Rocker panel and end cap install problem

[ramonesfreak]

I replaced my damaged rocker panel and end caps (thanks Firestone) with genuine Porsche parts. I did an impressive job painting the panels and getting pretty close to the original texture

When I put them on the car, there is a gap where the end caps meet the panel on all 4 ends

I thought maybe the problem is I did too many coats of paint but I don’t think that’s it

I’m guessing getting the gaps closed requires some black magic known only to real body shop guys or fabricators

What am I missing and is there a solution a layman can use to get this looking right?

From 5 feet away no one would notice but I see it and it looks halfazzed

Looks worse in person than this photo

[75 911s]

hmm is that rubber trim on upside down? It shouldn't look like that. The rounded edge is the top edge, the flat is the bottom if I remember correctly. Maybe that will help with fitment on the end caps.

[ramonesfreak]

I don’t think so but guess I’ll have to take them apart and check it

Problem is the contour of the end cap does not fit or follow the contour of the rocker panel and I’m not sure the rubber trim would effect that. It really appears that for the gap to close, one would have to bend/form the two pieces together somehow and even if I could, that would probably make the screw holes on the end caps not match up to the screw holes on car body and rocker panel

I’ve tried to squeeze them together using a lot of force with my hands and there is no flex or room to budge which also leads me to believe it’s not the rubber being on wrong

Am I imagining it or did there used to be a paint and body work forum here? I don’t see it anymore

[ramonesfreak]

Looking at photos online I’m confident my rubber trim is on correctly

[75 911s]

Yeah I was wrong - just looking through my photos to try to find something useful for you.

[75 911s]

Were the existing holes for the caps there?

[dg567]

I had the same issue - I think the new production end caps are the incorrect shape

[ramonesfreak]

Interesting. Looks nothing like mine now or previously

Originally Posted by 75 911s

Yeah I was wrong - just looking through my photos to try to find something useful for you.

[ramonesfreak]

At least I know I’m not going crazy. Did you just live with it? I have my originals but they are mangled

Originally Posted by dg567

I had the same issue - I think the new production end caps are the incorrect shape

[ramonesfreak]

Yes. I used existing holes, didn’t need to drill anything

Originally Posted by 75 911s

Were the existing holes for the caps there?

[eastbay]

They are all like that. 911 trim fitment was never a high priority. You can make it better by repositioning the holes and reshaping the end caps, but that should be done before painting.

For a real challenge, try lining all the trim up on a long hood.

[bkreigsr]

Did you mark them when you removed them?
Did you try the other three in that location?
I marked them before I removed them for a height adjustment, and still had to massage a couple of holes when i did the re-install.
Bill K

[ramonesfreak]

They are all like that meaning they came from factory that way? My original pieces were perfect but I did notice that the end caps that were on there before where bent a little, maybe to make them fit better at some point

Originally Posted by eastbay

They are all like that. 911 trim fitment was never a high priority. You can make it better by repositioning the holes and reshaping the end caps, but that should be done before painting.

For a real challenge, try lining all the trim up on a long hood.

[ramonesfreak]

It wouldn’t matter where screws are. Even if I took rocker panel and end caps off car and marched them up together, they wouldnt go together with a tight fit like puzzle pieces without major bending and hammering and perhaps that’s what the factory used to do?

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Did you mark them when you removed them?
Did you try the other three in that location?
I marked them before I removed them for a height adjustment, and still had to massage a couple of holes when i did the re-install.
Bill K

[ramonesfreak]

I’m at my Indy Porsche shop having some things done and there’s an 84 here so I looked and sure enough, it has the same sloppy gaps at the end caps. Don’t know if his are factory but I’m Not gonna lose sleep about it anymore