Reshaping Plastic Body Cladding

[OffTrac]

A couple questions for the bodywork experts on here...or "smarter than me" amateurs. I have zero knowledge and experience with plastics. So far, this is where I've gotten the best/only information.

https://www.urethanesupply.com/pdf/​thebook.pdf

Here's my questions:

1.) What kind of plastic is used for the cladding on the Explorers? Specifically a 2001 Sport Trac. I'm thinking it's thermoset. Anybody think or know otherwise?

2.) Is it possible to make cuts on previously determined plastic, heat and reshape to the desired contours?

I'm definitely going to have to take the sawzall to my cladding. I don't have to take it all off, though, and already have an idea of where and how I want to trim. I just want to trim a little less than necessary and then bend the excess plastic back to keep a clean cut and factory-molded look.

If it's going to be difficult, that's fine. I'm up for a challenge and learning something new. I'd rather not hear it's impossible, though.

So, who's got some wisdom to share?

 

[OffTrac]

Am I blazing new territory or am I just crazy? I thought the interwebs would be full of information like this, but it just ain't so. Then I finally figured I'd ask here assuming with all the knowledge here, someone would chime in. I guess I'll just cut, heat, bend and see what holds and what snaps into chunks of plastic. I'll let y'all know.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Might help to know exactly what you're going to try, rather than generalizing the "cut and bend" thing. Might not be clear what you're trying to accomplish.

I'd grab a piece of cladding at the junkyard and try it, in case it goes horribly wrong.

 

[OffTrac]

Oh, sorry. I could see how that would be important information. Mainly cutting the front cladding on my Sport Trac to fit 35s. Behind the front wheels will just have to be cut; I don't see a way to really blend that too well.

 

[OffTrac]

If it goes horribly wrong, I'll just go with the Rock Trac look.

 

[flamingX]

Still not sure exactly what your trying to do, but the plastic trims are moulded that way and is really hard to re-shape. So if your just trying to shorten the ends of your bumper cover to give more clearance, than you may have better luck cutting off the lip, shortening it the needed amount then plastic welding the lip back on.

Some plastics are easier to weld than others (the urethane used on '87-'93 Mustang GT's is the easiest) I cant remember what the SportTrac trims are made of. So as mentioned before, get a bumper cover from the wreckers and practice away.

 

[OffTrac]

Thanks. That sounds like a plan. I'll definitely update with whichever way I do this.