boomboom

As part of the respray for El Guapo, removal of all the metal trim has been challenging. By far the worst piece of trim to remove has been the belt line door trim. Here goes and I hope this helps others.

1) Remove interior door trim.

2) Remove the interior belt line inner window seal/strip along the top of the door.

3) Remove the trim around the door frame (mine was leather trimmed). 2 screws hold it in place at the extreme ends. Then pull very carefully the trim utilizing interior panel removal tools (plastic). Very likely 1 or 2 of the clips will stay on the door frame and pull away from the trim cover. Can be fixed later.

4) Loosen and remove the 2 window guides. Another write up to come on how to refurbish these.

5) Remove the small plastic wind deflector. Inside the door channel, slide the cover hiding the philips screw that holds the plastic wind deflector in place and remove screw.

6) Carefully remove the window channel seal that goes all along the top of the inside door frame. Again it may be brittle and you may need to buy new.

7) Remove the outer belt line window seal/scraper. Very likely yours will tear as they are most likely old and brittle. Try spraying some soapy water along the edge that slips inside the belt line metal trim piece. As stated, it will likely tear away unfortunately. Roger at 928rus has new reasonably priced ones. Pull the seal/scraper away from the door towards the inside of the car and upward at the same time.

8) At this point you are ready to remove the belt line metal trim. You first need to remove the corner piece that holds/covers the ends of the other 2 trim pieces. You now have access to the rivets keeping this piece in place and I used a small die grinder to cut the heads off. You can likely use a dremmel tool also.

9) Removal of belt line metal trim. This is the tough part and heat will be your friend. Get a heat gun and heat from the inside only and carefully so as not to melt the paint, but enough to expand the metal a bit. Carefully pry with the proper metal trim tools utilizing leverage as your friend from the end where the corner cover you just removed was. Go slowly and it helps if a friend holds and slowly guides the trim as you are prying. Keep the heat gun handy and work all the way to the curved area. At this point go to the other end and pry away an inch or so. Have your friend hold and pull the trim upwards and slightly towards the middle while you are prying on the corner. The trim piece will pop off, but be careful so as not to bend the trim pieces. Continue with the other piece in the same fashion.

I realize this seems pretty difficult and don't attempt it if you don't have the proper tools. Be ready to have to purchase seals as needed.

Hope this helps and sorry if too long winded.

Bilal928S4

Why are you re painting the El Guapo Zyc Car? I thought it had just been done.

boomboom

Good question. I was under the impression that it was completely original paint as it was in very good condition with some small issues. The front bra was installed, but there was quite a bit of road rash and this always bothered me. Here is a run down.
* Bra removed and some damage incurred due to removal. I don't believe in bras that can hurt in the long run.
* Dent in the passenger door by the mirror. As though someone leaned into it at one time or another and creased it inwards.
* Minor dents you don't really see unless you are looking for them
* Clear was so thin that the paint was coming thru
* At the Rear Hatch the paint was worn thru to the primer on hard edges
* Up to 6 paint jobs in certain areas. They were like age rings on a tree log. You could see all minor repairs with associated paint applied. All very good jobs every time.
* Lastly the paint did not match all around since there were so many different paints applied around the car. It will now have one paint (same color) with left over paint.

This car is worth restoring properly and it is going to be absolutely perfect now.

yardpro

i dont get what part you are refering to...any pics?

linderpat

thank you for the very good write up. I have replaced the rubber bits on mine, and it is challenging.

upstate bob

eyes glazed over reading this process. I hate, hate, absolutely hate working on doors and trim. most unsatisfying. I repaired/repainted the L rear quarter/L door on my 79 and regret only one thing: a little ding on the body panel between the door window and rear quarter window. I fllled it before reading about those genius dentless paint removal guys. -oh well, looks good. BTW, mine has some window trim devoid of the glossy black coating... is that stuff original or did a previous painter do it? If I wanted to put some on how is it done?

boomboom

Best way to address the refurbish of trim is to sand it with 400 grit unless you take it down to bare metal, clean it well (acetone maybe) then paint with either SEM Trim Paint or Wurth if you can find it. If down to bare metal use a good etching primer so the paint has something to bite. Use smooth light coats, 3 should be enough and allow drying time in between.

Ideally the paint should be a European flat black and almost satin in finish.

I will go by the car today and take some pics and also of the trim pieces along with the strange corner piece and post later.

Randy V

Those parts are referred to as 'rub strips' within the 928 community, Alan.

General consensus is that it is desirable to have them removed.

Personally, I think they look OK on dark coloured cars, but not on light coloured cars.

boomboom

Hi Randy,
Not the rub strips, but the actual metal at the top of the door frame contacting the body where you have the window scraper. It comes in 3 pieces and goes all around the door frame and partially holds the window weather seal channel.

Maybe their another term for it, but a real PIA.

nord

ok,so when you reinstalled metal trim. Did you put on metal trim first then weather seals..?

boomboom

yes the metal trim goes on first, then the seals. The inner door window seal overlaps the metal trim, thus the trim goes on first.

BTW, the install of the window seal is a PIA. You need to manipulate the little bead into the channel and it does not get forced into place.

Call me and I'll walk you thru it. 678-928-1231

Alan

davek9

Good write up thank you!!!