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.

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/

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/

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.

TIP SHACK

This month, we got the question:

Hey Mike, I want to put some accessories on my truck, but I’m afraid of drilling any holes in it. How can I fix it up without messing it up?

What a great question! We have LOTS of products for you that are EASY to install without drilling any holes in your truck. How about a set of nerf bars or fender flares? Each bolts on easily using existing factory drilled holes, so there’s no drilling required by you at all! Or how about a dash kit? Just peel and stick and you’ll look like a million bucks! Or how about a set of our altezza tail lights? They install easily just by removing your existing tail light screws and bulb and then reinstalling them into the new lens that we send to you. Quick and easy! Graphic kits are an easy installation too! And best of all, each of these products gives you a new look with zero risk, because all these changes are reversible if you decide you want switch back.

There are many easy to install accessories that can customize your truck without any major labor or drilling, sometimes in as little as just a few minutes. You can check out all of these products at http://CustomAutoTrim.com!

WRAPPING UP

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Just call our toll free support line at 1-800-232-6922. We’re standing by to help!

Alternatively, hit the reply button and I’ll get right back to you. We welcome general questions or queries, as well as comments and suggests. Thanks for your time!

Happy Holidays