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Meames1 · 01-31-2023, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_M

Meames can you detail how to take the beltline trim off? I need to address some rust around the wet bay on our ‘02 AT.

Awesome work btw. I’m a welder/machinist by trade.

"Assuming" yours is like my '99, you have to peel the 1 1/8" rubber trim off (use a heat gun). Once it's off it will expose the screws on the aluminum extrusion. Take out the screws and then using a block of wood and a hammer tap upwards on the extruded trim and it will pop up. It sits down into a cleat attached to the sidewall. Also, before you tap it up take a razor blade and cut down the center of any caulk on the top.

Edit; If you go back to post #112 in this thread there is a picture of the cleat without the trim piece.

Rob_M · 02-01-2023, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meames1

"Assuming" yours is like my '99, you have to peel the 1 1/8" rubber trim off (use a heat gun). Once it's off it will expose the screws on the aluminum extrusion. Take out the screws and then using a block of wood and a hammer tap upwards on the extruded trim and it will pop up. It sits down into a cleat attached to the sidewall. Also, before you tap it up take a razor blade and cut down the center of any caulk on the top.

Edit; If you go back to post #112 in this thread there is a picture of the cleat without the trim piece.

Thanks.
At least I have an idea of how it’s put together now. The small trim strip on mine is at the top of the wide trim and metal. No idea if it’s rubber underneath and glued or clipped somehow. Hopeful it will pop right off. I have 2 doors on the drivers side that the hinge screws are obviously pulling out. I took the lift struts off of them for now because the pressure was causing mis alignment.

Rob_M · 02-01-2023, 09:20 AM

Is there anything I can do to stop or slow down the inevitable rust in our AC’s basement framework? It’s been based in Texas it’s whole life, but has seen the beach several times and one trip to Colorado last February where we drove on salted roads unfortunately.
I always pressure wash under it as much as possible after salt exposure but there’s so many nooks and crannies impossible to get to.

Rob_M · 02-01-2023, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_M

Thanks.
At least I have an idea of how it’s put together now. The small trim strip on mine is at the top of the wide trim and metal. No idea if it’s rubber underneath and glued or clipped somehow. Hopeful it will pop right off. I have 2 doors on the drivers side that the hinge screws are obviously pulling out. I took the lift struts off of them for now because the pressure was causing mis alignment.

Funny how I remember things wrong sometimes. I was wrong, the narrow trim is along the bottom of the large trim. So removal should be the same as yours.

Meames1 · 02-02-2023, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_M

Funny how I remember things wrong sometimes. I was wrong, the narrow trim is along the bottom of the large trim. So removal should be the same as yours.

That makes more sense. I was wondering how attaching them at the top worked.

As far as how to stop or slow down the rust.....no idea. Once it sets in, it's difficult to impossible to stop. Stripped down and encapsulating it from oxygen with something like POR 15 maybe, but difficult to do when it's all together.

Rob_M · 02-02-2023, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meames1

That makes more sense. I was wondering how attaching them at the top worked.

As far as how to stop or slow down the rust.....no idea. Once it sets in, it's difficult to impossible to stop. Stripped down and encapsulating it from oxygen with something like POR 15 maybe, but difficult to do when it's all together.

Can the aluminum skinned flooring be taken out and replaced with stainless without cutting the framework apart?