Caprice side trim - chrome section is toast. Options?

The perimeter trim beneath the woodgrain on my caprice consists of a body-colored section with integral chrome section above it. The chrome is completely shot and that section just looks like a faded gray tannish strip now instead of chrome.

What are my options for repair or replacement? I'd love to think that trim is still available bit I'm not naive either to think NOS 1995 wagon trim is still out there to be had. Are there other alternatives?

I've had my Caprice Wagon for 10 years, one of the first things I did, is deal with that exact problem. On one side of the wagon the trim was fine, the other side was probably like your's. Only thing I can figure, it must have been the sun and how the car was parked.

I did not remove the trim. I masked, sanded and painted it on the car. For the chrome piece, I used SEM bumper chrome paint. For the wider section, I may have used a matching SEM paint, or I may have found a Rustoleum paint that matched. I only did the bad half of the car. Ten years later it still looks good.

There was another member "Splinters" who had a wagon that someone cut off the chrome section and used the chrome trim you can buy at automotive stores, that comes in rolls. He did not do it, it was a previous owner and looked fantastic. The only way you could tell was if you looked at the cross section, end of it.

Tom

Not quite sure how I go about repair on the tailgate....

My trim might not have been that bad, but it was close. That wrinkly stuff, just score with a utility knife. It will peel off, then sand and paint. Or, like I said, cut that "artificial" chrome stuff off and replace. The car that I saw it done look great. I may have pictures, but I will have to dig.

As for the number plate area. I think I would clean it, trim all those wrinkly areas. Member "Lynol" found a perfect paint match; Rustoleum Nutmeg. Your number plate will cover some of that. It will be hardly noticeable. Being 25 years old, everyone of our cars, has a "sin" someplace.

Tom

The PO removed and painted all the upper trim with t tan textured finish.

Looks like the previous owner did a good job on the trim. It's an easy fix to a problem many of us have had, and it lasts. The Caprice I did probably 10 years ago and I've had 2 RMW's that I did close to 20 years ago.

Now I get a better view of the tailgate. 1. Clean it up and touch it up 2. Find another tailgate OR 3. Peel the "wood grain off of the tailgate. The body color is underneath the wood grain and leave it alone. I saw a wagon that had that done and it looked good. Not 100% sure you may have to paint under the license plate area.

Tom

You can order just the tailgate wood from here: https://www.stripeman.com/91-96-chevrolet-caprice-wagon-burma-teak-digital-reproduction-wood-grain-replacement-kit/

Or he has all of it, but it's $$$. Had a friend install this on his wagon and it looks FANTASTIC.

-Mike

I was wondering what you could do to "clean it up"? Scrub the loose stuff away with a light brushing / dishwashing scrubby pad?

I'm considering the Stripeman tailgate for $120, but I've read many feel the color is off....and frankly I'm not sure how the area around the license plate works. Do you roll it into place, then the rest of the tailgate lays where it may? Is there a special oval piece around the license plate, then an overlay that does the whole tailgate? Seems like a lot of weird curvatures to get well-adhered.

I’m trying to figure out what to do with my side trim too. Someone painted over the chrome trim to match the body color. It’s wasn't prepped properly and looks all bubbly under the paint. Thinking about trying to smooth it out and paint it matte black possibly. I’ll probably practice on my tailgate since it’s getting replaced.

You can buy chrome tape in various widths. Whats there should peel off. Haven't checked on the exterior but it will in interior trim.

https://www.amazon.com/Roll-Chrome-Tape-Automotive-Grade/dp/B006RNW5NE

Solved this problem once and for all on my Caprice wagon: remove the chrome strip entirely.  See:  https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t13346-what-to-do-with-that-daggy-trim-on-a-caprice-wagon

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind losing it all together. Just wasn’t sure what it looked like underneath.

The side molding is held on with double sided tape. The panels should be body color underneath. There is a good chance that the paint is faded and there will be a ghost of the trim...

Pretty sure a ghost trim would look better than what I got now

If you do decide to take the trim off get a 3M eraser wheel to help remove the left over tape and sticky residue.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&langId=-1&storeId=10151&krypto=g7uQdU9KlaTiNllDs%2BFcN39pSJ3MH1BayXWz4M62Y6MrayaR8m9RtRyVCYGYIFbnRW%2B3p9rCJb1iXA7vrYD2igzr57vq8Qb%2FGhrOcAq%2BXPJgDHWIWsw94IjrloNwMtF9fPycp8hjL%2F9qfsKoh3D40R6y83XSOEq3beu%2F%2BKyz3qU%3D

My wife has taken all the trim off her car so we can replace it with trim that's in better condition. She has used up about a 1/3 of the wheel in the process. It's a bit pricey but works great and if your careful with it it lasts a while.

or do what dmg4 did, which also looks awesome! and still gives a bit of door ding protection...

silverfox103 wrote:

I've had my Caprice Wagon for 10 years, one of the first things I did, is deal with that exact problem.  On one side of the wagon the trim was fine, the other side was probably like your's.  Only thing I can figure, it must have been the sun and how the car was parked.

I did not remove the trim. I masked, sanded and painted it on the car.  For the chrome piece, I used SEM bumper chrome paint.  For the wider section, I may have used a matching SEM paint, or I may have found a Rustoleum paint that matched.  I only did the bad half of the car.  Ten years later it still looks good.

There was another member "Splinters" who had a wagon that someone cut off the chrome section and used the chrome trim you can buy at automotive stores, that comes in rolls.  He did not do it, it was a previous owner and looked fantastic.  The only way you could tell was if you looked at the cross section, end of it.

Tom

Tom,

I am curious about the repainting of the side trim, especially the chrome part. Did you use any primer, or was that not necessary since the substrate was a scuff sanded plastic?

Thanks,

Andrew

Andrew

It's been awhile since I did the repainting of the side trim. I didn't use any primer. I peeled the plastic off, scuffed. And painted with SEM bumper color. For the wider part, I believe I used a Rustoleum paint. Probably you can find a chrome or silver color Rustoleum that would work just as well as SEM and at a fraction of the cost. I think it took two evenings one of the chrome and the other for wider piece.

Tom

Good info - thank you!

Since I cut the chrome strip off the trim with a table saw, I've had no problems with it. Nothing beats a table saw for a problem-free future.