Hey Guys,
I'm looking for some opinions on the "look" of my car. I'm not into things looking perfect since this car will be outside quite a bit and driven. Plus I don't have the dough or the time to get too involved.
However, I'd like my TC to look a little more original. The previous owner went monochrome with it. All the gray/black trim was painted body color and the black/red body molding was removed.
I'd like to find that black/red TC body molding. Is that a junkyard search? Is it a pain to remove and reinstall with good results? Does anyone have some they don't want and willing to sell?
Open to any aestheic suggestions that will make my TC look a little more....1985!
Thanks,
Jon
Honestly, I think your car looks good the way it is, it's clean, sleek, and doesn't look all "tacky".
With that said, it's your car, and your pride when you drive it, and I respect that. ;)
I'd say most likely a j/y or finding another '85-'86 TC for the molding will be the best bet.
Mike Pinto used to sell the inserts for the molding, but with a little ingenuity, you could come up with something as good if not better.
As far as reinstalling it, I have no idea...I need to figure that out for myself, as I'm going to install molding from an '88 TC on my Sport.
(so there goes my clean, sleek, and not-so-tacky looks lol)
like Beau said, car looks good without but if you must have the moulding your best bet is gonna be a junk yard. when I reinstalled my moulding I used 3M double sided tape. make sure you get the extra wide tape and clean both surfaces really well.
Put a set of huge cragers wheels on the back with tires so fat that the quarters cut into them when you hit bumps. Then throw a pair of loose 6x9 speakers in the rear window and fuzzy dice on the mirror.
Grow your hair out, put on a jean jacket, high-tops, and tight acid-washed jeans. Pop a Judas Priest tape in your alpine tape deck (turn on your spark-o-matic EQ "booster") and lets roll!
The 80s ruled :)
Sorry I don't have any real suggestions, the moulding is a good start though. Maybe some chrome 80's style rims. Snowflakes look a little "modern" to me.
You'll probably want to kill me but I would have been more "Men at Work" and "Psychedelic Furs" that Judas Priest.
Thanks for the tips guys. Does the 87/88 side molding (black/red) integrate with the '85 body and bumpers?
No they are different
1985? Start with a set of 16" BBS or Riken basketweaves, put in a Pioneer Super Tuner II cassette deck, install a set of GTS headlight and taillight covers, and re-install the red and black mouldings.
Oh, I should have said OEM-ish 1985. I did the bezels black already, they look nice. I'll try and hit the JY for some funky fresh TC black/red moldings. There's quite a few TC's in the JY out here.
It's time to put some TC back in the TC.
Just make sure that you get the 85-86 TC moldings. The 87-88 TC moldings won't line up with the body lines and will look like poo on your car....
These cars scream 80's without any help. If you've grown up in the 80's, you can tell the difference between our cars and newer cars.
I like it just the way it is...not sure why I feel that way...
(http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2/grizzly_011/DSC00921.jpg)
how about get rid of the snowflakes? thats 87-88 lol car looks great but only thoughts are finding parts from other 85 cars
How about this, mustang 10-hole rims. Scream 80's and can be had for cheap, clean up easy and are easy to find. Also alot easier to find tires for then a 14" hubcapped rim. That is actually why I bought my 10 holes. All the 15" tires were alot cheaper. $10 or more per tire.
Paint your bumper black and put on a pinstripe.
another wheel choice - BBS style mesh, black or gunmetal center with chrome lip, 15" or 16" wheels
I actually like your car the way it is... monochrome look, snowflakes and all!
It's going to be tough finding bodyside moldings. If you can find a decent set, they are a pain to get off too if you can find them on a donor car.
Thanks guys for all the ideas and suggestions. I appreciate the fact that many see the car as lookin good the way it is.
Wow "ivygreen" your bird does look like a real clean version of mine. Someone had the same idea. Gonna try and get to the JY between all my obligations. Bummer I can't bring my 3 year old on leash to the JY... he'd love it. I'll update.
Awesome look you have as well! I always get excited and it juvinates my hope that mine will look just as nice in black when I eventually get mine refinished.
As for the molding check out this guy. They need some work but it's a start.
http://foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=25403
Repaint trim, mirrors, and etc black and get yourself some BBS Mesh or Lincoln LSC wheels (easier to come by, but require 5-lug conversion). And as Haystack said, slap on a pinstripe. I miss pinstripes. :D
I honestly like both setups, both I like the original setup more.
Find an '85 sales brochure....copy the look.
Someone tell me I'm not insane or have a disease. I pulled all this trim off an 85 Bird at the JY today. That OE adhesive was STRONG. Found some fog lights too. I'm on my way. Here's a shot of a proud Bird owner with my new parts.
Hey I took my 3yo to a yard. sat her on my shoulders as we walked through, when we found the car I was looking for, I plopped her on the trunk and went to work. It's called redneck bonding!:mullet:
Well, You need to get the ten hole wheels that came with it and sell those Snowflakes, then the T/C grille, the moldings will be the hardest thing to get. Good luck!!
Zbird... Thanks. What's the TC grill? Isn't that just the same as mine but painted black? The bird I pulled the moldings from yesterday had a good grill but I didn't look twice at it because I figured I could paint mine.
Every 86 car i have had, had a chrome grill. They were all cougars though.