Removed Mouldings - Need Paint Help!!!

[JBeadle]

After a search, I was motivated enough to remove the mouldings/door guards from my 1999 Silverado 2500 HD (which is black). They came off easily and I removed the residue with elbow grease, laquer thinner and Goof Off.

However, there is still an outline of the mouldings which is pretty prevalent and can be seen very well in the sunlight. Help! I can't live with the truck looking like this and don't want to reinstall the mouldings.

I have an orbital buffer and have detailed various trucks of mine and for a few buddies. Will using the Orbital remove these lines? I can't tell if it is residue or what. It appears to go away when I rub with Laquer Thinner, but then "reappears" a few moemnts later. Or maybe I need a rotary buffer to remove it? Any compound that you'd reccomend? Or do I keep attacking it with Goof Off and hope it is removed beofre my arms fall off?

Thanks much for your advice; I really appreciate it!

[tooblury]

I know when i removed the trim on my 93 due to how long it was on there that the paint that wasn't under the trim was a little bit thinner from being exposed to the elements compared to the like new paint under the trim. I had to wet sand to blend it out but it was a way older truck and i removed the trim after 10 years. I also have heard of people being able to buff out the marks using the same method you would use to polish a new paint job.

[JBeadle]

I called a detail shop and they suggested Meguiars M105 and wet sand if necessary. I'm going to try it this weekend; it's a good excuse to detail the whole truck anyway.

Thanks for your help!

[blankey]

You could try a clay bar before you go and try polishing it. I know mine had a bunch of dirt and sorta stained under the mouldings when I removed them but the clay bar took care of that.

[Tweaks]

I just received my order of Meguiar's 105 and 205. A clay bar or a milder polish might get the job done, but for sure those Meguiar's compounds will. Note: If you use 105, you will more than likely need to follow it up with the 205 or a polish designed to remove the micro-marring that the 105 will create.