decorative doors pieces, Applique pieces on a 4 DR 2002 GP

**alok** · 08-26-2021

I had sasked this awhile back, but wondering maybe now there are some new ideas on it. I was recently told by a local Buick/Cadillac/Chevy dealer body shop that messing with these decorative pieces will usually break them because of their age. The body shop person also said that if they painted them it wouldn't last more then afew years and it would start peeling.

These decorative pieces, called Applique ( just leaned that word from the dealer !!! ), has anybody painted them ,done it yourself ? How? On the car or off the car? If you took them off the car what holds them on, clips ? If so are these clips available if they break ?
How did you prep them for piant ? Exactly what brand / color ( I know Black but did you use a specific color Black ) and maybe paint number from can that you used, was it a gloss, semi-gloss, etc. How many coats did you do ?

I 'd apprecaite somebody that painted these and how did they did it and how they came out ,how long ago did you do it, is it holding up OK ?
Thank You.

Al

**The Guz** · 08-26-2021

I had my car repainted sometime around 2017. These pieces were also painted and they have been holding up just fine.

**idrivejunk** · 08-27-2021

I agree with the pro advice you got. An always-garaged, low miles vehicle might still let you remove the molding / cladding / applique without damage if you are extremely careful plus luck is on your side that day. A typically weathered specimen at this point will just about let you poke a hole through it with your finger. The top is retained by a very thin lip tucked under a riveted metal retaining strip. The way-too-thin strip of plastic along top of molding becomes securely wedged in place after dirt accumulates in that area, preventing the thin lip from sliding out and it rips. Way too easy at this stage of decay. I cannot suggest removal attempts unless a new replacement molding is in hand. It is not unlike the situation encountered when threads at the tip of a bolt rust to a point where the bolt cannot be unscrewed.

As far as paint, any time the substrate is deteriorating, that limits the ability of the coating to perform as expected. No method of preparation or special coating can compensate for that.

**alok** · 08-27-2021

Thanks for the replys, my old GP looks pretty good except for these pieces on the doors.

Al

Thread: decorative doors pieces, Applique pieces on a 4 DR 2002 GP

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