Removing window trim
 

Hey guys, I want to remove and repaint all the exterior window trim on my car. What's involved? is it difficult? The metal is in good condition, it's just the paint that's all chipped.

Thanks,

Nix

What's an '80 SC "factory widebody"? :confused:

Anyways, it is odd that your trim is painted. By 1980, the SC trim was black anodized standard from the factory.

The anodize does fade, though, so maybe someone painted over it?

If I were going through the trouble of removing all the trim from the car, I would NOT paint it! I would get it re-anodized black again. Or, at least get it powdercoated. Either will be a lot more durable than paint.

There is a good deal of labor involved in doing all the trim. For the front and rear windows, and the rear quarter windows, you need to remove the glass and rubber gaskets from the car. Otherwise you won't be able to get the trim pieces out without bending them. And, even if you could get them out, you'd NEVER get them back in without removing the glass.

The door frames are pretty easy to remove. Just a matter of taking the interior panel off and unscrewing a bunch of fasteners.

Hi SoCal, Thanks fo the detailed responce. First, I keep hearing the 80 was not available in factory turbo look option but I got the car from my best friend. His uncle was the original owner and told him that this is how he purchased the car from the dealer, new! So I don't know what to think. Is there something I can look for to verify?

About the trim.. I should not have said "all". Only the door windows and rear quarter window trims need re-anodizing. But yes, they are badly chipped now and they are a silver metal (alum?) underneath.

Thanks,

Nix

I think you can get a Cardex from Porsche that will set forth all of the options your car came with from the factory.

You can take a look under the fenders to see how the flares are attached. Aftermarket work would probably be identifiable by a body shop.

I'd be surprised if it was not aftermarket - I'm pretty well read on the SCs and don't ever recall hearing of a factory Turbolook in '80. But on the other hand, I think back in those days, the factory would do special orders if one sent them a boatload of money - although paying for a Turbo "look" in 1980 would seem odd, since at the time would could have simply bought a new '79 Turbo in the US, which would almost certainly have cost less than a special order turbo look.

The Cardex will tell.

On your trim, it sounds like the factory anodizing got really faded (it can fade to almost silver), so someone spraypainted it black.

The door window frames and rear quarters can fairly easily be removed and reinstalled by a DIY'er. The door frames just bolt in. Do a search for "rear quarter windows" for some detailed posts on removing and reinstalling them.

Well my friend's uncle is definately in the "boatloads of cash" catagory but who knows. I've asked my friend to ask his uncle when he talks to him next but don't know when that'll be. I'll look under the car but I'm not too sure what I'm looking for, a different under-coating from the main bodywork?

A Cardex will no doubt cost money, I'm sure there's a way to figure this one out for free.

The trim (underneath the chipping paint) is pure metal, no faded anything. If I were to chip off all the paint I'd have nice clean metalic trim. Maybe it started to fade and it was removed, stripped to bare metal, and repainted?

You seem to know lots about this car! The other thing I want to do is extend the wheels with either spacers or wider Fuchs. The current wheels (6&7x16 fuchs) are way inside the turbo flares and detract from the beautiful, wide stance of the body. Any recommendations? $$ is a factor here. I'm no Richie Rich porsche owner. :)

Thanks,

Nikolai

Good plan with the digicam. I'll do that and post pics tonight!

Thanks,

Nikolai

P.S. Adjusted my sig until I figure out the widebody thing! hehe.