Filling in 89+ trim / making flat.

[SupraOfDoom]

Well since the previous owners of my car were retarded and screwed in my door trim on both sides I finally managed to snag a full set of 89+ trim. Some of the thin lines on the side are missing on them, which is fine since I wanted to make them flat to begin with. So my question is what is the best filler to do this with...? Anyone here done it? I know I'll have to sand a couple parts down as well... then paint. If no responses I will just take matters into my own hands and do it my way / show pics / results.

 

[gelboy1015]

Don't really know what filler would be best, but when you do complete making them flat, could you post pics of the finished product? The 89+ trim I picked up is missing some of those strips as well..

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Will do.

 

[MKiiiturbodrift]

just use some bondo, and make sure you dont lay it on thick no more than 1/16 of an inch at a time

 

[WhtMa71]

The trim wont be flexing much, however it might when you are installing it which could cause the bondo to crack and crack the paint as well.

I would use epoxy made for plastic/rubber. Auto parts stores sell this 2 part epoxy that's meant for plastic bumper repair. The stuff is super had to feather (when sanding) into a bumper but it might not be so bad on the trim.

 

[shaeff]

Send a PM to Keith H. and ask what he used on his front bumper. It's flexible, and supposed to be really good. (He filled his license plate groove, and the mounts for the lower grill as well.)

 

[GrimJack]

FYI, I've seen this done a bunch of times, and the only way it's ever lasted and looked decent is the way Randy at BIC did his. That involves cutting strips of steel and welding it in.

Bondo only works for little stuff, it'll be way too obvious for something as large as the trim.

 

[SupraOfDoom]

I'm not talking about not using trim, I'm talking about using 89+ trim but filling in the little strips that make them un-even / flat like the pre-89 was. Basically I like the flat look ( Flat trim ).

 

[KeithH]

Thread brought to my attention - I have to admit I've been spending less and less time on the forums in the past several months.

First... I'm assuming that you want to fill in the actual trim - leaving the trim on your car - and NOT remove the trim and fill in the space where the trim was.

You do NOT want to use Bondo here. Even though the trim will not be flexing a lot, you do still have to worry about expansion and contraction as the temperatures go up and down. It would really suck to go through a bunch of work to make your trim look GREAT and then 6 months down the road a huge chunk falls off because the bondo has cracked and worked itself loose.

Here is my 89T Supra after some modifications...

As you can see I've removed the front grill. I then filled in the "V"s that were left over along with the license plate dimple and the front emblem hole.

This was all amazingly easy with the right tools and materials.

To fill in the grove on the trim you will want to use a Flex Filler

http://www.urethanesupply.com/mm5/m...e_Code=URE&Product_Code=2000-C&Category_Code=

This is sandable and paintable.

Just sand your trim smooth and then use this to feather everything together - just like you would with bondo. Take care to avoid bubbles as those will show up in your finished product.

This is what I used to fill in the license plate dimple and to finish the repairs from removing the grill and filling in the front emblem hole.

For those more aggressive that may want to fill in their front emblem or remove their front grill you will want something a bit stronger to give the Flex Filler something to adhere to.

http://www.urethanesupply.com/mm5/m..._Code=URE&Product_Code=5003R10&Category_Code=

To apply you use an iron - like a soldering iron - to heat up the stick and fill in the hole in the bumper, building up the material until the whole thing is filled in. Then sand this a bit lower than the regular surface and finish with the Flex Filler outlined above.

I hope that helps.

I did mine back in 2001 or 2002 and everything is still holding well - almost as if it came from the factory that way.

Good luck and take your time.

Keith

 

[Mr.PFloyd]

I'll do the work for you buddy, since you've helped me before
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showpost.php?p=477078&postcount=4
edit. lol beat by the man himself!

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Thanks Keith. Saved me from trying bondo.

 

[92TealSupra]

I'll do the work for you buddy, since you've helped me before
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showpost.php?p=477078&postcount=4
edit. lol beat by the man himself!

That is what I plan on doing to my '89 nice job.

 

[KeithH]

I really should contact them and demand a commission.

 

[tekdeus]

I think Keith has the right info for you. Randy did this to my car, and I think he used a similar product. Looks nicer than fully shaved moldings, IMHO.

 

[SupraOfDoom]

Yeah that's exactly what I had in mind.