Archive for the ‘Installation Help’ Category

How To Install A Set Of Chrome Rocker Panels

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

 

Stainless Steel Chrome Rocker Panel Molding

Stainless Steel Chrome Rocker Panel Molding

Here’s what you will need:

*Several Clean Non-Abrasive Cloths like a terry towel or some cotton t-shirts.

*Acetone (or wax & grease remover) – to remove dirt, wax, grease, grime or anything that might interfere with the adhesion of the rocker panel.

*Rubbing Alcohol – To remove residue left by the Acetone or cleaner.

*Gloves

 

FIRST: Clean and Prep the Vehicle

1.) Wash and dry vehicle – as usual (do not wax) 

2.)  Clean the application area with acetone and a clean soft cloth (turning the cloth often).  This will remove any dirt, wax, grease or grime and ensure proper adhesion of the rocker panel

 3.)  Apply rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth and wipe down the application site to remove any residue left over from the acetone cleaner.

 

NEXT –  Dry Fit:

Lay out the rocker panel pieces to verify correct placement on the vehicle and completeness of your order. Do not install any pieces if you think that there are problems on any parts or missing any pieces.

Make sure there is a 1/8 gap at both ends of the panel to ensure that the doors will open properly and that they won’t catch when opening or closing the doors.

Also check the contour of the rocker panels.

It may be necessary to remove some of the contour (or roll) from the panels so that it lays flat on the vehicle.

 

NEXT – Installation:

1.)  Remove the adhesive liner to expose the adhesive side of your chrome rocker panels (one section at a time).

Make sure you have lined the panel correctly because you only get one chance to apply the panel correctly.

2.)  With a hard rubber roller (available at most hardware stores) or the palm of your hand and a soft towel, start in the center of the panel and press or roll side to side across the panel to ensure proper adhesion.

3.)  Remove all the protective liners in all the sections one at a time and repeat the same steps.

4.)  Remove chrome surface protective liners and wipe with a soft clean cloth.

How to Professionally Install Vinyl Rear Window Graphics

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Hey there’s lots of reasons to install a rear window graphic on your car or truck. Most of the time people want to show their spirit by putting their favorite sports team logo on their rear window. Others may want to be patriotic and show an American flag graphic, an eagle, or maybe a Marine Corp logo.

Rear window graphics are usually digitally printed images on perforated vinyl film. What’s perforated vinyl? Think of it like a screen material with thousands of tiny holes cut out of a solid sheet of automotive grade vinyl film. You can see through this material just like you can a window or door screen.

But, because one side of the material is digitally printed, it makes it hard to see through in that direction. So when you install the rear window graphic it will be hard to see into the vehicle, but easy to see out of the vehicle.

Here are some steps you can take in order to install your rear window graphic properly:

You will need a plastic squeegee, rubbing alcohol, razor blades and an exacto knife (or similar)

First, Make sure to clean the window with plenty of rubbing alcohol. Also, use a razor blade (at your own risk) to scrape off any surface bumps or anything that is stuck top the window what will interfere with your new graphic.

Next, position the widow graphic to your liking over the window and hold down with masking tape if necessary.

Next, peel back the liner from one half of the graphic and start squeegeeing it down from the center out. Use overlapping strokes and firm pressure to ensure a good bond. Repeat for the other half of the graphic.

Next, go over the entire graphic again using the squeegee and pressing well into all edges of the window trim.

Trim the graphic along the edges of the window molding using a sharp knife or razor. Trim all the way around and peel away the excess vinyl.

Again, re-squeegee the edges of the vinyl outward towards the window molding to ensure good adhesion. Tuck any showing edges underneath the window molding or just trim them away.

Stand back and enjoy your new image! From the inside of the vehicle you will have a clear view… You can even add a truck graphic kit to the sides to complete a unique flag window graphics package!

About the Author

Mike Briglia is the owner of Custom Auto Trim, an auto accessories company based out of San Diego CA. Find more information on rear window graphics at http://www.customautotrim.com/

How to Install Car Body Side Molding Like a Pro

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Body Side Molding

Body Side Molding

There are lots of reasons to install body side molding on your car or truck. Some may want body side molding for protection, helping to avoid those nasty door dings we seem to get when we park at a shopping center. Others may want to install body side molding just for looks alone, seeking to upgrade the appearance of the outside of the vehicle.

