LMC trim

[dooce]

Hey all, I am looking through my LMC catalog and was wondering if anyone has bought the trim for the 73-80 years from them? I have been trying to piece together a NOS set, but its taking a long time. How is the quality? Is it made from the same material like the original? Im guessing that the GM pieces are stainless. Thanks

[Dads79GMC]

I too have been wondering the same thing. I really want to finish my truck with side molding (73-80); just as she was born.

[1984 swb chevy]

I got a complete set of grille moldings for my 84 and it was junk. They may have some good parts but their trim is junk in my opinion.

[dooce]

Yeah, I remember your post. I have always figured the trim wouldn't be very good quality from any of the restoration parts places. I try to keep as much GM parts on my truck, and still plan on it. Just thought I might ask and get lucky.

[N2TRUX]

I bought a piece of the side molding to see what the quality was. It wasn't "bad" but it sure wasn't the same quality as GM. I can assure you it will NOT match your existing trim so you will have to buy a complete set.

[dooce]

Yeah, I'd be looking to buy a complete set. I can buy one of the pieces I have NOS from them for $5, so I will and do a comparison. I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it. Thanks

[msgross]

does mar-k make trim for your years like they do mine? I know it's cheaper than LMC and a board vendor..

[1984 swb chevy]

If you can find out what the stock part numbers are and do a search on the internet you may find them all. I have found every NOS molding but one so far. I have one more place to call tomorrow to find out if they have the part in stock. It takes time but if you want all NOS parts you will find them. I have even found all NOS A/C vents and some other discontinued interior parts online.

[dooce]

I am not sure how I would find out the GM numbers are, other than the pieces I have already. Anybody know a way of doing so?

[1984 swb chevy]

you could try to get the numbers from a Chevy dealer . I did get the run around from several dealers but I managed to find some that were very helpful. Good luck. Go on Ebay motors and search for NOS GM parts. There is a ton of parts.

[dooce]

I search eBay often. No Chevrolet dealers over here for me to ask though. Any of the books going to have something like that?

[1984 swb chevy]

Originally Posted by dooce

I search eBay often. No Chevrolet dealers over here for me to ask though. Any of the books going to have something like that?

check out this guys auctions he has a few trim pieces you may need

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1...QQcmdZViewItem

[CreditGod]

i have a few pieces that are nice on a truck that is going to get crushed because it is all rusted out but the trim pieces look real good i will inspect them for dings and scratches this next week if you want me too

[dooce]

Yeah, I have all those pieces in my watch list.

Credit, get pics if you can. I would be interested if they are any good.

[CreditGod]

ok i have a nice digital camera so i will take some pics my number is 469-335-7505 and my email is clbyrd32@yahoo.com i don't do good at all of this replying and emailing back and forth because most of the time i just want to ask a simple question and then a mkes a purchase but it really seems hard sometimes if you know what i mean

[andrist1]

I too have been looking at the local pull-a-part for OEM mouldings to replace my damaged ones, and it seems like all the one's I find are in the same shape as my originals which would be understandable given vintages. So a complete kit of new aftermarket ones are attractive, but my question is this: So the quality of LMC is a bit off, what about similar kits from Brothers or Classic? Is it safe to assume that their kits are from the same suppliers?

[dswancutt]

Dooce, I have the chevy parts manual with the part numbers. I can try to scan a copy of it and e-mail it too you if you are interested. If you are patient, you can find most of what you need on eBay. Sometimes they go cheap, sometimes not. I have almost a 2 complete sets for my trucks.

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's my experience with the aftermarket trim, I pasted this from a thread I have in another forum:

The question asked: Are those side body molding repo's and if so did you have any problems with them fitting right? They look good in the pics.


