trim removal

[therog]

I'm finally getting around to stripping my 63 Futura Tudor. I have a couple questions you may be able to answer.
1) How do you safely remove the chrome from around the windshield without bending and puckering it up?
2) How do you remove the fender spears without removing the fender?
3) How do you remove or protect the chrome trim around the doors?
4)What grit of sandpaper should I be using on my variable speed orbital sander?
If anyone else has any other knowledge they would like to share along those lines, I would be willing to listen. I love not having any idea what I'm getting into until its too late.

Rog

[65fastfalcon]

removing the trim off of the windshield can be a bitch....takes patience and a good crowbar....I would suggest putting a towel under the crowbar and slightly push up not forcing it....the windshield weatherstripping has a tendency of gripping the trim so be careful

[therog]

Thank you 65fastfalcon. Anyone have suggestions for my other questions?

[yank with ute]

Originally Posted by therog

I'm finally getting around to stripping my 63 Futura Tudor. I have a couple questions you may be able to answer.
1) How do you safely remove the chrome from around the windshield without bending and puckering it up?

Very carefully. Remove the corner caps first then put a strong flat bladed screw driver down in the slot in the seal, start prying up the chrome CAREFULLY. If you are pulling the windsheild you do not have to remove the lower strip. With the side and top strip removed insert flat bladed screw driverS under the rubber and start working it over the metal lip orf the window opening.

2) How do you remove the fender spears without removing the fender?

Break them off, using a hammer helps. But if you want to reuse them the only way is to get a socket wrench onto the nuts that hold the trim in place. Problem is one is hidden by the rubber strip that caps the radiator suppport.

I know that's not much help but that's the way it is.

3) How do you remove or protect the chrome trim around the doors?

They are crimped into place, seldom removed as it is very hard without distorting the trim. A good masking tape a caution is the only way to protect the trim.

4)What grit of sandpaper should I be using on my variable speed orbital sander?

To do what? Strip paint, roughen paint, what? What exactally are you going to do when the chrome is off/protected?

Need to fill space with something the software will see and count as ten characters...

[therog]

Yank,
I am in the process of stripping the paint down to bare metal so I can do the smoothing and filling before I take it to be primed and sealed. That's all I have the cash for right now. I'm worried because the 150 grit I'm currently using takes forever and the 80 grit left swirls.
As far as the fender spears go, I'm taking about the Futura trim that is in front of both doors. I can get the front bolt though the wheel well, but the other 2 are hidden between the fender well and the fire wall. I'll try to attach a pic.

[yank with ute]

Falcon front fenders are easy to remove, don't bother trying to remove the trim with the fender attached to the car. See "Gahanna Kid's" recent posts for the guide to the rear mounting bolts.

The hardest thing in removing the front fenders is the small bolts at the braces at the bottom edge. The sheet metal is thin and the bolts have rusted solid over the years. Cut them, the bolts, off. (On the 60-61 the same problem with the three bolts per side that hold the valance panel in place).


Okay, now for the serious side of life:

Your question about what grit to use would be better answered by obtaining a (soft backed) book on "How to Paint Your Car" as often offered on the news stands by the editors of Hot Rod Magazine, etc.

There are several good examples on the market published by HP Books, etc.

You pubic library can usually supply a good book on the subject.
Why do I STRONGLY suggest these vs asking on a bulletin board? Simply, it is a subject that requires MANY detail explinations, too many to fit into a typical posts. And the photos also help.

I wouldn't doubt if there isn't a few web sites offering the same detailed info as the books, books are easier to carry out to the garage.

Also, you SHOULD be able to get answers from a local BODY SHOP SUPPLY because, after all, they are in the business of selling the required materials.

And just to get someone to start yelling, "He's doing it again...", I seriously question why you are stripping to bare metal to "fill and smooth". Are you repairing major body damage???

The reason I am saying this is because far too many people think they need to remove all the paint, and surfacing primer from the car in order to repaint ("respray" for you people in OZ/NZ). Worst thing you can do if the car has to sit outside, unprotected from rain.

Besides that, why not save time and money by using the exisiting paint to help smooth out the small ripples, etc.?

So unless you are talking major dent repair, which I can't think of one example that would require removing the trim from around the windshield, maybe you should talk to a professional first and map out exactally what you need to do.

Of interest: Go on line and find the article Hot Rod Magazine did on painting a car with Rustoleium paint. They painted a 61 Futura. While I'm not saying to use the same paint (that's for ecentrics like myself) there was a good run down on paint prep.