850 Sedan Roof trim

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Mar 2009, 18:55

Okay, so they all peel. When we had our old 850 wagon, I took them off and repainted them. The 850 I have had one side peeling and when I looked at the other side it was about to break loose too so I spent the time getting both down to bare aluminum. I figure that over the years a better product has been developed to recoat them with.

So...what are others doing to restore the roof trim pieces on their 850's? I really would like to find a rubberized coating but only find some type of pick-up truck liner stuff or an undercoating paint. Not sure if either would work very well.

EDIT: What do you guys think of this idea?
http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

Craigd2599 · Post by **Craigd2599** » 09 Mar 2009, 19:27

MIJ...I saw on a saturday morning car hobbyist show once about a home powder coating kit. It's for small applications just like this. It's been a while so I can't tell you where to find it but if you google it you might have some luck

Craigd2599 · Post by **Craigd2599** » 09 Mar 2009, 19:31

I did find this:

http://www.homemetalshopclub.org/projects/powder.pdf

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Mar 2009, 19:44

Interesting but the base section (against the windsheild) is rubber and would never withstand heating in an oven. Another issue is the length of the pieces (it would take a large oven) and finally, the equipment to do this would cost more than a replacement of both for new ones (about $150 each now at the dealer). I believe that painting something onto the bare pieces is the best way to go. What to paint on the surface is what I'm after.

larryh · Post by **larryh** » 09 Mar 2009, 20:53

I think I saw somewhere that JRL advocates using bumper paint.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Mar 2009, 21:24

Yeah...I've used something similar in the past but on these aluminum pieces it ends up sort of shiny. I would rather have a mat finish so people aren't immediately attracted to the "different" trim pieces. I guess I could get some of that Plasticoat stuff and try a section. If I don't like it I can always buff it off and try something else.

Post by **findude** » 10 Mar 2009, 08:17

I've thought about just running electrician's tape along them or seeing if an automotive vinyl specialist (like the sort that does fat stripes on MINIs) might have rolls of thin black vinyl.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Mar 2009, 15:51

I did the electrical tape on our old 850- it lasted about a month...then the wind catches a section that is loose and pulls it...flaps in the wind and becomes intolerable until you have to just yank it all off and start again.

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 14 Mar 2009, 19:08

hi MIJ

if it could help, i cleaned and scuffed a bit the surface to bare alu, used an adhesion promoter and rubberised undercoating on top, it held on still looks good after 2 years and two ruff winters....

cheers !

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 14 Mar 2009, 19:51

Yeah, I saw that undercoating stuff at the parts store. I ended up with stuff called "Electrical tape" by the same people who make the Plastidip that you paint on- even has its own applicator- we'll see how that goes. If it doesn't work out too well, I'll take your advise and get the undercoating.