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Topic: 87-88 Bird without the Side Trim? (Read 4163 times) previous topic - next topic

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Looking for a pic, if anyone here has one, of a 87-88 T-Bird with the Rubber Side Trim that runs down the side of the doors and the front/rear parts of the fenders, removed, and then smoothed out/painted. I'm interested to see how it will look, before I take the plunge with mine, as my bird is in the process of being worked over for paint right now. Thanks...  -B

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #1 –
Both me and my father has it.

Mine





Dads




There you have different angles so you can see what it looks like. I like it A LOT better without the side trim. That could also be because my dads car has been in the family longer than I have and he hasn't had the side trims on for as long as I can remember and probably quite a bit more.

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #2 –


[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #3 –
X
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #4 –
Its best to leave the short sections in front of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels to mate with the bumpers. I took mine off to paint and never put it back.

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #5 –
how about a cougar pic too....
Sig
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #6 –
side view
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #7 –
Awesome. Thanks for all the pics guys. Especially Thunderbird88, all those angle shots give me the perfect idea of what it will look like.

I'm sold on doing this now, the trim is coming off tonight, along with the doors. If anyone wants my old "Turbo Coupe" badges, let me know.

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #8 –
Good choice! So much less "old man" look of the cars without them ;)

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #9 –
I think they look weird removed on anything but black.

88 t-bird tc - 14.97 @ 90  IHI 18 psi + k+n filter...so far - NOW HX-35 @25psi - 12.75@112    348rwhp/395rwtq
78 F-150 - 11.61@120 on 175shot N20 - 12.55@110 on motor - 5200# race weight:hick:

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #10 –
I like them removed. Even better if what is left is painted the body color like Thunder Chickens photo. Maybe that's why it looks better on the black cars.

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #11 –
I'm going with High Gloss Black, and painting the remaining bumper/fender trim as well. Also gonna be removing all the Bird emblems except for the one on the header panel, and murdering out the entire car. You won't even be able to see this Bird at night. Need to think of a name for her as well. Blackbird? Stealthbird? The Crow? Hmmmm.....

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #12 –
How bout doing the trim in Semi gloss I think that might look cool on a completely black car.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Big B;408961
I'm going with High Gloss Black, and painting the remaining bumper/fender trim as well. Also gonna be removing all the Bird emblems except for the one on the header panel, and murdering out the entire car. You won't even be able to see this Bird at night. Need to think of a name for her as well. Blackbird? Stealthbird? The Crow? Hmmmm.....

leave the badges,,, just paint them all satin black like I did, along with all the rest of the trim on the car
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

87-88 Bird without the Side Trim?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: FirstBird;408977
How bout doing the trim in Semi gloss I think that might look cool on a completely black car.

 
Thats pretty much what I'm doing. It think it should look nice to have a slight contrast between the trim and body.


Quote from: daminc;408982
leave the badges,,, just paint them all satin black like I did, along with all the rest of the trim on the car


The badges are going for sure, both the C-pillar ones, and the Turbo Coupe/Thunderbird badges on the decklid. The car will have a much smoother look when it's done, IMO, than if I had just painted them to blend in.