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View Full Version : Remove Side Molding or no?

skytower31
03-08-2004, 08:50 PM
I've got a black Firehawk and I am trying to decide whether or not to remove the side molding. It has started to look kinda crapy and doesn't shine like the rest of the car. If you all could post up some pics of black firebirds with the molding gone I would love to see them. The only spot that I don't think I will like the molding gone is between the two wents in front of the doors. Any close-ups in that area would be awesome. Thanks!!!

Also, with my car being black and an '02, do you think the paint will not match underneath? Could the rest of the car faded much in 1.5 yrs?
DJ Red Barron
03-09-2004, 01:54 AM
Personally, I would remove them. They serve no purpose and to me it smooths out the lines better on a Firehawk especially. Here are a few pics of my old Hawk with no moldings.

http://www.superlightning.com/barron/02Hawk/images/image013.jpg
http://www.superlightning.com/barron/02Hawk/images/image056.jpg
http://www.superlightning.com/barron/02Hawk/images/image053.jpg
O1PewterWS6
03-09-2004, 01:58 AM
I would say remove them, I am seriously thinking about doing it, but would you guys leave the Trans Am on?
JoeJ
03-09-2004, 02:30 AM
i totally debaged my car, side moldings and badges, one of the best appearance mods I've done.
97RamSS/T
03-09-2004, 04:11 AM
I like the side moldings on the car better than off...but thats just my opinion. I think it looks too plain without them....but then again I don't like the Vettes that come from the factory without them either.

Bottom line is its your car...if you think you would like it better with them off then take them off.
skytower31
03-09-2004, 04:13 AM
I would leave the Trans Am. I just like knowing that the heritage of the Trans Am is still visible to the common person somewhere on the car...plus it is already body colored, so it is nice and low key. Now since I have a Firehawk, I am definately keeping those decals on!
03ToRcHrEdVeTtE
03-09-2004, 04:55 AM
leave it on :) the car looks too plain without it.
NightHawk WS6
03-09-2004, 05:08 AM
get rid of the molding but get silver overlays for the badges would be my vote

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/flames1.JPG

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/side2.JPG

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/others.JPG
TheSilverSurfer
03-09-2004, 02:45 PM
Leave them on;)
skytower31
03-09-2004, 02:59 PM
Originally posted by TheSilverSurfer
Leave them on;)

Ok, you can't just say leave them on! Why do you think they shouldn't be removed?
T-Rod
03-09-2004, 06:07 PM
Take it off, it looks so much cleaner with them off. The serve no purpose other than to muck up the clean lines of the car. I had mine on for 3 years, and when i took them off the paint was still the same color underneath. So you don't have to worry about paint fade.
1BADFIREHAWK
03-09-2004, 07:36 PM
Leave them on. Personally I thought about taking them off but decided against. You have a firehawk and if you plan on keeping it original then eventually you will want them on. I just think they look better the way they came, but thats me. :)
DKenn08
03-09-2004, 09:39 PM
Molding removed with Trans Am emblem left on.

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/molding.jpg

http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/86773272otqqQj_ph.jpg
killer01ws6
03-11-2004, 04:45 PM
We talked about it on AIM, but I will vote for the record, take them off if a Hawk, leave them on Ta's
zombie5011
03-12-2004, 06:16 PM
I took it all off my car also, the only thing I have on it is the pontiac arrow logo on the front bumper with a refelctive bird decal over the front cover and the reflective rear fill with my fiber optic lighted rear tail light center bird. So basically no one that doesnt know what my car is wont know ( yes there are people stupid enought not to know) They can only tell its a pontiac with a bird on it.......................
MYSCZ06
03-13-2004, 08:12 AM
Take 'em off looks clean with out them I will do mine when I return from Korea didnt get sorund to it before I left...
1CAMWNDR
03-15-2004, 09:00 PM
OK. I think I am going to remove mine also. I already removed the Formula badge on the door. Will the side moldings remove the same way (Dental Floss and a hairdryer:eek: )?
skytower31
04-16-2004, 04:57 AM
Finally removed the molding! It was a warm day with my car parked outside so I said...what the hell...and went out side and pulled it off. Came off pretty easily. Tonight I just watched that area and used some orange solvent to get the goo off and put about 3 coats of Zaino on...and I love it! It is a very subtle change and think it is a must for the Firehawks because we have the flat decals, not the raised TA lettering. I am very pleased!

Now I ONLY washed the area where the molding came off, so the rest of the door and fender looks like ASS...and all of the light "marks" you see on the door are reflections from the garage floor. I will get better pics when it is day light and the whole car is washed. Anyhoots, here are the pics.

http://firehawk.jonbroomfield.com/molding/SMPICT0767.jpg

http://firehawk.jonbroomfield.com/molding/SMPICT0769.jpg

http://firehawk.jonbroomfield.com/molding/SMPICT0770.jpg

http://firehawk.jonbroomfield.com/molding/SMPICT0771.jpg
killer01ws6
04-16-2004, 02:02 PM
DAYTIME pics, we Need Daytime pics.... ;) :p

From what I can see, I like it. :)
Tiel6
04-16-2004, 09:29 PM
http://www.ls1camaro.net/freehosting/doorview2.JPG
This is our TA with the molding removed :)
(I tried to make the pic a thumbnail, but couldn't get it to work)
ZeusJr
04-17-2004, 02:34 AM
Originally posted by skytower31
Ok, you can't just say leave them on! Why do you think they shouldn't be removed?

yes he can and so can I.. leave them on... :p


IMO they look much better on... :yup:
TheSilverSurfer
04-19-2004, 12:05 AM
Don't take them off!!!!!!!!!!
PSJ
04-19-2004, 12:12 AM
Another vote for leaving them on....




....PSJ:)
JMBLOWNWS6
04-28-2004, 12:01 PM
Take them off. You wont regret it :D
RedPhoenix1998
04-28-2004, 12:04 PM
I like them off, I love it!
joblo1978
05-05-2004, 04:02 PM
I think I will remove mine, too much of a pain waxing around and on them, residue gets in the cracks and the molding is a little faded as opposed to the rest of the car.
joblo1978
05-06-2004, 02:33 PM
I removed them, it's a PIA to get all of the backing tape off but it looks great once you get them off. Due to the shape of the door, you can barely tell they're gone. It's a very subtle difference that looks clean. Those moldings make the car too busy looking and detract from the rest of the car, removing them also makes your scoops more evident I think. Cool mod.

I think back in the day those moldings used to be an option?
YELLERR
05-07-2004, 03:58 PM
Nice pictures. I've thought of doing this to my collector too. I've seen Camaro's and TA's done. That's the first Fire Hawk I've seen with the molding removed. I think it looks Awesome! What do ya'll think, should I remove mine or not? :cool:
killer01ws6
05-07-2004, 04:44 PM
On a CE... I don't think so, but that is me. :)


:ghost:
skytower31
05-07-2004, 05:52 PM
Originally posted by killer01ws6
On a CE... I don't think so, but that is me. :)


:ghost:

I think they should come off on the hawks and stay on on the T/A because you guys have the raised letters where as the hawks have the decals.
Compuvision02
05-07-2004, 07:08 PM
:stupid:
Mike Hawk
05-10-2004, 07:44 PM
The guy's pic that made up my mind
http://www.members.cox.net/hawk352/Sideless.jpg

My car :D
http://www.members.cox.net/hawk352/Moldless.jpg

No side stickers cause the whole front of the car had to be repainted cause of the infamous fender tab bs. I had to have new fenders put on.
skytower31
05-10-2004, 07:51 PM
Damn that looks nice!!! Very slick and clean lookin' car!:cool: