Plastic Fitting

[6nick6]

Hey the plastic trim on my berlina is starting to come off in spots and i thought this would be a good opportunity to take them and the front and rear bumpers off and paint them and re-doo the pinstripe. I was just wondering what a good chemical would be to take the old glue off left behind from the plastic on the doors as i don't want to wreck the paint. And I was also wondering what sort of glue i should use aswell because itll have to be pretty strong and waterproof.

thanks alot for the help guys

[GetToDaChopa]

If it's sikaflex (can't spell it) then you'll probably have a very hard time taking it off, i would use something like prewash or that paint prep stuff (forgot the name of it) soak it and see if it come off.

When putting it back on you could probably use some double sided tape or sikaflex (that stuff is strong).

[kane88]

dont use double sided tape, it is sh*t and you WILL lose your trims on the highway. not fun.
i use a product called gold flex to attach all my body moulds, comes in (funnily enough) a gold tube from bunnings. as far as getting the old stuff off, if you cant pick it off with fingers, try prepsol to loosen it up and then give it a go.

don't use a caramel wheel on acrylic because your paint will die and you will hate yourself for it..

other than that, if you're game i use a small razor to shave the majority of the glue off (only where you can't see the part of the door behind the trim) and then heat up the rest with a hair dryer.heat gun and peel it back slowly. take your time and do it right, it gets a lot easier as you figure it out..

good luck with it mate

[6nick6]

Thanks for the replys guys, i can see where its coming off that it was held on by glue so useing my fingers and a hair dryer sounds like a nice safe way to do it. Hopefully ill find some gold flex somewhere as we dont have a bunnings. When you say a caramel wheel do you mean those paint rollers? if so i was planning on spray painting the plastic would this be the best way to go and what sort of paint should i use? enamel gloss etc? and 2 or 3 coats ya reckon?

sorry about all the questions i just want to do it right.

[kane88]

a caramel wheel is an attachment you can plug into a drill that will rip this kinda stuff off of doors, but it's only good on 2 pak paint and a select few enamels because the acrylic burns too easily.

as far as the moulds go, same as usual paint prep except after the first sand use either bumper prime (black) or plastic primer (clear or grey) before you spray 'em. I use bumper prime because i have a dirty big tin sitting under the house and it works a treat, but i think its also available in a rattle can, which is fine for a small job like yours.

sand it with around 280/320 at first, primer, lighter sand with around 400, second coat of primer, final touch ups before colour (800/1000 grit), first colour coat, light sand, second coat and so forth for as many coats as you feel is necessary. spray clear over the top and you're done.

if you want really good results you can wipe down between coats with prepsol or a tack rag, depends on how muc h dust is around and how much of a perfectionist you want to be...

think thats everything....

[kane88]

also gold flex is available in lots of hardware chains, or sikaflex or something similar, the blokes at your local will be able to point you in ghe right direction

[6nick6]

Thanks Kane you've really helped me out with that info should be smooooth sailing. My bumper got smashed off this weekend when a lady pulled out in front of me so ill have a brand new one and the panel and paint guys will do the sanding and paint of that for me

[calais24/7]

maybe try a wax and grease remover to get the sticky sh.t off
i havnt used it but heard it works?
good luck

*only just read your last post , but has anyone ever tried a wax and grease remover?

[harry3]

can you still get a new bumper bar?

all plastic on the VL, bith inside and outside, is usually very weak, brittle and breaks easily, especuially the bumper bar top trims

ultra violet light from being left in the sun is blamed, but this doesnt go thru glass and the plastic inside is usually just as bad

I wonder if holden decided to save money on cheap plastic

yes watch your bumper bars they break very easily

[kane88]

not genuine, but my local wreckers ordered mine in and it fits up no problems and looks the goods..
how'd it go anyway nick?

[Gurner]

Cant buy new genuine bumpers for VL, but aftermarket ones are pretty easy to find.

[Gurner]

And yes prepsol / wax and grease remover to get double sided tape / plastic / adhesive off, thats what we use at work. Or a rubber wheel you attatch to a drill.

[Rav3n616]

goldflex and a heat gun is the easiest way to do it, or hair dryer if ur using ur fingers unless you have a good gun with detailed temp control