Replacing kick plates

[Chris71]

Hi,

I need to replace the kick plates fitted to my Chima. I noticed Racing Green, Leven and a couple of other companies all have options available. Is there anything to choose between them in terms of fitting etc. or is it just an aesthetic choice?

Secondly, does anyone have any tips for fitting the new ones - I think some are self adhesive and some simply glued on? And does anyone have any advice for removing the old ones without taking a huge chunk of paint off at the same time?

Cheers,

Chris

[Simon BB]

Hi,

I bought and fitted some last year, sourced from TVR Power (£35 IIRC). I think they are all pretty much of a muchness in terms of style the critcal thing being that the ones I bought and the ones I replaced were riveted on i.e. the ones supplied had pre-drilled holes so sticking them on wasn't really an option as they would look naff without rivets and just holes.

Fortunately the holes matched perfectly so it was just a case of drilling out the rivets and popping the new ones on.

Very straightford - go on get a rivet gun, you know you want to!

Si

[seeby]

Hi Chris, I did what you want to do last year on my Chim.I got my new kick plates from Leven and they were pre drilled in all 4 corners and I fixed mine with short 8mm self tappers with slot heads and got the heads all finishing up the same way for neatness.As far as getting the old ones off, I managed to get my finger tips just under one corner and slowly (I mean slowly) prise away from the body .This took about 5mins either side as the originals were stuck on with double sided tape.Good Luck.Colin

[Chris71]

Thanks chaps. In the absence of any obvious rivets or screws I'm just going to assume the current ones are stuck on and get prising. Carefully.

To be honest I'm rather tempted by the self adhesive ones. It seems like a very straightforward option.

[Chris71]

Well I've got the old ones off. Unfortunately there's a certain amount of residue left on the fibreglass. I'm not sure if it's glue or the remains of an old self-adhesive strip but, whatever it is, it's tacky/rubbery and quite difficult to scrape off. Any tips?

I was wondering if there were any solvents which might losen the gum without attacking the paint?

[ralphy12345]

Chris71 said:

Well I've got the old ones off. Unfortunately there's a certain amount of residue left on the fibreglass. I'm not sure if it's glue or the remains of an old self-adhesive strip but, whatever it is, it's tacky/rubbery and quite difficult to scrape off. Any tips?

I was wondering if there were any solvents which might losen the gum without attacking the paint?

Depending on the type of adhesive... white spirit or uPVC cleaner used in conjunction with a hair dryer. ;-)

R

[Johno]

Chris71 said:

Well I've got the old ones off. Unfortunately there's a certain amount of residue left on the fibreglass. I'm not sure if it's glue or the remains of an old self-adhesive strip but, whatever it is, it's tacky/rubbery and quite difficult to scrape off. Any tips?

I was wondering if there were any solvents which might losen the gum without attacking the paint?

I hope you've sourced your replacements . . .

A little tale, when compelting the re-spray resto I did of the Griffith last year I'd removed the old kick plates and when it returned all shiny and nice I went to order some new kick plates. . .

Racing Green (had some other bits coming anyway) . . sorry, we're out of stock. Try Leven, we get them from there.

Leven, hi Johno, we're out of stock, we only produce when there's at least 10 sets . . .

TVR Power, I'll order 10o sets from Leven and you can have one set . . . I'll call you back . . silence, continued silence . . . ongoing silence.

In the end someone on here made me a set, he took the originals off me and then copied them for me exactly and I fitted them on the night stop before leaving for Le Mans . . .

So I hope someone's got some stock, otherwise you'll be like me with a pair of big spaces where the kick plates used to be whilst you tried to get some more . . .

I'm not making a reference to the supplier of mine as it was a favour, he may offer, but it's not fair I keep shipping people his way. Shame as they a absolutely identical which was critical to the resto for me and not some cheap rip off dodgy looking feckers you can get off the bay . ..

Good luck.

[Chris71]

Cheers gents, sounds like I'll be borrowing the OH's hair dryer tonight!

Johno said:

I hope you've sourced your replacements . . .

I've ordered a nice shiny Leven set. It did occur to me, however, that I maybe should have checked the area they cover before getting rather brutal on removing the old ones.

I tried very hard to avoid scratching the paint itself, but I think I've nicked it in a few places. I'm fairly sure the new ones will be significantly bigger - the current ones are really tiny and don't even cover the whole width of the sill - but I'll be happier once I've confirmed the new ones will cover the scars!