Badge/Trim Removal

[davery]

I am starting to remove trim for a paint job. I have an 85 and was wondering how the badges are attached. The hood, trunk and the two right in front of the rear wheels. How do I get them off? Thanks!

[kilrwail]

Unless they were changed after 1978, they are simple straight pins with flexible plastic caps pressed on the ends - at least on the trunk and hood. Try not to lose the caps!

[narfire]

On my 80, the front and rear are on with small nuts as the badges had threaded studs. Access is from below.Might or should be a black rubber cap about 2+ inches in diameter.
The side badges were pressed into small plastic caps as Peter mentioned. If they fall off or you want access to the back side, then you will have to remove the rear interior 1/4 panels and then there is access to the back of the badges.

[kilrwail]

Thanks Chris - now I know!

[davery]

On my 80, the front and rear are on with small nuts as the badges had threaded studs. Access is from below.Might or should be a black rubber cap about 2+ inches in diameter.
The side badges were pressed into small plastic caps as Peter mentioned. If they fall off or you want access to the back side, then you will have to remove the rear interior 1/4 panels and then there is access to the back of the badges.

Thanks for the heads up about the side badges. I see the black cap under the hood badge, although I don't see how to reach it with the hood on. On the trunk there appears to be a metal piece welded over where the small nuts would be. Any ideas?

[aj81spider]

I just replaced that badge (mine had push on connectors). I used a needle nose to hold them. It was a royal PITA and I spent about a half hour trying to get them on. Put something over your trunk (blanket, paper) to catch them when you drop them or you'll spend a good long period searching for them in the trunk.

[davery]

Got the hood and trunk badges off. They were both held on with plastic pins. How about the "2000" badge around the trunk lock? Ideas?

[SoFlaFiat]

If memory serves, the badge has an alignment pin but is held on with the lock barrel itself. Remove the nut from the inside and remove the lock cylinder and the badge should pop off. Of course, if it has never been off... pop is probably not the right word.

[SoFlaFiat]

D,
I might add, don't chicken out like I did when I repainted the 77. Take the windshield off! It is not too complicated (4 Allen head bolts) and allows you to verify that there is no rust under the gasket AND since the top back corner of the fenders are under the gasket they will not get painted unless you half destroy the gasket pulling it out of the way. The key to removing the windshield, and there are many posts about this topic, is to remove the cowl piece and work the windshield gasket carefully away from the flange under the windshield pulling down and forward.

[davery]

D,
I might add, don't chicken out like I did when I repainted the 77. Take the windshield off! It is not too complicated (4 Allen head bolts) and allows you to verify that there is no rust under the gasket AND since the top back corner of the fenders are under the gasket they will not get painted unless you half destroy the gasket pulling it out of the way. The key to removing the windshield, and there are many posts about this topic, is to remove the cowl piece and work the windshield gasket carefully away from the flange under the windshield pulling down and forward.

I am not too sure about removing the windshield. Sounds like something I can't do myself. I removed a lot of stuff today. I still have the rear bumpers, the door trims/handles/wing windows and the side pinin badges. Are we sure I have to access those from the backside? The front and back badges used plastic pins. Maybe the side badges? I may give it a shot in the morning. If I have to access from the back, I will need to remove the top trim piece across the interior back, rear shelf, the back plastic panel, the inner interior quarter panels and the outer interior quarter panels. Of course I am replacing the top, so some of this needs to come out anyway. Thanks for all the help today everyone! I'm sure I will have more issues, but today went pretty well.

[SoFlaFiat]

You can do it! Have faith! It's worth it...

[davery]

Good news and bad news. I removed the pass seat and most of the rear interior pieces (Including both inner and outer rear quarters) , I got the pinin badges off. I discovered the top frame seemed to be attached by only two bolts. Anyway, it seems these badges are held on by the same plastic mollys as the hood and trunk badges. Go figure.

List of things to do:
Door handles
Wing Windows
Alum trim at top of door (How to remove?)
Alum trim next to rear window (How to remove?)
Cowl`
2000 badge
front lights
rear tail lights
Rear bumper
Crap. This list is longer than I thought. Better get to work.

[SoFlaFiat]

The aluminum trim under the windows is easy, just pull up. Note that if there is rust under there it has expanded the metal and is going to make life difficult. Go gently and it will come off.

[davery]

The aluminum trim under the windows is easy, just pull up. Note that if there is rust under there it has expanded the metal and is going to make life difficult. Go gently and it will come off.

I found a screw on the inside of the rear piece. Got them up. The door trim did not come up as easy. I'm wondering if there is another screw I am missing.

There really is only one rust spot on the car, the rear passenger quarter. It is about 2" and has been that way for 20 years. When I put in new carpet last year, no rust on the floor. Today when I removed the interior parts behind the seat, no rust. No rust under the spare tire, inside the wheel wells.

[SoFlaFiat]

The 85's may be different put every one I've had, and taken apart, 8 now, have just been compression held. Sorry I didn't know about the screw...
Great news when you have a rust free car, and one spot should be considered rust free!!