Work In Progress...... !!

[JoFotoz]

She blends right in...

Looks like urban camo. Spray some clear coat and call it good.

...at Sea World!

Jo

[nfpgasmask]

So Jo, how was the cladding removal? I am going to get my VX resprayed at some point, but I want to do all the cladding myself to be sure it is done right, and to save some labor dollars. Was it pretty easy to remove?

Bart

[JoFotoz]

Well--Yes & No !

So Jo, how was the cladding removal? Was it pretty easy to remove?

Bart

Took about 4 hours..and lots of patience!!...but not a hard job.

Start at the door panels and work front and back from there.
Realease torx screws..DOHH!
Release all nuts/bolts..where used.
A long bladed SHARP fish filleting knife helps...slide it down between body
and cladding to cut through the double sided tape as you pry cladding away from body.

Long shaft big blade flat head screw driver used to pop cladding clips...broke a few!

Wheel arch rivets..I just cut the heads off with a dremmel..will remove rivet studs
and use machine screws and washers when I replace...so easier next time!

Lots of ziplocks..I baggied each panels "bits" in their own bags.

Fuel cap/cover etc comes off intact..no need to take off first.

1/2 moon took lots of force/pulling to release tape...after internal nuts released.

All 10 mm nuts/bolts on cladding.

** My welded Rock rails prevented taking lower door/kick plate cladding off ..couldnt get to the fastners.**

Thats about what I remember...hope it helps.

Jo

[Buffy]

So Jo, how was the cladding removal? I am going to get my VX resprayed at some point, but I want to do all the cladding myself to be sure it is done right, and to save some labor dollars. Was it pretty easy to remove?

Bart

To me the hardest piece to get off is the cladding on the back door. There are two tabs there that you will break off if you are not careful. The double sided tape is a PAIN!

[nfpgasmask]

Thanks, guys. What kind of tape are you going to use to replace? I would imagine it needs to be there to keep moisture and dust out, and to keep the cladding snug against the body.

Bart

[JoFotoz]

Initially I'm going Tapeless....

Thanks, guys. What kind of tape are you going to use to replace? I would imagine it needs to be there to keep moisture and dust out, and to keep the cladding snug against the body.
Bart

Its not about moisture or even dust, as its not a 'seal' more of a random distribution.

I wonder if it was used to make assembly easier..'stick' the cladding on..
...then screw/bolt/rivet with it held in place by tape.

If I find the cladding "chatters" without tape, I'll probably just use thick adhesive draft excluder to silence it....

...or just turn the tunes way up

Jo

[nfpgasmask]

I guess I have always wondered if the cladding traps moisture that could lead to rust issues...

Bart

[wintermute]

Jo is absolutely right; the tape has nothing to do with keeping moisture out or acting as a seal. The body shop that resprayed my VX just used 3M automotive acrylic tape to re-install the cladding.

Thanks, guys. What kind of tape are you going to use to replace? I would imagine it needs to be there to keep moisture and dust out, and to keep the cladding snug against the body.

Bart

[VX4EJR]

Jo is absolutely right; the tape has nothing to do with keeping moisture out or acting as a seal. The body shop that resprayed my VX just used 3M automotive acrylic tape to re-install the cladding.

As 3M has several products on their site, any idea which one and mil was or should be used?

[djvx]

Democrats frown at Jo's vx. For instance the vehicle is too assault orientated, similar to assault weapons, it just isn't needed by the general public. Also it doesn't get acceptable gas mileage... Your vx should be forfeited to the Govt as soon as possible Could happen Jo.....jus sayin'....