My reply:
All the mouldings are new repo's EXCEPT the front and rear lower bedside pieces on both sides. I was able to reuse my old pieces (they didnt get much wear at all). The front and rear lower bedside pieces ranged from 1/4" to a 1/2" too long between the 4 pieces. The fender pieces fit well, the door pieces were a tad short like a 1/16" or something. The upper bedside pieces were a bit long, but that made them fit a little bit nicer than the OE stuff did. The tailgate pieces were a bit shorter then the OE stuff, which was too short to begin with, but they still look good. The 4 small pieces on the cab behind the door fit like OE. The main problem with the kit was the fasteners. It was kinda like pot luck. an exampe is that between the 4 door pieces, where they attach at the rear, I had 3 different kinds of fasteners. Also the screws that go in from the outside through the black stripe aren't black, and half of them were wrong I got 4 different types of screws (bought some at the parts store that were even painted black). On the double sided taped parts, the tape used was pot luck again. Lots of different thicknesses and the tape really is crap. Some of them are coming off already, and the few I've fixed so far with good 3M tape haven't given me any problems yet. So as enough of the sticky tabs let go for me to easily get the part off, I'll replace the tape on them. The trim itself looks good though. Just make sure to keep the old fasteners off of the old trim or you'll regret it big time. I had no problems with the wheel opening trim, good stuff. Most of the exterior screw holes (the ones for the black screws in the black stripe) like at the front of the door and especially where the bedsides meet the tailgate had to be redrilled strictly because the OE trim lined up pretty poorly to begin with. but no prob just an adjustment, the trim still covered the old holes of which some were off "up/down" by a 1/4" or less.


All the trim is the same brand (Corvex Mouldings) whether it comes from Brothers trucks, Carolina classic trucks, Classic parts of america or goodmark, this I know for a fact.

Also if you do buy an aftermarket "KIT" call first to make sure they have EVERYTHING to make up a kit. The kits are not everything you need all boxed up as a kit, the manufacturer picks through what they have on hand to make up a kit when one is needed. I bought a goodmark kit from carolina classic in August and got all but a couple of pieces which were backordered until december.

To see how my trim looks, goto my photobucket site below and look under "78 C20"

[boatpuller]

having replaced evry peice on my truck from classic part's i agree with 78chevyrado's thought.it's all corvex and it's not the best fit.but...it's all that's available unless you can find nos.it's best to buy the corvex as a kit if your doing the whole truck.you'll save over buying it by the piece..

[Dads79GMC]

All: great information. I appreciate it.

[dooce]

Wow! Thats the info I needed. Thanks

[andrist1]

Thanks guys for all of your input. Hearing that some of you out there have aftermarket trim on your trucks and are satisfied is reasurring. I would prefer OEM, but I don't want to spend a fourtune either. Ebay is Ebay...... And the last thing I would want is to pay out the arse for a piece of trim just to have it get screwed up in shipping!

dswancutt, if you have the part numbers, would you please PM me with them when ever you get the chance. I would like to have it for the reference.

Thanks again!

[westie 666]

I put after market trim on my truck and hate it, by the time it got to me it was all bent out of shape, the fit is shocking, the sticky pads don't fit, the clips make the trim stick out from the body, the screws are not stainless and are the wrong size.

I still have all my old trim and will get it restored

[78 Chevyrado]

Mine wasn't all bent up, but they didn't ship it to me, I bought it online and then went to goodmark to pick it up myself since they're like 10 miles away from me. It was fun fitting the long top pieces for the long bed in my focus... but they did, just barely

[87c10slammer]

in my opinion i would restore your factory trim.. as long as there arent any major dings or pit marks in it, it can be fixed. do a youtube search on it.. its amazingly easy.. all you need are a good set of body hammers. i bought mine from harbor freight for around 100 bucks for a complete set. then get a good highspeed buffer and shine them up. if you have a bench grinder then all you need is a wheel. then for the black striping get some pinstriping paint and go to town. it took me about a month to redo the trim on my buddys burban but the outcome was amazing. i was surprized how good it came out for being my first time. i always buy tools so i dont really consider that an expense so it cost around 40 bucks to redo all the trim once everything was said and done. but thats jsut my .02 cents