BSM Eradication - what NOT to do..
10-03-2004, 10:18 PM
#1
Supporting Tuner
Thread Starter
BSM Eradication - what NOT to do..
OK.. I removed my Body Side Moundings (BSMs) from my 01 Coupe this weekend and here are the lessons learnt.
Remember, my car is only 5 days old - this is a really big deal to me.
1> The Buddha says "To travel the Path, ask he who went before you"
Members of this forum suggested a hair dryer and dental floss to remove BSMs. Other members suggested fishing line. One member reiterated that you need REALLY strong fishing line to get these off. One member suggested getting a start with strong fishing line and then just 'grabbing them and ripping them off'
I had a heart attack when I read these last two members comments.
But... I should have listened to the last 2 members. Dental floss=waste of time. 20LBS fishing line=waste of time. 40LBS fishing line=waste of time. Hair dryer did not help here.
Eventually, I used gloves and 75LBS fishing line - got them started and - yes - JUST RIPPED THEM OFF with my (gloved) hands!!!
That worked after spending ALL DAY trying to cajole them to gently come off. I stopped playing nice and just ripped them off - and boy, did that feel good after a day of frustration!!
OK - so I got the BSMs off, used the hair dryer to soften the ooze left and then gently rubbed that ooze off inch by painful inch with my fingers so I wouldn't scratch or damage the paint. That took "some little time"
Lesson learn - nothing is as easy as you think it is.
2> Don't let success in one field go to your head.
Next, I thought - why not remove ALL emblems and give the Vette a ultra smooth look?
Note to self - don't do this. Really don't do this. See my pictures here to see why you DO NOT want to do this. Removing the checkered flags emblems is a really stupid thing to do.
Lesson learn - I'm never too old to be stupid.
Here are some Pix of before, during and after - more detailed ones are on my website here
Remember, my car is only 5 days old - this is a really big deal to me.
1> The Buddha says "To travel the Path, ask he who went before you"
Members of this forum suggested a hair dryer and dental floss to remove BSMs. Other members suggested fishing line. One member reiterated that you need REALLY strong fishing line to get these off. One member suggested getting a start with strong fishing line and then just 'grabbing them and ripping them off'
I had a heart attack when I read these last two members comments.
But... I should have listened to the last 2 members. Dental floss=waste of time. 20LBS fishing line=waste of time. 40LBS fishing line=waste of time. Hair dryer did not help here.
Eventually, I used gloves and 75LBS fishing line - got them started and - yes - JUST RIPPED THEM OFF with my (gloved) hands!!!
That worked after spending ALL DAY trying to cajole them to gently come off. I stopped playing nice and just ripped them off - and boy, did that feel good after a day of frustration!!
OK - so I got the BSMs off, used the hair dryer to soften the ooze left and then gently rubbed that ooze off inch by painful inch with my fingers so I wouldn't scratch or damage the paint. That took "some little time"
Lesson learn - nothing is as easy as you think it is.
2> Don't let success in one field go to your head.
Next, I thought - why not remove ALL emblems and give the Vette a ultra smooth look?
Note to self - don't do this. Really don't do this. See my pictures here to see why you DO NOT want to do this. Removing the checkered flags emblems is a really stupid thing to do.
Lesson learn - I'm never too old to be stupid.
Here are some Pix of before, during and after - more detailed ones are on my website here
10-04-2004, 05:01 AM
#4
Team Owner
Not being a smartazz here but why the hell did you think you could just pull the emblemn off?? Fortunately you can clean that up and reinstall it
10-04-2004, 06:21 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Sep 2002
Location: plymouth ma
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i removed my rear deck logo with fishing line,and cleaned up the goo with WD-40!not a trace that anything was ever there,just apply your wax,and you're looking good!as for the nose logo...forget it!those two pilot holes holding it in place deterred me from removing it.i do love the "shaved"look,though! 
10-04-2004, 06:56 AM
#6
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,707
Received 19,232 Likes
on
13,933 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Glad you finally got them off. Car looks 
10-04-2004, 09:43 AM
#8
Supporting Tuner
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by pewter99
Not being a smartazz here but why the hell did you think you could just pull the emblemn off?? Fortunately you can clean that up and reinstall it
I have cleaned it up (see my website) and I will be reattaching it shortly.
The rear emblem will be coming off and replaced with a cool emblem that I love (and just so happens to be my intials as well!!)
10-04-2004, 09:58 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
Glad it worked out for you. It is a definite improvement in looks.
BTW, what's the story with your third brake light? Is it blacked out when not illuminated? Did you buy it or build it?
BTW, what's the story with your third brake light? Is it blacked out when not illuminated? Did you buy it or build it?
10-04-2004, 11:01 AM
#10
Supporting Tuner
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by BW1
BTW, what's the story with your third brake light? Is it blacked out when not illuminated? Did you buy it or build it?
It's a vinyl transfer I bought on eBay here
It looked completely black until you hit the brakes and then it's just a bright with the word "Corvette" lit up!!
10-04-2004, 11:50 AM
#12
Team Owner
Member Since: Jul 2003
Location: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
That 2-sided tape is killer. My ZO6 badges were nasty to get off. I used a hair dryer and (get this) a sprk plug gapper. 
I just cut the foam with it, then took the goo off after. Never touched the paint, reapplied the new s/c badges. Pretty much menlted my fingers with a heat gun though. 
I just cut the foam with it, then took the goo off after. Never touched the paint, reapplied the new s/c badges. Pretty much menlted my fingers with a heat gun though.
