Trim around wood on Buick 1995 wagons

Hi folks...first time newbie working on how to post and read this great site...on 1995 Roadmaster wagons there is that wee trim that surrounds the wood panels all the way down the car...can that be taken off (my trim has some areas where the sun has ruined it) and stripped and buffed like stainless....I think I have seen some cars here that have done that..looks sharp..if all this can be done is the trim pop off and should I be arming myself with new clips and what type..??? once I get the hang of this site I will know where to post and what not.Thanks...

Yes, you can polish the trim. It's fairly easy and straightforward to do. To strip it use Rustoleum Aircraft Stripper to strip it down to stainless. Next clean all the pieces with a mild cleaner to get any residue off. Then polish with your choice of polish. I prefer Mothers Mag and Aluminum. Removing the trim is also easy as well. You just use a putty knife to pop the clips carefully. You may break some but if you're careful you'll be ok. A couple other members have done this as well. I'm sure they'll chime in with advice too. Also, welcome to the forum!

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The door trim may have screws holding it at the front and back. The front fender pieces are the most delicate. A pin inserts into nylon gromets, and siince they are old and brittle, they are easy to break. There are no new ones, and you can not get the nylon gromets. The trim is aluminum, and will polish up nicely. You could clearcoat it after polishing. Put a thin piece of something smooth when prying the pieces off, or you will dent the body panel. Do not pull up on the parts to dislodge the pins, or you will bend the trim. Work each pin separately. If you do damage any, there are some people with spares.

Cadet57 wrote:

Yes, you can polish the trim. It's fairly easy and straightforward to do. To strip it use Rustoleum Aircraft Stripper to strip it down to stainless. Next clean all the pieces with a mild cleaner to get any residue off. Then polish with your choice of polish. I prefer Mothers Mag and Aluminum. Removing the trim is also easy as well. You just use a putty knife to pop the clips carefully. You may break some but if you're careful you'll be ok. A couple other members have done this as well. I'm sure they'll chime in with advice too. Also, welcome to the forum!

[img][/img]

.......Thanks buddy..kind of thought that was possible..thanks again..

Fred Kiehl wrote:

The door trim may have screws holding it at the front and back. The front fender pieces are the most delicate. A pin inserts into nylon gromets, and siince they are old and brittle, they are easy to break. There are no new ones, and you can not get the nylon gromets. The trim is aluminum, and will polish up nicely. You could clearcoat it after polishing. Put a thin piece of something smooth when prying the pieces off, or you will dent the body panel. Do not pull up on the parts to dislodge the pins, or you will bend the trim. Work each pin separately. If you do damage any, there are some people with spares.

Great info!!!!! I know Im going to be spending a huge amount of life reading all the stuff hear...also trying to post pics and I cannnot find a section that goes step by step..just that Host a pic thingie and I never see them..oh well..thanks again...being a paint contractor Im real handy like a surgeon with a putty knife..but there must a tool that also would work....

spend 6 bucks and buy a panel removal tool at any auto paint/body supply. best money you will ever spend

look at the sticky under pics and video sectionon how to post pics. it's pretty easy


-read-this-first-how-to-post-pics-now-with-pics

thanks sprocket ...trying to do this and watch the Inday race..then NASCAR..already watched the F1 this morning..time for a nap maybe....

oh yeah the race, lol. For the last 24 years, I'm out of town this weekend, busy.
This year my kid graduated HS on Friday, and thus we didn't go.

Turning on TV now, thanks

Dont forget the FIA world rally in Acropolis Greece at 1am EST on the speed channel.Hope they
start broadcasting all the rally races again.

Thanks Jim...raining like a bugger here now in Waterloo Canada Ontario....

yes it can be buffed up real nice







this set of pry tools from harbour frieght will help you

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-nylon-pry-bar-installer-kit-95214.html

[b]Thanks for the pic...and I have been looking at your car now that I think of it...very slick the small 4 port holes on the trim...painted on squares?? Also do those older Buick wheeels bolt right on..if they do Im on the search now for them..and did you take all of the trim off with a tool or just a putty knife..and did you break any of the so called clips..??? Hand made fender skirt or modified from a existing one...???

Pat,everytime I look at pictures of the sedan nosed wagon I notice another neat modification.
I know the vids you made show you repairing the rust and most of the mods but how long did
the entire project take?Like today I just noticed that the molding around the turn lamp is
different from the normal trim and your have the trim running vertically at the tailight.All of
the mods are unique.

they are actually cut outs in the trim with mesh inserts.







the skirts are ebay items

most of the trim will pop off with out damaging the clips if you are gentle, I would be more concerned about bending the trim. take your time.

Jim it took about 14 months start to finish

Well all I can say is it looks great..you know I do like when some of the guys add the round ports on the wood panel.....but....I would have to say the yours looks more factory ..I have been trying to find the real Caddy wires I used to have on my 1979 Seville for my wagon and the 1.5 wide whites....just love the look..[url][/url][img][/img]

what are you doing in bothwell?

there's an 80's silver caddy with the wires on it in London sitting on the front lawn of a house on Wharncliff road between Oxford and Riverside on the west side, it's filthy and has no plates on it. might bealbe to pick up cheap

we have a few car shows there and I always go to them..and I buy the newspaper Old Autos...you read?? Barrie Swap Meet is coming up on June 8th right into the weekend...its pretty big and I always find something...[img][/img]

ohhh I go to LOndon once in awhile..my brother lives there....will check it out..but Im kind of anal and I want NOS or almost new...its out there but getting harder to find...thanks

I almost always go the Bothwell show, like the swap meet portion of it.
Don't forget that this week end is the fleetwood farm's country show in Byron, I'm going to take in the Hot Rod Powertour in Detroit Saturday and try to make it to the Unfinished nationals in Paris on Sunday.

ohh....ya..I forgot about both shows...well back to my Nascar race...thanks again..also working on how post pics ..I signed up at that photobucket site and trying to figure it out...later and thanks again for updates...

michael jacobs wrote:

..well back to my Nascar race...

No need... Kahne is leading

No further updates needed

Krzdimond wrote:

michael jacobs wrote:

..well back to my Nascar race...

No need... Kahne is leading

No further updates needed

..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr GO DALE GO...POOR BUGGER NEEDS A WIN...

low on fuel and on old tires..... Kahne will have him in 2-3 laps.....

nevermind...

JR has already been passed......

Ew, Junior.