The pictures at left illustrate how our chrome moldings are perfect mirrors and reflect the product boxes they sit on.

Auto moldings by Cowles or Trim-Gard are made of the finest quality materials to provide easy installation and long lasting performance. Moldings are made with virgin PVC cores and 3M acrylic automotive mounting tape.

Chrome Moldings are made with a reflective aluminized polyester film (Mylar) sandwiched between a UV protective coating and a vinyl backing that attaches the film to the translucent gray extruded vinyl core. In most cases, the Mylar film is wrapped around the molding core to the back side so the edge is protected by the 3M tape and not exposed to the elements. Care should be taken to avoid abrading the protective film, which can then allow salt and road chemicals to degrade the reflective properties of the Mylar film.

All mouldings are flexible and easy to work with.

Wider widths come with two strips of 3M peel'n'stick tape, narrower widths come with one strip.

Molding Kits come packaged in lengths convenient for the do-it-yourself installer.

Body side moldings can be used to enhance the appearance of your car or truck as well as function as a protective barrier for those nasty parking lot mishaps.  Side trim molding for trucks, cars, vans, SUV's, RV's, etc.

Easy to install. All of our molding comes with 3M acrylic automotive foam tape attached and ready to peel and stick on. Once applied, 3M peel-and-stick pressure-sensitive self-adhesive backing not is affected by weather or road chemicals. Not available in stores, we offer our trim moldings direct to you! Why pay for expensive dealer installation?

Prevent most minor dings, paint-chips and body blemishes that can happen when someone opens their door and whacks your vehicle. Many vehicles come with decorative side moldings strategically placed at "door-ding height" to help prevent this problem. If your vehicle lacks such protection, you may want to consider installing it yourself. Installing side protective body molding is a fairly simple undertaking, provided that you take the time to apply it carefully and meticulously.

Measure: Be sure to measure the area you want to protect. Note the length of the pre-cut kits, some trucks may need two kits if you want to extend the molding to the box as well as the cab.  If you are installing moldings into slots in bumpers or body side panels, be sure to allow adequate clearance so you do not need to force the molding into place. Order enough so you have a foot or two extra to practice your cuts.

INSTALLATION:
Materials: Body Side Molding kit, Sharp Cutting tool, Rubbing alcohol, Clean white rag, Masking tape, Grease pencil (whose marks will easily rub off). A warm garage or a sunny day makes the whole job a lot easier. Do not use a heat gun, and do not heat by close proximity to a radiant heater. High heat may damage the UV protection layer over the aluminized film (Mylar).

Moldings with 3M tape are best installed at temperatures warmer than 65 degrees. Plastic moldings are more flexible, easier to manipulate and cut when warmer than 70 degrees. Smaller moldings can be easily cut with heavy sharp kitchen shears or tin snips. For larger moldings, more than 1 inch wide or 3/16 thick, a clean straight cut is somewhat more difficult. A clean sharp anvil pruner will make it easier to get a straight cut on all sizes. A carpenter's utility knife with razor blade inserts also works well, but not one with the break-off blades.

The picture at left shows the professional tool used by our installers to cut molding, with 3.75 inch long replaceable razor blade. The Center picture shows  Husky Multi-cut tool available in hardware stores for about $20. The picture at right shows an anvil pruner from a local hardware or garden store, it will do the same job if it is sharp and clean. Read at more on cutters at bottom of page.

Prepare the vehicle bonding surface by cleaning it thoroughly with regular isopropyl rubbing alcohol and a clean lint-free white cotton rag or clean disposable toweling. Do not use shop rags which may have dirt or oily residues. For more professional results, use 3M brand Prep Solvent 70 or similar products available at many auto stores.

THOROUGH CLEANING removes oily or waxy residues so the 3M Peel-and-stick adhesive can bond securely. Avoid using colored cloth rags for this purpose, as dyes in the fabric may leave colored residue behind.

We do not recommend using packaged alcohol towelettes because they may contain antimicrobial agents such as Benzalkonium Chloride, skin lotion, conditioners, or other additives which could leave residues that may prevent proper adhesion of the 3M tape.

If you use packaged towelettes for one cleaning step, you should follow that by another cleaning with clean disposable toweling and alcohol or 3M cleaner. Do not re-use towels from one cleaning step to the next, since they may re-distribute residues you are trying to get rid of.

