though!

[Derek]

I know a guy who pulled his clear.. So it's possible to screw things up even on something this simple..

yea but did he heat it up or do it on a really hot day? even further did he use the fishing line if it was coming off hard? I can see where things could be messed up if someone did it on a frozen car and just tried ripping it off.