In either case, once you have found the molding that you like it is important that the installation process goes smoothly, and that you get your molding installed perfectly straight. Otherwise having wavy moldings on the side of your vehicle will make your vehicle appear to be dented, or the panels appear misaligned.

So here’s what you need to do in order to install body side molding professionally. You will need some masking tape, rubbing alcohol, anvil pruning shears (garden type), a grease pencil, a ruler, and a couple of clean towels.

First, use rubbing alcohol to clean the area where we are going to place the molding. Do not skip this step. Even brand new vehicles need to be cleaned in the same way. You need to remove any waxes or oils that are on the surface. This is to ensure a proper bond between the adhesive and the vehicle. Wipe on a generous amount of rubbing alcohol with a clean towel, and use another clean towel to remove the residue left behind by the alcohol.

Next, locate a spot on the door of the vehicle (usually the highest point) and make a mark with a grease pencil. Use your masking tape to create a horizontal line in this area. Tack the masking tape at the front of the vehicle where you are installing the molding and roll off enough masking tape so you can reach the other end. Keep the masking tape taunt like you would a string or chalk line. Keeping the tape tight, tack the other end of the masking tape (at the same height as your grease pencil mark) at the back of the vehicle. You can use your ruler here to verify your measurement. Then, press down all masking tape and repeat on the other side of the vehicle.

Next, cut your body side molding to fit, and to install, remove the release liner backing from the adhesive and follow along your masking tape line to get your molding perfectly straight. Make sure you bevel your molding 45 degrees at the front of each door so not to interfere with the door jam areas.

Once cut and pressed onto the vehicle, take a clean rag in the palm of your hand and press the molding firmly onto the vehicle. Make sure you do this step twice so to ensure full contact with the vehicle.

Remove your masking tape and clean up any residue left behind.

Thats it! Once installed you will have protection from dents and dings as well as upgrading the appearance of the outside of the vehicle.

 

About the Author

Mike Briglia is the owner of Custom Auto Trim, an auto accessories company based out of San Diego CA. Find more information on body side molding at http://www.customautotrim.com/

How To Install Truck Step Bars

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006

TIP SHACK

We recently got the question:

I was interested in putting a set of your chrome Truck Step Bars on my new truck, and I was wondering how hard they are to install. Is there a lot of drilling to do?

Great question! All of our Nerf Bars / Truck Side Step Bars are direct bolt on, meaning that they will bolt up to factory holes that already exist in your truck. Each set includes directions and all hardware necessary for your install. All you will need is the tools and some time for the install. If you take your time and follow the directions, your install should go quite well. If you have any questions at all or are having trouble with your nerf bar installation you can always call us for support. We are here to help!

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How To Remove or Upgrade a Wood Dash Kit

Wednesday, April 12th, 2006

Happy Spring, fellow car fanatics! We’ve clawed our way out from under yet another long winter. The days are finally getting longer again (thanks in part to the whole Spring Ahead phenomena—a.k.a. You Didn’t Need That Hour of Sleep, Did You?) And longer days mean, of course, more time to play after work. There is no better time than spring to spend some quality time working on your car. You don’t have the heat of summer, the cold of winter, or the early dark of fall. It’s perfect. Now, I think you’ll find that we’ve got some can’t-be-beat deals to get you motivated, including free shipping on several of your favorite items.

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Removing Emblems from Your Vehicle

Thursday, October 6th, 2005

Happy Halloween, all you ghosts and goblins out there. All ready for some trick-or-treating action? Did anyone out there decorate their car for Halloween? If so, snap a picture and email it to us, the best one might just get published in next month’s issue.

So, this past weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year. Can anyone guess why? No, it has nothing to do with sports. Not even anything to do with cars. Figure it out? Sure you did. It’s the whole “fall back” thing. A whole extra hour of sleep that I did nothing whatsoever to earn. Man, what a bonus. You can’t beat that. Granted, you probably actually spend more than an hour going around the house trying to change all the clocks to the new correct time, especially by the time you re-teach yourself how to set the stupid clock in the TV. So maybe you’re not really gaining much, time-wise, but it feels like you are, and that’s all that matters.

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get pretty psyched for the winter. Sure, summer is fun and all, but it’s about time to cool things down. And this month we’ve got a few items to get your holiday shopping started. Take a look at our site to see what deals we have to offer on spinning hubcaps, tail lights, and more. Also, be sure to check back next month, when we’ll be debuting another new product: Wings West body kits.