Some common automotive products, such as silicone-based waxes or surface conditioners such as Armor-All or Tire Shine. may be  more difficult to remove completely. If such products have been applied to the surface any time in the past, it may require 4 or more repeats of cleaning with new clean cloth and alcohol or 3M solvent to completely remove. If you have any doubt of cleanliness of the surface, test with a small piece of masking tape to different area’s that have been cleaned. (Use a new piece of masking tape for each area tested.)

If the masking tape peels off without much resistance, repeat cleaning steps until the masking tape sticks aggressively.

We have found that 3M tape adheres better to painted surfaces than plastic ones. This is due to the inherent smoothness of the paint, where the plastic usually has a fine textured surface that tends to hold onto wax residues and may need more thorough cleaning.

If you do not have a ridge or line to follow on the car,
Apply a strip of masking tape to be a guide to help position the Body Side Moulding to be perfectly straight. You may want to measure up from the ground at each end to get a parallel line. Stick the masking tape at one end, and hold it a few inches away from the car while pulling tape off the roll to the other end, eyeball your line, then stick it down lightly. Step back and look to see the lines are right, change if necessary. It is easy to change the tape at this point. Once the body molding is installed and the glue sets for a few days, it does not come off!

Once the straight line of masking tape is in place to provide a guide, use pieces of masking tape to temporarily "dry-fit" the entire length of body molding in place on the vehicle.

Determine where you'll need to cut the body molding for the doors and seams for a precise and accurate installation. Use pieces of tape or a grease pencil to mark the exact locations on the molding where you'll need to make the cuts. At the door-openings, and where the molding terminates at the edge of wheel-wells, you may need to cut angles to match the vehicle lines. Allow 1/8" minimum gap for door clearance. At the hinge side of the door you may need to bevel the end of the molding so that there is enough clearance when the door is opened.

Once you've marked the locations, carefully cut the molding. The molding is made from a relatively soft plastic. Cutting isn't difficult, but it is easier when the molding is warmer than when it is colder. Always cut chrome moldings with the blade entering the chrome side, cutting down through to the tape side.

Work with one section at a time, peel about a foot of the backing from the adhesive strips and press the molding into place. Then pull on the loose end of the backing and move along the molding, pressing it into place. Do not peel so much of the backing away that thesticky glue surface can contact other dirty surfaces which could then impair its adhesion.

After it is applied to the vehicle surface, rub each section of molding firmly with a soft clean cloth to help ensure that it is seated securely. You may want to come back a few hours later, or the next day, to give it another pressure rub to ensure the best adhesion.

Open and close the doors slowly, watching to ensure that the side molding is not touched or rubbed as the door moves.

Allow the molding adhesive to set up for at least 24 hours before washing your vehicle. Maximum adhesion is reached after 3-5 days in temperatures above 70 degrees, longer if it is cooler.

Chrome Moldings are made with a reflective aluminized polyester film (Mylar) sandwiched between a UV protective coating and a vinyl backing that  attaches the film to the translucent gray base vinyl extrusion. In most cases, the Mylar film is then wrapped around the molding to the back side so the edge is protected by the 3M tape and not exposed to the elements. Care should be taken to avoid abrading the protective film, which can then allow salt and road chemicals to degrade the reflective properties of the Mylar film.

3M Automotive Attachment Tape is a .045-inch thick, medium-density white acrylic foam tape with high performance acrylic adhesives on both sides and a red release liner. 3M Automotive Attachment Tape uses automotive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) approved acrylic foam core and adhesive technology. It is characterized by high peel and shear adhesion, high internal strength, high conformability and excellent plasticizer resistance. Typical applications would include body side moldings, rocker panel trim, claddings, bumper trim and other automotive trim components. Because it requires no drilling into automotive painted surfaces, 3M Automotive Attachment Tape eliminates the concern for rust development associated with the use of mechanical fasteners. The unique stress relaxation properties of the tape's foam core allow it to expand and contract with temperature changes. Stress forces of an application are dissipated throughout the foam core, providing excellent long-term performance. The viscoelastic properties incorporated into these tapes allow it to conform to surface irregularities and gaps, providing a better fit by compensating for some part-to-vehicle mismatch. The use of 3M acrylic foam tapes eliminates the unsightly appearance of bolt, screw or rivet heads associated with mechanical fasteners. Surfaces remain clean and smooth, contributing to styling and aerodynamic design. The use of acrylic foam tape can eliminate steps in the installation process, often requiring fewer parts and less labor time.

Phil:
Here is a picture of my 1975 Mustang, with the 1-3/8" molding installed. It fits the 74-78 Mustang bumpers perfectly, and is the final touch for the car show.
Bobby A, Placerville, CA.

Email your pictures and we will post yours on the website too!!