The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

In my opinion painting it looks rubbish.

Windscreen should be fine as long as you are careful, I haven't had one go yet touch wood!

Successfully replaced one side panel on David Parnell's Sprint today. The result looks good.

Would like to say we did a good job however the credit goes to Sandra, David's cleaning lady who tried to give advice and then realising we were a pair of bumblies, took over and showed us how to do it. Sandra used to work for a company that did trimming for Rover and other companies and made it look easy.

The material used was 4 way stretch vinyl BMW grained, it has similar pattern to original but a semi matt finish. Some Turtle Wax Bumper & Tyre Gel brought it up to match the roofs 'years of polish' shine and it looked very close to the original moulded panel on the other side.

Vinyl from www.as-trim.co.uk 4 way stretch vinyl, stretch tech 1273. Should be ok for the roof as well. Only time will tell how it lasts.
Glue evo stick applied by scraper to metal and stubble brush to vinyl. We used spray on which 'runs and doesn't give control of spread' but worked ok. Important to make sure glue is evenly spread over all the area and given time to dry.

The reason for changing the side panel was bubbling at the lower edge and a split just above the lower trim. Onlooking at the moulded piece removed, this area had not been endowed with glue when fitted in the factory. As we see a number of other cars panels with similar bubbling wonder if this caused by lack of glue and the sun/temperature variations over the years. Easy to imagine the quick wipe with glue brush and slap the moulding on style of a production line.

Marsh

The patchy look is from a not very even application of the gel polish...

I like that well done

Tony

Looks like a good job, gives me hope to get mine done
Thanks to all the info

That looks superb Marsh, any chance of a pic of inside the door shut just to give even more inspiration please, this is a job that I need to do to mine eventually and have been wondering if it would be possible to either try and get a decent pair of second hand originals or it I'd be able to manage stretching and manipulating some vinyl.......I'd now be hopeful to replicate your efforts as they look so good

That looks a great job and the graining looks good too.

I’m sure there are many in need including me when my car is back from paint.
Once again smart job.

Best shot I have of the edge. You will need a tool similar to this plastic one David made up, no sharp edges to push into the corners and smooth the vinyl, propped up on Stanley knife to hopefully show the profile. The material we used has more stretch than normal vinyl but principle is the same.... just harder. Will try and put a few words together as an aid to others.




Looking at the roof on my sprint, the grain is completely different (its a replacement roof vinyl) but not sure I can get the same anyway so probably will go for this material for the sides and just have it different.

Problem with original mouldings is due to the age they are all brittle to some degree, usually worst at the lower edge.

David has taken a picture of the finished job with trim refitted.

Tony

That looks nothing short of superb!! Well done and thanks for posting the pics. I was thinking I'd be needing to start a search to fine some 2nd hand original ones in better condition than the ones on my car but not anymore.........some super dooper 4 way stretchy vinyl is obviously the way to go!!

mfs wrote: ↑Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:50 pm The patchy look is from a not very even application of the gel polish...

Looks great!

Well after many months a member pointed me to matrim and they can supply a kit with the two side panels. So now pay and wait shipping to Canada.
Thanks for all the responses