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How to Add Graphics to Your Rear Window

Friday, July 8th, 2005

I hope everyone had a good Independence Day and that you got a three day weekend to go along with it! Here at CustomAutoTrim we’ve been gearing up to bring you all the best that summer has to offer. Because as I’m sure you know, there’s no time like summer to pamper both yourself and your car. The days are longer, the nights are warmer, and when else during the year do you spend so much time outside? Cookouts with the neighbors, picnics with family…it’s a beautiful time of year. And all that extra daylight gives you just enough time to give you car the attention it deserves.

So whether you’re looking at doing a complete overhaul, or just hoping to spruce up a bit, rest assured that CustomAutoTrim has the products you need to make your car the best at the block party this summer. And don’t forget to look below for this month’s coupon, designed to make your cool car dreams a reality.

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Installing a Rear Spoiler on Your Car

Sunday, May 15th, 2005

Hey there. All right, raise your hand if you’re totally digging the fact that you can come home from work and it’s still light out. I don’t know about you, but the summer months just put me in a good mood. The days are so much longer, and it just seems as if there is more time to enjoy yourself. And we’re hoping to help you out in that area with a couple of deals on Car and Truck Accessories.

Nothing quite says summer like a road trip. How about it, anyone planning on maximizing their summer fun by hitting the open road? Maybe you’re going to visit family and friends. Or maybe you’re going to take a little drive just to see what the good old U. S. of A. has to offer. Either way, let us help you travel in style and comfort with one of our huge selection of roof racks that are currently on sale. Because really, who wants to spend seven hours in the car with a suitcase between their feet? Also, be sure to check the tips section below for info on how to install a rear spoiler to make your car look hotter than hot this summer in no time flat.

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No Drill Truck Accessory Installations

Saturday, December 4th, 2004

Well, the weather outside may be frightful, but ’round here it’s so delightful. This is the time of year to indulge a little. Not just in the eggnog and pumpkin pie, but also in some of the simpler things in life. Like spending time with family and friends, relaxing by a warm fire. Sitting down to a home cooked feast while cheerful holiday songs play quietly in the background. Taking in the beauty of your neighbor’s homes decorated for the season. Battling traffic to get to an overcrowded mall and wait in line for forty-five minutes. Wait a sec—what was that last one?

Yep, with all the wonder this season brings, it also brings with it the busiest shopping days of the year, the crowds, and the long lines. But before you go all Bah Humbug on us, ho-ho-hold a minute and think about this: we’ve got a simple solution for you. If you’ve got any car fanatics on your shopping list this year (or even if you feel you need to reward yourself with a little something), CustomAutoTrim.com is the best place to do it, and we can promise you won’t have to wait in line and nobody will spray you with cologne!

Pop on down to our Blog section and check out the killer discounts we got going that are sure to make even the biggest grinch on your list crack a grin. And while you’re at it, take advantage of our coupon for even more savings.

Elsewhere in this issue, we’ve got chances for you to learn a few things, win prizes, and even make some extra cash. So sit back, get comfy, and settle in to spend a few moments with us on your favorite subject and mine—cars.

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Installing Body Side Molding like a Pro.

Sunday, October 24th, 2004

As the last vestiges of summer fade into memory here in the good old U. S. of A. and most of the country “falls back” for an extra hour of sleep, we here at AUTOMEGA® feel we have a lot to be thankful for. And you, our valued subscribers, have a lot to be thankful for this month too!

Whether your current auto-obsession is a kickin’ truck or a flashy sports car—or something in-between—we’ve got some hot deals sure to take your breath away. Because after all, the weather outside may be getting frightful, but spending some quality time out there working on your dream machine is still delightful.

Do me a favor and close your eyes for a minute. Think about your car. What do you envision it would take to edge it up just one more notch closer to perfection? Is it a saucy new spoiler? A classy upgrade to a wood-dash? Some smokin’ rear-window graphics? Go ahead, close your eyes and dream. I’ll wait.

Back, are ya? Good, because let me tell you, we can make those dreams come true. Pop on down to our Blog section and check out the killer discounts we got going on everything from your front end to your rear. And if you’re one of those rare people who closed your eyes and couldn’t imagine what you wanted for your car, then are you ever in for some fun! Because I’ll let you in on a little secret: the possibilities are endless, and helping you explore them is what we’re all about.

Elsewhere in this issue, we’ve got chances for you to learn a few things, win prizes, and even make some extra cash. So sit back, get comfy, and settle in to spend a few moments with us on your favorite subject and mine—cars.

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