80schild

iTrader: (5)

I know I have seen IROC's that look okay without them, but not sure about GTA's. Anyone think it would look too plain without them? Maybe look better?

The guy who painted my car put them on a little crooked, and it drives me crazy! LOL

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

not the greatest pic, but here


these cars look great without the moldings, but if the car is more of a DD, and sees a lot of parking lots, it may be a good idea to keep them

FWIW, the wider later style moldings look better than the thin old style.

80schild

iTrader: (5)

No, my car doesn't see many parking lots, I drive it maybe once a week. That car in the pic looks good, but it also has flashy wheels that draw the eye to them, my car is stock with the GTA wheels.

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

I like them myself on, but have seen many without.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

i would swap the wheels between the two cars to give you a closer pic to what you have, but the crosslaces wont clear the c5 brakes on the 86.

I still say ditch them, the car will look a lot cleaner without them.

UNCLE TOM

iTrader: (1)

i have had cars/3rd gens with and without them . i feel they do more good than harm . take your car back to your paint/body shop , bitch slap the first person that tries to say it's o.k. . make them do it correct . good luck .

80schild

iTrader: (5)

Well it was a guy that painted it "on the side". Long story, but I learned my lesson there. I'm having it repainted, but by a reputable shop this time.

DarrensCamaro

iTrader: (6)

Take them off looks much better IMO

58mark

iTrader: (3)

It would make me nuts to park in a parking lot without them

lb9 GTA

I almost never leave my car in parking lots unattended so that's not really an issue for me. Mine would have been gone a while ago if the guy who painted it didn't just shoot over them. They're history when I get paint and body work redone. Looks much cleaner without them IMO.

scottmoyer

You guys say they look much cleaner, but they serve a second purpose of breaking up the large canvas. They do a good job of separating the top from the bottom. In my opinion, the car looks better with them. Cars with no body lines and just smooth rolling panels need something to give the car character.

I had an 86 Olds 442 that came without the moldings. I had them added and the car looked so much better.

camarosrock1989

iTrader: (1)

Actually Scott that car looks pretty sweet without them! But for camaros I like them on

Ron U.S.M.C.

Off for sure.Third.Gen cars look much cleaner with out them.This is my DD and as far as parking lots go I park at the farthest point and have been known to move more than one shopping cart if I think it could roll and that has nothing to do with the side molding.I just don't like cars or carts next to me.

reefland

A quick, on-topic thread hijack...

Where can one find door molding at? I've got a door with and a door without and after comparison, decided to go with.

pearl_iroc

leave them off, if you don't like it you can put them back on

TX T/A

iTrader: (1)

Did you reuse the originals? Are they just glued back on? What was used? I'm painting my car and want them back on, look better IMO

80schild

iTrader: (5)

This is what I used, they look just like the originals as long as they're done correctly. They do have to be cut to the right length though.

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ca...demolding.aspx

Aaron_SK

iTrader: (1)

If a slightly crooked piece of trim annoys you now just imagine how much rows of dents will annoy you later on!

Keep the trim. It serves a purpose.

BTW, Scott, that is a very nice Oldsmobile.

waterboy87

Nice 4-4-2! I used to own a 1987 model. Boy was it slow. 307 Oldsmobile powered!

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

While I like the clean look of no mouldings, I can't say I feel confident enough that the thirdgen F-bodies have a sharp enough body crease to look good without them. The body crease on our cars is pretty soft.

micktroup2

You should be able to 'sharpen up' the body line with the right sort of blocking prior to paint. I think I am going to go that route when I paint.
On my last car (RIP) I heard some dork on a cell phone hit my car with his door as he got out of his SUV. He got away before I could beat the snot out of his 'OC' ***. The impact had dented the door BENEATH the moulding, so sometimes the don't help...

scottmoyer

You're kidding, right?

Aaron_SK

iTrader: (1)

That must be from the TV show-build school of bodywork.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

if the primer is thick enough, im sure you can sand it to a point....