fiting rear trim

[smithy]

hi all, can anyone tell me the easiest way to fit the trim which runs below the tail lights seperating the colours. is there a template or any suggestions on what tools can be used, the holes on mine have been previously covered up or they were never fitted and i dont really want to knock off some fresh paint

cheers muchly
dean

[mcl1959]

Is your car a FC special?  If not you will never get the trims to fit, as there are no gaps for them.  If they have been filled with filler/paint you will also have trouble.
Maybe a very small drill will allow you to clear the gap where the tab slides through.
Originally the trim was fitted at the factory with sealant when the trim is installed, when the sealant dries it is very difficult to remove.

Ken

[smithy]

thanks ken, car is a special. (very special )
there are 3 small sections where the rear quater meets up with the beaver panel which i can see from inside the boot , it looks like the tabs slot through there but is too small to get a drill into. i was hoping there was a simpler way to measure it all up from outside.
might just have to buy a heap of small drill bits and sit there for a day.  

cheers
dean

[mcl1959]

If you can see light through the holes, this is a good sign.
A thin blade like a putty knife can be used to try and clear the holes out a bit more.
Do your trims have the original clips or have you made new ones?  The originals are suprisingly very thin material.
I have used soup tin metal in the past to remake the clips and this works pretty well.

Ken

[smithy]

hi ken, havent managed to see any light coming through which leads me to believe that the holes have been filled with filler. i think i will try and use something like a putty knife and try to pry the gaps open from inside the boot then drill some small holes (if i can get the drill bit into the slot that is) i guess i will just take it nice and slow.
the trim tabs are all there and look to be quite sturdy, i take it if i manage to get them through do they just fold over inside and apply some sealant to keep out moisture?
thanks
dean

[smithy]

woohooo i just saw this last post has pushed me up into guru status  

ive been called a lot of things in my life but this is a new one  

[mcl1959]

Just to elaborate, the drills I am talking about are those really small ones that go in a dremmel type tool.
If the holes have been filled with bog then the drilk option is about the only thing that you can do.  I think trying to force filler out with any type of blade will be tempting fate on the paint job.

Ken

[smithy]

thanks for all the help ken, after busting three drill bits without even breaking through, i swore then stopped and had a look over my build up shots and my suspicion was confirmed, the seam has been braised and smoothed over, so im taking the cowards way out. industrial double sided tape  :-/.
so i now have a complete set of trim tabs in mint condition if anyone is looking for some.

cheers again ken
dean