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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by KeplerNiko on Mon Sep 27 03:49 CST 2004
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last visit: Sun Jan 20 09:26 CST 2008

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I recently saw a picture of a nice-looking 242 turbo, which had black side trim pieces. My '89 GL has the chrome side trim. I am considering changing the chrome trim to or replacing it with black trim. I think the black trim looks a little more aggressive (or something like that), and my chrome trim isn't as shiny as it used to be.

Should I mask off the chrome trim pieces and spraypaint it black? I found some spraypaint that worked really well when I removed the black tape under the windows and had to respray. If I go this route, I wouldn't have to worry about breaking clips or forgetting to pick up a necessary piece from the junkyard, but I'm wondering if spraypaint would work very well on the chrome surface.

Should I look for a turbo Volvo from which to scrounge the trim? Besides having never seen a turbo in a junkyard in the area (much less seeing them very often on the roads), there's a good chance that it would take a while to find the pieces, especially if the cars are there due to body damage (=broken trim). Plus, I'd have to look specifically for a turbo sedan, and like I said, turbos are rare around here. How many pieces of trim are there, and how are they attached? It looks like there are seven--four on the doors, two on the front panels, and one that wraps around the trunk. Will the trim from an earlier car work on the post-'86 ones? Are turbos the only cars that got the black trim, instead of chrome, or did certain years/packages have different colored trim?

I'm guessing spraypainting would be easiest. Any suggestions/prior experiences?
--
'89 244 GL -- 105,XXX miles (see profile for info on car)

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by bulletproof on Mon Sep 27 11:07 CST 2004
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:02 CST 2014

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You can widen your search a bit. Some cars other than turbo's had the black trim. I had an '84 DL that had it. The pieces were wider and had a higher peak than the chrome trim on my '79 and '80. I don't know what years might have had it but models other than turbo did sport this trim. It does tend to dry rot though.
--
'80 DL 2 dr

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by CliveAlive on Mon Sep 27 05:34 CST 2004
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last visit: Sun Nov 24 21:29 CST 2013

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Yeah ... well ... it's all a matter of taste, isn't it?

I blacked out the chrome window trim on my wagon except the rain gutter. However I am leaving the sedan chrome.

That's a nice looking 244 you have and I like the egg-crate grill. Looking at the pic in your profile and if it was me, I would leave the side trim as-is, black out the front and rear window trim, leave the rain gutter chrome and restore the bottom side mouldings or (it's a bit late now perhaps) paint them body color.

Just my 2c and your taste may well differ!!!

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by KeplerNiko on Mon Sep 27 10:27 CST 2004
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last visit: Sun Jan 20 09:26 CST 2008

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For a second there, I was a little lost as to what you meant. It turns out that I asked the question referring to a totally different part of the trim.

I hadn't even thought about making black the trim to which you refer. I had originally only considered doing something about the trim that runs along the side of the car--the line, just above the side Volvo logos, that runs from the turn signals all the way around to the back.

Is the trim that I mean always chrome? VLVWorld appears to offer it in black. The car that originally inspired me to ask this question, though, appears to have the same style as my car, just a bit bolder and blacker on the bottom.

I'm not sure what I'll do. Looking back at the pictures of my car, I see that the trim you guys mean could definitely use some revitalization, either through good polishing or turning into black trim. I'll let everyone know how it goes, but I'm certainly still open to suggestions.
--
'89 244 GL -- 105,967 miles (see profile for info on car)

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by CliveAlive on Mon Sep 27 11:51 CST 2004
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last visit: Sun Nov 24 21:29 CST 2013

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I think we understand each other. I was referring to the trim that runs around the "waist" of the car when I said I would leave it as-is.

I mentioned I had painted the window trim on my wagon just by way of the experience in painting chrome trim black.

I just mentioned the other stuff, as I said, what I would do if it was my car.

Anyway, good luck with what you decide. It's all just personal taste.

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by swedesteed on Mon Sep 27 04:29 CST 2004
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last visit: Tue Mar 27 16:37 CST 2012

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I haven't done this, but my gut feeling is that you could sand down the chrome by hand and then spraypaint it black. Or better yet, use that high-dollar black bumper paint they sell at IPD; that way, it'll probably resist weather for longer.

But you have other chrome on your car (from your photos); you sure you wanna do this? I think it might look odd to have chrome trim in some places but not in others--although you do have that all-black grill.

BTW, I just checked out your photos; your car overall looks great. (Also read the Maaco saga.) I like the absence of the badges; looks somewhat myserious/covert that way. And those wheels! Where'd you get 'em? And are those headrest covers the Volvo ones you can buy on eBay?

--
John--'88 244DL, M47, 102K

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Chrome side trim pieces--paint black or replace? 200

posted by KeplerNiko on Mon Sep 27 10:18 CST 2004
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last visit: Sun Jan 20 09:26 CST 2008

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Thanks for the compliments on the car. Obviously, the debadging is pretty unique, but I think it'd look even better with the flat pre-86 style trunk lid. That way I would also be able to pretty easily add an OEM spoiler, should I so desire. However, there are issues with changing the locking cylinders and paint matching, so I'll leave that problem for another day.

The wheels are Volvo Corona rims, usually standard equipment on the GLs. I've just cleaned them up a lot better than most of the cars out there.

As for the headrests, I've got the OEM insterts that are matched to the interior of the car. They can be bought on eBay, but I was fortunate in that our car came with them.
--
'89 244 GL -- 105,967 miles (see profile for info on car)

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