On my '80 LeBaron T&C wagon, the plastic coating on the fake ash is very powdery and fragile from sitting outside for many years. Also, some of the pieces are warped' specifically the rear wheelhouse arches, the RF door pieces, and the LF lower door piece. I've gone through the tech tips that are here, but can't find the answer to a couple of Mopar questions: 1) Does anyone restore these fake ash pieces? My car is complete, but all of the pieces need restored... 2) There are round "wood" plugs that cover the fasteners that hold the trim to the car. How do I pry these off without damaging the trim or the car, and what's the best way to remove the fasteners themselves? These are probably answered in an obvious place, but I didn't see it. I've even considered hiring a friend, who is a cabinet maker, and making new "ash" pieces from real ash for my car! Using the lighter GM wood applique on the car along with real ash, plus the light yellow color of the car, this would be a truly stunning combination!
The 'wooden pegs' probably come off from the other side of the sheetmal. I'd get a shop manual or a Chilton manual (Haynes doesn't do moldings) from the library or a Mopar dealer (offer a deposit to borrow it?) The old stuff is a polyvinyl, but if its cracked, you'll have to replace it. If its dusty, it could be the top protective layer of the film. On mine that's the one that has the graining, the next is the main color, the last layer is the adhesive. My top clear layer was bubbling and peeling off, that is beyond help. You might be lucky if its only dusting off and use a restorer for vinyl roofs or convertible tops. I'd check with a car dealer. Otherwise, its back to the woodgrain vendors and stripping. These guys might have replacement 'wood plugs': http://www.justclippsauto.com/home.htm
Simulated white ash trim My "ash" trim is warped and has become brittle and is falling off in places, do you have source for replacement parts?
Warped and brittle? In Texas? Isn't it aluminum? I never heard that Chrysler used molded plastic trim.:confused: If it is aluminum, I think your stuck with searching the Junkyards or the Mopar clubs for NOS (New Old Stock) sellers. You could try this site maybe once a week as well: http://vehicle-db.com/parts/search.pl?part=Chrysler+Trim Just change the search words for your car.
From the 1980 Parts book. Front fender ash molding: 4175106 & 4175107. Front door ash molding: 4022886 & 4022887. Rear door ash molding: 4022892 & 4022893. Rear quarter ash molding: 4022898 & 4022899. Liftgate ash molding: 4017390. There is no listing for the little round screw caps. So perhaps they are molded in place? I would imagine that the 78-79 part numbers are the same except for the front fenders which are different.
Brads NOS parts has some moldings listed. #4022893 Rear Door ash wood trim: $265.00 #4022892 Rear Door ash wood trim: $265.00 #4022899 Rear Quarter ash wood trim. $142.00 They also list a 1979 part number which is different from the 1980 numbers. #4017382 Wood Frame appl. $65.00 anyone have a 79 parts book? http://www.bradsnosparts.com
