I am in the process of removing the trim from my Bronco. I think it has what is referred to as the XLT trim and is held on with clips and push-in holders. The clips are a b*tch to get loose as the bolts that hold them on on the inside of the panels are rusted and cannot be loosened. I have ended up prying off the trim. Of course, now I have a lot of holes in the body and I am contmeplating leaving the trim off due to the amount of dirt and rust I FOUND behind much of the trim, although the trim looked good aND IS in excellent shape.

What should I fill the holes with before painting?

 

I am in the process of painting my '84 XLT. I used fiberglass to fill the holes along with metal rust patch. Now I will have to redrill them to reinstall the trim, if that's what I decide to do, but they are filled and unnoticeable at this point. I sprayed the basecoat yesterday.

 

When I pried off the trim, the plastic plugs which some of the pins on the trim go into into fell apart. In addition, since most of the clips had to be cut off because the threads were rusted, I now have no way of re-installing the trim. I am wondering if I could re-install it using 3M adhesive tape. When I pulled off the trim I was surprised how much debris had built up behind the trim and some was moist, providing an excellent breeding ground for rust. Perhaps I shold leave it off, except I have all these welded studs protruding from some areas...

 

Well, I guess you will have to decide if you are going to reinstall the trim or not. If you are you can get new clips and pins if not a grinder works real well to remove the studs. I am planning on putting the trim back on and have been working around the studs. The holes I was trying to leave open but after I got started I found that to be a lot of trouble. I used the fiber glass over the sheet metal that I used to repair the rusted out fender well and bondo to smooth it out. It's been quite a job. I had to get the rust out and the grinder worked well for that. I'm finding now that you have to be careful not to grind in to far, Just use it to cut out the bad metal. The scratches are hard to cover up. I don't know why those trucks have such a proble with rust but most of them I've seen have the same problem. It looked like the metal started rusting from the inside out. In places that don't even hold moisture. My son's friend poked his finger through one spot on the passenger side about a foot behind the door chest high. I guess that prompted me to start this project. I will be glad when it's finished.

 

Boy, your last sentence sums up my feellings. I thought remodeling our house was a PIA, but this is worse. By the time I am finished with the Bondo, fiberglass and paint, I figure I will have lung or brain cancer for sure!

I am tempted to grind off the studs, and just put rivets in the holes! I am going to paint thtruck olive drab when i am done since it is jsut a brush buster used for hunting and fishing. Maybe I will try to sell the trim on eBay; it is in great shape.