reinstaling the side SS strips...how?

Hi there,
I have just finished repainting the 2 rear doors and bought a bag of new plastic clips for attaching the side strips.
I removed them by just gently levering off with a chisel, but how to reinstall without damaging my beautiful paintwork?
Many others must have been through this , any ideas?
I wonder how they were installed on a moving production line , in the factory, without scratching the paint, in the minimum of time?
Peter

Have you still got the holes in the panels the plastic clips sit in or did you bog them ?
When applying paint the holes will partialy fill , making replacing the plastic clips hard to fit. You will have to redrill the holes and paint antirust on the exposed metal.
The plastic clips have a peg that you drive in , once they are in position.

To push the clips through the holes I would push on a length of small dia plastic tube, or wooden dowel with a hole in it, to fit over the peg . In that way you have no danger of slipping with anything metal to damage the paint and apply an even load.

I use two lines of masking tape, above and below the line of holes. Two layers if you're feeling particularly clumsy. And, p480 says, some plastic or wooden tools.

Yours
Vern

hi there,
thank you all for your replies.
I had not bogged the holes in any way , and had to gently ream out the holes because the paint had filled them up a bit.
I managed to install the plastic clips successfully after enlarging the holes. I broke several clips in holes not enlarged, because the dia of the hole has to be perfect when related to the size of the clip dia.
If not, when the peg is tapped in , it expands too much, making it a tight fit , then that just brakes the peg.....a long winded description ...but that is what happened.
My question related as to HOW the S/S side trim is attached to the clips and door face.
Do I slide it on in some way or place the complete strip in position on the door, and then somehow spring it onto the clips, it must have been a very unpopular job on the production line?

Peter

Dont slide it on. Place it over the top side and gently press into position.
One job I quite enjoyed as one got instant satisfaction.

GRTV8 said:

Dont slide it on. Place it over the top side and gently press into position.
One job I quite enjoyed as one got instant satisfaction.

Click to expand...

thanks Richard for the reply.
Does it make any difference as to which way up the clips are installed. Mine are with the single bit to the top!
Peter

I always put the double bit at the top, don't know why though

Then place the strip onto the top of the clip so it engages - and a sharp tap with the palm of your hand, with a glancing blow in a downwards motion. I hope that makes sense.

Richard

thanks for the hints Richard, perhaps it would be better to place one up and one down? for equal grips , all points covered?
Peter

ButterFingers said:

thanks for the hints Richard, perhaps it would be better to place one up and one down? for equal grips , all points covered?

Click to expand...

No because that will make fitting the strip difficult. Fit all the clips two up one down, hang the moulding over the top two, and then knock the moulding downwards using the heel of your hand.

Thanks Harvey for the info.
One of the strip ends on the rear d/s door got caught as I emerged from the car and bent .
The question is now..."how do I get the strip off again without damaging my nice new paint work, so that I can attempt to straighten the strip?
Peter