Original trim on the 64-64, is it chrome or stainless steel? It looks like SS to me and I need to remove paint spray from some pieces and repair some dents (window trim was put on with a sledge hammer?!?!). believe it or not, the drip rails have dried, caked on blue masking tape on the underside from a primer job 10 years ago! Can't take the stuff off with my fingernail!
I am talking about the drip rails, window trim, and windshield trim. Can I clean it up with 000 steel wool without scratching it up? The windshield trim was put back on with a hammer (the expensive passenger side piece of course). What would others you to clean and restore it if it is SS. Some pieces will need to be replaced, but if it doesn't need to be...
Thanks!

 

Yes, all the trim is stainless (except for part of the vent window frame and quarter glass frame). No, wool will scratch. Use a solvent. You can get single pieces used from Glazier Nolan. The trim polishes very well on a high speed buffer. Be very careful, if you have never done this. If the wheel catches an edge, it will flash across the shop at warp 2.5. If you were not wearing leather gloves, your blood will be on it. The repro trim is a bit softer than the OE, dunno if this is due to the alloy or the age. I have installed the repro trim without damaging it.

 

If you have original trim and are able to salvage it, that would be the best option...again IF it is original. I have had some success with aftermarket trim but not great.

And for the windshield trim??? Man that was a cursing nightmare to fit.

 

I've sent more than one piece across the garage that way. Trim, bolts, etc. I also managed to remove the wiring from the rear license by wire wheeling around it. Got a bit too close.

 

Hmmm… I installed a couple of sets of windshield trim this summer, no damage and very little cursing. Clicked right in.

 

Depends upon the car and the trim. Some trim drops in nicely, some is a ***** to put on. The way the trim was formed in the die at the factory has a lot to do with how well it will fit.

 

This helps if you are installing. If you put a little masking tape on the body where the clips are you can located them when you go to pop the trim down. Otherwise, you are kind of guessing where they are.

 

Oh for gosh sakes, 0000 steel wool will not scratch stainless trim. I have been using 0000 steel wool for 30 years and it works great. It won't mess up glass or chrome either.

 

I thought I had read it in one of the mustang restoration books that you could use steel wool to clean the trim, but can't find it now. One of them I did find says to use a scotch brite pad which is basically synthetic steel wool. You can use the ultra-fine synthetic to clean stainless steel refrigerators and stoves, so I don't know why you couldn't here unless it has some clear-coat that would be stripped by using it.

 

I purchased a metal buffing kit that has several buffing wheels and buffing compound to use on the trim, but it says not to use on stainless plated metals. The window trim and drip rail trim (original) are solid or are they plated?
The bumpers I assume are chrome plated (since they have spot/dust rust), so I would just use chrome polish on them?