Toyota MR2 Message Board - View Single Post - How to: Make your own solid side moldings.

Hellstorm · 08-14-2008, 08:48 PM

Ok so i got tired of looking at my crappy side moldings up on my front bumper, and decided it was time for a change. Well i was looking at the prices on the jdm solid side moldings and nearly died when i saw how expensive they were. So i decided i would make my own. This way i could make them fit perfect to my car. Well if anyone has been keeping up with my car, its being painted right now so its the perfect time to do this. Well here it goes.... this is for anyone who cant afford new ones, and wants a custom fit, and has access to the materials from which mine were made.

What you need:

Masking tape.
Body filler.
A piece of thin metal to cut from.
3 nuts and bolts
A light putty.
Primer.
40, 80, and 400 grit sand paper and a block.
About a days worth of work.

I started off by taping off the area that I was working with. I layed down 4 layers just to make sure when i was sanding, i wouldnt go through into my paint. I also taped off the side marker and put it in place.

Now a cut a scrap piece of aluminum i had to match the size of the space where the molding would go. You can use whatever youve got access to for this piece. Its mostly for structural support.

Now i poked holes through the tape where the bolts go in.

now take a Marker and put the piece of metal in place and mark the back side through the bolt holes.

Now go drill the holes. I also half way drilled out a bunch of spots to give the body filler grooves to fill in.....to stick better to the metal.

now take three bolts and nuts and attach the piece into place. Tighten it down good. Youre going to need to bend the piece of metal as well to conform to the curve of the fender.

Now lay down some paper below the taped area because the body filler will drip on your bumper and mess up your paint.

Now apply a large amount of filler. Youre going to have to work it in place and keep it in place while it sets up.

now take a razor and clean up all the excess on the edges. Be carefull and dont cut through the tape too and into your paint. You must do this BEFORE THE FILLER FULLY HARDENS!

Now take a block and some 40 grit sand paper and start sanding it flush with the body.

Now you might have low spots like me so i needed to apply more filler and repeat the whole process.

Now remove the piece. Should pop right out by pressing on the bolts.

Now take some 80 grit sand paper on your block and sand down the egdes straight or curved or however your bumper flows.

Once you get it sanded down how you like, its time to primer it. After you shot the primer, apply a light putty to fill in any pits or scratches in the filler. Then once youve sanded that flat with 400 grit and water, prime it again. Keep sanding and priming until youve got a smooth surface. here is how my driver side turned out when i was done. Its exact fitment to my fender and bumper and is completely flush and perfect once tightened down! I love it!

Its ready to paint!

Finished (PERFECT) product:

08-14-2008, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hellstorm I Bet I Can Break It. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 734 Thanks: 12 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	How to: Make your own solid side moldings. Ok so i got tired of looking at my crappy side moldings up on my front bumper, and decided it was time for a change. Well i was looking at the prices on the jdm solid side moldings and nearly died when i saw how expensive they were. So i decided i would make my own. This way i could make them fit perfect to my car. Well if anyone has been keeping up with my car, its being painted right now so its the perfect time to do this. Well here it goes.... this is for anyone who cant afford new ones, and wants a custom fit, and has access to the materials from which mine were made. What you need: Masking tape. Body filler. A piece of thin metal to cut from. 3 nuts and bolts A light putty. Primer. 40, 80, and 400 grit sand paper and a block. About a days worth of work. I started off by taping off the area that I was working with. I layed down 4 layers just to make sure when i was sanding, i wouldnt go through into my paint. I also taped off the side marker and put it in place. Now a cut a scrap piece of aluminum i had to match the size of the space where the molding would go. You can use whatever youve got access to for this piece. Its mostly for structural support. Now i poked holes through the tape where the bolts go in. now take a Marker and put the piece of metal in place and mark the back side through the bolt holes. Now go drill the holes. I also half way drilled out a bunch of spots to give the body filler grooves to fill in.....to stick better to the metal. now take three bolts and nuts and attach the piece into place. Tighten it down good. Youre going to need to bend the piece of metal as well to conform to the curve of the fender. Now lay down some paper below the taped area because the body filler will drip on your bumper and mess up your paint. Now apply a large amount of filler. Youre going to have to work it in place and keep it in place while it sets up. now take a razor and clean up all the excess on the edges. Be carefull and dont cut through the tape too and into your paint. You must do this BEFORE THE FILLER FULLY HARDENS! Now take a block and some 40 grit sand paper and start sanding it flush with the body. Now you might have low spots like me so i needed to apply more filler and repeat the whole process. Now remove the piece. Should pop right out by pressing on the bolts. Now take some 80 grit sand paper on your block and sand down the egdes straight or curved or however your bumper flows. Once you get it sanded down how you like, its time to primer it. After you shot the primer, apply a light putty to fill in any pits or scratches in the filler. Then once youve sanded that flat with 400 grit and water, prime it again. Keep sanding and priming until youve got a smooth surface. here is how my driver side turned out when i was done. Its exact fitment to my fender and bumper and is completely flush and perfect once tightened down! I love it! Its ready to paint! Finished (PERFECT) product: Last edited by Hellstorm; 10-22-2008 at 02:03 AM.