Trying to install outer wheel well trim

[batt]

I need anyone who has installed the outer wheel well trim to tell me how to shape the stock trim that Airstream provides. I need to get it to bend to the banana wrap profile of my trailer which breaks higher and then must flatten to follow the bottom of the wrap.


Since its an extrusion this seems complex. I am making a form out of wood but would like to hear from someone who has done this before to find out an easy or less hard way to shape this trim.



Any help will be appreciated!

[Bubba L]

I had more trouble with those than anything else. I cut curds on the backside to make the tight bends. VTS says to heat the trim to bend it. You can’t heat too much or you’ll lose the temper. I think making a template like you’re doing is the way to go. Good luck and let us know how you did.

[batt]

Thanks looking for someone on the forum to give me more than good luck. Thanks though

[Bonuskanich]

Did you happen to get this installed. I’m about to start on this project and wondered if you had any advice! Thanks!

[Bubba L]

I’ve had the opportunity to trim a couple more wheel wells on a 63 Bambi. I drew a pattern of the wheel well curve and transferred the pattern to a 16ga piece of aluminum. So, I put the pattern in the vice (same curve as the wheel well but upside down). Now comes the trick I read about. Where the curve on the trim will be located, I drew a line with a magic marker. I took a hand held torch and heated the piece of wheel well trim. When the mark disappears with heat, it is hot enough and ready to bend into the pattern.

[mousouchop]

Funny— I have to reinstall the outer trim on my 75. See my restoration post for the “why”. I have to reshape some damaged parts (perhaps impossible), and then reinstall…

Anyway— does “magic marker” mean Sharpie permanent marker? Or Crayola Washable marker? I assume the former. Neat trick! I just assume these two products have different points at which they “disappear”.

[Bubba L]

Yes, we used a Sharpie.

[Bauxter]

Bubba, Did you bend the Jtrim that covers 1/16" material like VTS sells, or the Jtrim that covers both the skin and the wheel well plastic (3/16" approx), which is a little beefier (different supplier). If I use the VTS trim, it would only cover the aluminum skin, and I would need to attach the wheel well material to the back of the trim somehow.
My '74 factory WW trim is pretty beat up, and needs to be replaced.

Would love to see a video of the Jtrim heating/bending process if anyone is aware of one.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by Bauxter

Bubba, Did you bend the Jtrim that covers 1/16" material like VTS sells, or the Jtrim that covers both the skin and the wheel well plastic (3/16" approx), which is a little beefier (different supplier). If I use the VTS trim, it would only cover the aluminum skin, and I would need to attach the wheel well material to the back of the trim somehow.
My '74 factory WW trim is pretty beat up, and needs to be replaced.

Would love to see a video of the Jtrim heating/bending process if anyone is aware of one.

I used the VTS trim. On our 55, the original wheel well is metal.