Hey folks,
I'm in the process of refinishing the trim and emblems for the '86 XR7. I'd like to get it painted this spring, so having all of the small things done before will help to avoid any complications.
I already have the taillights, fog lights, and all of the window trim finished. I still have to work on the body molding and trunklid emblems.
I'll attach some pictures of what I've done so far.
The body molding was pretty rough, so I spent a lot of time removing the corroded chrome film and hardened plastic cover. This left me with a plastic base with a light gray color. The next step is to find replacement chrome for that part of the trim (that looks NOS), or paint it dark gray to match the rest of the trim. Cost will be an issue. Ideas?
The XR7-specific emblems are pretty much done. I spent some time "restoring" the header panel emblem, which was pretty dull. I got lucky with the condition of the chrome, but I spent a considerable amount of time trying to clear up the surface of the center section. It was removed and reattached to the chrome base using an epoxy.
The c-pillar emblems are NOS from eBay, so I don't need to work on them. However, they are both for one side of the car; therefore, one of them will have a post or two removed for installation. I just hope they are for the '84-'86 cars and not the '87 cars. If they are for an '87, they really won't fit. In that particular case, I may have to amputate all of the posts and use some 3M material to mount them... which doesn't sit well with me.
Does anybody have any ideas for restoring the emblems on the trunk lid and taillights? I have the standard 'MERCURY' and 'COUGAR' nomenclature, but this car also has the 'XR-7' and 'TURBO' badges on the trunk lid. They all need some attention, as the chrome is shot.
I'm still thinking about what I want to do with those.
Here are some shots of the body trim.
I need to do some final polishing of the softer plastic surface to remove the haze. I may not have to paint any of this molding. If I can remove the cruddy surface to reveal fresh material underneath, then smooth that material to give it a brand-new look, then I'm all set. I'd rather not paint any of this molding.
Ideas?
It took me a long time to find a complete pair of the XR-7 inserts for the fender molding. The cement they used at the factory dries out after several years, and the inserts like to fall out.
I sell the correct chrome tape new. ;)
Nice work on the trim and emblems so far.
Wow that car is gonna be amazing!
Good work!
Thanks for the comments, guys.
Do you have enough material to cover all of the body molding, as well as the front and rear bumper covers? How does it look once it's applied?
Send me a PM with some pricing. :shakeass:
Beautiful work !!! If I weren't so good at it myself,I'd be jealous.LOL.LOL.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=13506
"How To" Install Thread.
The kit is $24.99 shipped (I have 2 in stock right now). It is enough to cover all trim, including the bumpers, plus some extra. 7-10 year outdoor life.
As seen here:
http://www.aerobirdmotorsports.com/Appearance.html
I think it's the details that count the most, so I would look for a set of NOS emblems if at all possible to match those that you have already found.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
Brent,
Do you have any NOS or really nice Cougar emblems? I am having new emblems made down in Florida. I already sent in a full set of 87/88 TC emblems and 87/88 TBird emblems. I have some 83-84 and 85-86 stuff for round 2, but no Cougar emblems at all. The first batch of emblems is due in 6 weeks.
D'oh! Disregard the question in my PM.
I do, but I would rather not let them go to be "guinea pigs" if that is what you are thinking.
Cougarcragar, to help you in your search, here are the part numbers from left to right:
Grill "Mercury" emblem - E5WY-8A223-A
Taillamp "Mercury" emblem - E7YY-16B856-A
Taillamp "Cougar" emblem - E3WY-6642528-A
"XR-7" emblem - E4WY-6642528-B
Not pictured is the "
TURBO" emblem for your '86 - D9ZZ-16B621-A (these weren't used on 1985 cars).
Brent
:cougarsmily:
Thanks, Brent. I really appreciate that.
If things go the way I have planned, the '86 will look like it just rolled off the showroom floor this coming summer (except for the minor performance modifications).
Brent,
Do you have any that would? I'll buy them if need be.
Here's what I do have:
87-88 C-pillar Bird (I dunno if the 85-86 one is the same, could you confirm)
87-88 Thunderbird trunk script
87-88 Turbo_Coupe trunk script
83-84 door panel Bird
83-84 C-pillar Bird
83 "Small" Turbo_Coupe script
83 "Small" Thunderbird script
"EFI_Turbo" script
83-84 grill Bird
87-88 Taillight Bird
Zach, everything looks great! Kudos to you for doing the work.
I agree that you probably will not need to paint the grey molding. However, this is most likely your one and only shot at restoration without paint. The next time you'll probably need it. Not that it's a bad thing...it's just nice to say, "I restored this without paint." ;)
Mike,
I sent you a PM as to keep from hi-jacking Zach's thread.
Brent
:cougarsmily:
looks really good man tell us the secret of your restoring tecniques
the 86 and down trim is much easier to deal with than the 87-88. nice smooth flat surface to work on.
Are you using sanding compound or what to get them back in color? Your doing great work, you alway do. I lost track of something i guess but what happend to your burgandy coug?
Wow, that's incredible. That's one of those things that one would barely consider as even possible.
Here's something new that I've been working on.
I searched my local junkyard for a non-yellowed dome light cover. I finally found one in a Crown Victoria. After polishing the plastic, which can be very fragile, I was able to make it look nearly new.
The chrome light base, which was in pretty poor shape, was brought back to life using the ol' bench polisher.
The picture is blurry, but it really does look NOS.
nice!
Zach, works lookin good :) What year was the Crown Vic you got that plastic piece from?? My light base is in great shape but the plastic cover is cracked.
Thanks
John
You can buy that lens from autozone. They used to stock it but not any more. Ask to see their Dorman catalog. Its behind the counter.