Rear Cockpit Trim Piece

I'm plugging away on the interior of my newly acquired B, but I'm hazy on some of the detail bits when it comes to original versus PO(s) add-ons.

There is a large U-shaped trim rail that goes around the lip of the rear cockpit edge - it is Moss part 408-995. The trim rail on my B is covered with a sewn black vinyl sleeve that is dry-rotting and coming apart. It also has green paint on it from a poorly taped respray. There is no mention of a vinyl cover in the Moss catalog, so is this a stock item? Is the trim piece normally bare, polished, or bright metal?

Cheers,

Glen

It is covered. Some have polished it. Some interior kits (long ago) came with the cover piece in vinyl.
RS

this thing... i was looking just today in th catalogs for the covering vynal trim ,i am wanting tan/ vice black.. could not find it ,,, i guess i will just mail you thr relativly servicaavbble vynal and buff my alumn to a high gloss... do not know now better
to do ....
V/R
mrb
o

You could use any good vinyl available from an upholstery shop but the strip in the kits has a bead along the top; as can be seen in the photo above.

the bead is ther , however not readily see on the pic/,...
i can get a macro .. iluuminating all

what kits got that trim .. non i have seen identified it..

i am going to tan from black .. old buddy ,, mine seems relativekly serviceable .[ aside that they did not pull it for the \last paint job and over spray,,/ ....

that alum aft cockpit trim would BUFF out nice .. don ya think...

m
dover
tn

The kit I bought for my V8 and my '74 had the cockpit rail trim in it. I believe it was a Moss kit but can check with my supplier.

You can make one up very easily, I did.
Go to a auto trim supplier, yellow pages, there's usualy one or three in most cities.
Buy the edging stuff (very cheap) and matching vinyl and cut a strip. Then sew the plastic edging about a third of the way along. Takes about one minute on a houshold sewing machine.
Paint some contact adhesive on rail and vinyl. Then just stick it on so the edging sits up from the back top edge.
Mind you , the polished Aluminium effect does look very good. Auto sol shine is a very effective polish that I use on other things.

The Moss panel kit I bought for my 72 a couple years ago had the cover for that piece. I recall that it can be purchased separately for not more than $15. Call TRF or look at a paper Moss catalog for the part number.

TRF is having a sale on interior trim this weekend...
http://www.zeni.net/trf/specials6.6/

Mine had lots of overspray on it from a prior cheapie repaint but the vinyl itself was in good shape. I removed it, cleaned the paint off with lacquer thinner and dyed it black with rattle can vinyl dye. It came out well.

Reinstalling it is a treat; I am convinced they used child laborers on the assembly line because adult hands just don't fit beck there.

The way that piece is installed is one of the reasons I have a love-hate relationship with British cars.

Here is a tip: When reinstalling, instead of the 5/16" nuts, I used some round brass thumb nuts I got from the hardware store. Went together much easier. I suppose you could also use wingnuts.


I believe the thread size is #10-24, it's a fine thread.

Those nuts are a 2BA, very similar to a 10/32, but the 10/32 will be a bit loose. Use lock washers or they'll vibrate loose!

I got mine from Victoria British.They sell the piece of vinyl separately.

Glenn

Gordan at the B'hive has it also.

Ok, thanks everyone. My original intent was to replace the vinyl trim, but now I may just polish it out and wax it. I went through the VB site and must've missed it. I'll look at it again. Also take a peek at the Beehive.

I've got some major mission creep going on here. My intent was to thoroughly clean the new B's interior. Now I'm derusting and treating the floorpans, installing new carpets, replacing trim bits and rusty or broken fasteners, fixing wiring, door windows, mirrors, etc.

Again, thanks.

Glen

scottydawg Wrote:

GlenP Wrote:

Glen,
What is the procedure to buffing and polishing? My trim is also rotting and coming undone, and I'd like to polish it as well?

Thx!

Hello Daniel,

My plan is to use fine sandpaper to get dried trim glue and stains off the metal, then follow up with buffing paste (aka jeweler's rouge) and cloth buffing wheel in an electric drill. I already have that stuff, so I don't need to go buy anything fancy. What the drill can't do, I use a cloth and elbow grease.

OTOH, no plan survives contact with the enemy...

Cheers,

Glen

You might do better with some metal polish for aluminium. It works very well, and very quickly just hand polishing. Autosol shine. It leaves a wax coating.

Thanks Peter. I'll look into it. I assume it's available at auto parts stores?

Cheers,

Glen

Thanks Glenn! Good tip Peter! :)