Rocker Molding trim
08-13-2013, 12:26 PM
#1
8th Gear
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Rocker Molding trim
I don’t post in the C3 forum but I am helping my buddy restore a 72. He asked me if I know where he could find rocker trim for his car. I found this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151100121831...84.m1555.l2649
on Ebay and I wanted to get some thoughts about them. Has anyone ordered these before? It seems that the price is good. Any help would be great. Thanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151100121831...84.m1555.l2649
on Ebay and I wanted to get some thoughts about them. Has anyone ordered these before? It seems that the price is good. Any help would be great. Thanks
08-13-2013, 12:56 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
These are fiberglass replacements.
The originals were aluminum.
Are you looking to keep the car original?
There are some repops of the original trim panels, they don't fit well.
One vendor said this is being corrected. I haven't seen correct fitting panels offered yet.
The originals were aluminum.
Are you looking to keep the car original?
There are some repops of the original trim panels, they don't fit well.
One vendor said this is being corrected. I haven't seen correct fitting panels offered yet.
08-13-2013, 01:27 PM
#3
Team Owner
Your best bet is to find some original panels at a swap meet. The 70-77 panels are the same; later panels are shorter, because of the enlarged openings of the wheelwells for larger tires.
The repro panels are 'decent', but the location where the panels taper down toward the rear are not right. So there is some excess gapping between panel and body that the original panels don't have.
Also, FWIW, you do NOT want to sand the surface of these panels (except for some very fine polishing paper). There is a very thin anodized layer on the surface that provides some stiffness, but mostly for abrasion resistance (road rash). If you sand it much, that protective layer will be lost and the surface will be prone to getting nicked up during normal driving.
The repro panels are 'decent', but the location where the panels taper down toward the rear are not right. So there is some excess gapping between panel and body that the original panels don't have.
Also, FWIW, you do NOT want to sand the surface of these panels (except for some very fine polishing paper). There is a very thin anodized layer on the surface that provides some stiffness, but mostly for abrasion resistance (road rash). If you sand it much, that protective layer will be lost and the surface will be prone to getting nicked up during normal driving.
08-13-2013, 07:56 PM
#4
all the ones I have looked at , at swap meets are in pretty sorry shape for a whole lot of money. I have been looking for a while and have yet to find a scratch , dent or bend free set. there are lots of them out there but none that I have seen are any better than what I am trying to replace.
08-14-2013, 07:31 AM
#5
8th Gear
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He doesn't care to keep the car 100% original. But he does want it to look good. For what its worth the ebay post says that they fit good. I didn't know if anyone has had experience with the fiberglass rocker panels. We are having a problem finding the originals that are in good condition. At the swap meet they tend to be in bad condition.
08-14-2013, 09:04 AM
#7
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Hi ef2f,
The rocker trim in your link will give a VERY different finished appearance than the originals did.
Since the originals were extruded aluminum and brite hard anodized there's no way to duplicate that appearance with a painted fiberglass piece.
The reproduction rocker trim while not great certainly gives a better appearance than these would; and at a reasonable price.
These seem to really only be suitable for someone who wants to paint the rocker trim in the same color as the car or in a contrasting color.
Finding VERY GOOD rocker trim at all is difficult, and VERY expensive, since people with very good original rocker trim know what they have.
Regards,
Alan
I know someone who has over $800 in a restored set. Is your friend interested in spending that kind of money?
The rocker trim in your link will give a VERY different finished appearance than the originals did.
Since the originals were extruded aluminum and brite hard anodized there's no way to duplicate that appearance with a painted fiberglass piece.
The reproduction rocker trim while not great certainly gives a better appearance than these would; and at a reasonable price.
These seem to really only be suitable for someone who wants to paint the rocker trim in the same color as the car or in a contrasting color.
Finding VERY GOOD rocker trim at all is difficult, and VERY expensive, since people with very good original rocker trim know what they have.
Regards,
Alan
I know someone who has over $800 in a restored set. Is your friend interested in spending that kind of money?
Last edited by Alan 71; 08-14-2013 at 09:07 AM.
08-14-2013, 05:30 PM
#9
rockers
I don’t post in the C3 forum but I am helping my buddy restore a 72. He asked me if I know where he could find rocker trim for his car. I found this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151100121831...84.m1555.l2649
on Ebay and I wanted to get some thoughts about them. Has anyone ordered these before? It seems that the price is good. Any help would be great. Thanks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151100121831...84.m1555.l2649
on Ebay and I wanted to get some thoughts about them. Has anyone ordered these before? It seems that the price is good. Any help would be great. Thanks
08-15-2013, 01:10 PM
#10
8th Gear
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Hi ef2f,
The rocker trim in your link will give a VERY different finished appearance than the originals did.
Since the originals were extruded aluminum and brite hard anodized there's no way to duplicate that appearance with a painted fiberglass piece.
The reproduction rocker trim while not great certainly gives a better appearance than these would; and at a reasonable price.
These seem to really only be suitable for someone who wants to paint the rocker trim in the same color as the car or in a contrasting color.
Finding VERY GOOD rocker trim at all is difficult, and VERY expensive, since people with very good original rocker trim know what they have.
Regards,
Alan
I know someone who has over $800 in a restored set. Is your friend interested in spending that kind of money?
The rocker trim in your link will give a VERY different finished appearance than the originals did.
Since the originals were extruded aluminum and brite hard anodized there's no way to duplicate that appearance with a painted fiberglass piece.
The reproduction rocker trim while not great certainly gives a better appearance than these would; and at a reasonable price.
These seem to really only be suitable for someone who wants to paint the rocker trim in the same color as the car or in a contrasting color.
Finding VERY GOOD rocker trim at all is difficult, and VERY expensive, since people with very good original rocker trim know what they have.
Regards,
Alan
I know someone who has over $800 in a restored set. Is your friend interested in spending that kind of money?
08-26-2013, 06:42 PM
#12
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Hi ef2f,
Thanks for the update.
These rocker trim panels may be a nice option for someone not interested in original appearance.... or 'close' is enough.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks for the update.
These rocker trim panels may be a nice option for someone not interested in original appearance.... or 'close' is enough.
Regards,
Alan
08-26-2013, 06:56 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Anodizing
Your best bet is to find some original panels at a swap meet. The 70-77 panels are the same; later panels are shorter, because of the enlarged openings of the wheelwells for larger tires.
The repro panels are 'decent', but the location where the panels taper down toward the rear are not right. So there is some excess gapping between panel and body that the original panels don't have.
Also, FWIW, you do NOT want to sand the surface of these panels (except for some very fine polishing paper). There is a very thin anodized layer on the surface that provides some stiffness, but mostly for abrasion resistance (road rash). If you sand it much, that protective layer will be lost and the surface will be prone to getting nicked up during normal driving.
The repro panels are 'decent', but the location where the panels taper down toward the rear are not right. So there is some excess gapping between panel and body that the original panels don't have.
Also, FWIW, you do NOT want to sand the surface of these panels (except for some very fine polishing paper). There is a very thin anodized layer on the surface that provides some stiffness, but mostly for abrasion resistance (road rash). If you sand it much, that protective layer will be lost and the surface will be prone to getting nicked up during normal driving.