hood chrome strip, polishing ball, door problems

[averagewhiteboy]

Hey guys.

First off, where do you get the OEM style chrome strip that goes down the hood of my Grand Prix? It needs one. lol. Can I get a NOS piece, or could you just use generalized chrome strips from like Pep-Boys? Would it look terrible? I want to basically OEM outside when it comes to thing like that...

Secondly, has anyone used one of those polishing balls that you put onto a drill? I think Mothers makes it. There's a few different kinds. Has anyone tried one of these? I want to really clean up my "beauty rings" and the chrome panels on the side of the car. I tried by hand and didn't get incredibly far...

Lastly, on my GP. The drivers side had a few issues when I got it. It was in a wreck or 10 before I got it. lol. I don't fully know, nor do I want to. But the drivers side door has a few issues. The dorr handle on the outside doesn't work. No big deal. I'm gonna buy a window crank puller and replace/fix whatever is wrong with that. But also, the door is really sluggish. Like on that little metal bar that comes out of the rear quarter that slides into the slot on the door when you close it is way too tight or something. lol. Like the door will close fully, but you need to slam it, or just try it a few times. So I don't know if the door just sags a tad or something? what could my issues be? andything as easy as just fixing something inside the door while it's off? lol. I mean, the door and rear quarter seem to be aligned and everything well enough since it does close fully...

:shock: :? 🙁

Thanks guys!!

 

[87GP]

For the chrome hood molding you could probably find a decent used one either at a bone yard or from someone parting a gp. They are all the same 81-87. The GM part # is 10013536 in case you want new.

Try the door with the window down and see if that makes a difference. You may have to adjust either the door hinges, the window, or the striker. The striker is that small round shaft attached to the 1/4 panel inside the door jamb. If you have some close up pics of the door I could give a better answer.

 

[gman]

hood chrome strip

Good looking car. If it were me I would look for a oem hood strip. Probably not available from the general anymore but worthwhile checking out. Check in the forums with whose parting out GP's. Mothers powerball seems to work best on aluminum wheels. Not for serious polishing. You have polished stainless steel panels along the bottom of the car. Best bet is something like a metal polishing kit from eastwood or somebody like that. It comes with different grades of polishing compounds and buffing wheels. Auto supply stores may have the polishing compounds. For the lower part of the car you can use a 8" polisher. The one you buy for polishing your car. It should work quite well. You will have to use a smaller one on your beauty rings. For professional polishing, a chrome shop will polish them out for you. They can give you a chrome look if you want them that shiny. I think your door is probably a matter of adjusting the glass if it's jamming up against the b piller. It can be adjusted back and forth as well as up and down and tilt from front to back and in and out. The outside handle not working is it's probably broken. Common. Readly available.

 

[averagewhiteboy]

Word. Thanks for the responses guys! And thanks for the omment, gman! But yes, I have noticed that the door is extra hard to close with the window up as well. I'll see what I can do tomorrow. I'm going to the garage and working on it. I'll be sure to give you guys some heads up.

8)