10-04-2004, 01:42 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
________________________________________ ____________________
"One member reiterated that you need REALLY strong fishing line to get these off. One member suggested getting a start with strong fishing line and then just 'grabbing them and ripping them off'
But... I should have listened to the last 2 members. Dental floss=waste of time. 20LBS fishing line=waste of time. 40LBS fishing line=waste of time. Hair dryer did not help here.
Eventually, I used gloves and 75LBS fishing line - got them started and - yes - JUST RIPPED THEM OFF with my (gloved) hands!!!"
________________________________________ ____________________
That is what I did and what I recommended here on the forum.
Congrats, and welcome to the world of SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH lines!
"One member reiterated that you need REALLY strong fishing line to get these off. One member suggested getting a start with strong fishing line and then just 'grabbing them and ripping them off'
But... I should have listened to the last 2 members. Dental floss=waste of time. 20LBS fishing line=waste of time. 40LBS fishing line=waste of time. Hair dryer did not help here.
Eventually, I used gloves and 75LBS fishing line - got them started and - yes - JUST RIPPED THEM OFF with my (gloved) hands!!!"
________________________________________ ____________________
That is what I did and what I recommended here on the forum.
Congrats, and welcome to the world of SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH lines!
10-04-2004, 01:52 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
Member Since: May 2003
Location: arlington tx
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
5 days old u say? no offense but at the rate you are going, when its five months old its gonna be totally covered in swirls and scratches if u dont get some nice zaino or nxt or something on it and stop drying it with paper towels...
10-04-2004, 02:42 PM
#16
Team Owner
Member Since: Jul 2003
Location: [Enter Unoffensive Comment Here]
Posts: 34,299
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by sebringsilver97coupe
5 days old u say? no offense but at the rate you are going, when its five months old its gonna be totally covered in swirls and scratches if u dont get some nice zaino or nxt or something on it and stop drying it with paper towels...
It's an '01.
OK.. I removed my Body Side Moundings (BSMs) from my 01 Coupe this weekend and here are the lessons learnt.
10-04-2004, 03:19 PM
#17
Supporting Tuner
Thread Starter
Only 5 days old - as in - I bought it 5 days ago. Yes, it is a 2001 Coupe.
The Zaino full kit has been ordered and will be in my grubby little hands in the next 2 days - then I really get to work.
Also, I would certainly never use paper towels to dry any car of mine. I use a powerful leaf blower, actually, which never touches the car.
Mods have only just begun. Already disabled the DRLs, swapped the Bose tweeters for a pair of decent Alpine units, already bought a pair of Rockford Fosgate 8 inch subs for the doors, pair of RF 6 3/4 mids, and a RF 12 inch rear sub with custom enclosure (fits in the "wheel well" depression) -all are still to be installed as well as Sony MP3 head and MP3 10 disc changer, pair of amps, 1 farad cap et al. Also on it's way are the Stingers (Thursday delivery), Blackwing, cargo shade etc. etc. etc. etc. Ad nauseum.
You get the picture...
The obsession and addiction has begun...
The Zaino full kit has been ordered and will be in my grubby little hands in the next 2 days - then I really get to work.
Also, I would certainly never use paper towels to dry any car of mine. I use a powerful leaf blower, actually, which never touches the car.
Mods have only just begun. Already disabled the DRLs, swapped the Bose tweeters for a pair of decent Alpine units, already bought a pair of Rockford Fosgate 8 inch subs for the doors, pair of RF 6 3/4 mids, and a RF 12 inch rear sub with custom enclosure (fits in the "wheel well" depression) -all are still to be installed as well as Sony MP3 head and MP3 10 disc changer, pair of amps, 1 farad cap et al. Also on it's way are the Stingers (Thursday delivery), Blackwing, cargo shade etc. etc. etc. etc. Ad nauseum.
You get the picture...
The obsession and addiction has begun...
Last edited by EG@EnglandGreen; 10-04-2004 at 03:32 PM. Reason: correction
10-04-2004, 03:39 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Feb 2004
Location: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Maybe you should buy a polisher and wax your car next.
I meant that in a joking way.
Sheees! 
The car looks fine.
I meant that in a joking way.
Sheees! The car looks fine.
Last edited by MyVetteDream; 10-04-2004 at 06:46 PM.
10-04-2004, 04:42 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
Why the negative comments about drying it with a paper towel and needing to be waxed? The car looks shiny and beautiful and he never said he used a paper towel. I would dare to say that if you zoom in on any of our black Vettes in direct sunlight, you will see fine scratches, unless you have had it professionally buffed by a real pro.
EnglandGreen, in my opinion your car looks great!
EnglandGreen, in my opinion your car looks great!
Last edited by StevieB; 10-04-2004 at 04:54 PM.
10-04-2004, 04:52 PM
#20
Supporting Tuner
Thread Starter
Thanks StevieB!! At least someone reads my posts. Thanks!!!!
I've owned Mercedes, an Aston Martin and other sports cars and I honestly don't understand these attacks. Where have I written that I am mistreating my "new" Vette???
If anyone would READ my posts, they would see that *** Zaino*** is next - jeez, I only bought the car a few days ago. Get a grip folks.
I just thought I would try and help out anyone else that wanted to remove their BSM - I certainly was not expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
All flames will be cheerfully ignored.
I've owned Mercedes, an Aston Martin and other sports cars and I honestly don't understand these attacks. Where have I written that I am mistreating my "new" Vette???
If anyone would READ my posts, they would see that *** Zaino*** is next - jeez, I only bought the car a few days ago. Get a grip folks.
I just thought I would try and help out anyone else that wanted to remove their BSM - I certainly was not expecting the Spanish Inquisition.
All flames will be cheerfully ignored.
Last edited by EG@EnglandGreen; 10-04-2004 at 04:53 PM. Reason: spell check!