Stock wing end plate removal?
 

Hi guys,

I thought I would try to wrap the wing end plates of my silver 2020 GT86 in black. I assumed that they would come off once I removed these bolts from the underside:

https://abload.de/img/2020-05-31170527cqjjx.png

...but I did that and the end plates don't want to budge, at least not easily. I didn't put a huge amount of force into it in case it wasn't the right method.

Any advice appreciated! :)




[Edit: I've just realised that this topic might be more appropriate for the 'Cosmetic Modification' section. Mods please move if necessary!]

I can't find the thread right now, but you have to remove the painted portion of the end plate. IIRC someone on here managed to do it, but broke a part of it on the inside.

Hmm ok, that doesn't sound fun. So it's not related to those bolts at all?

https://i.imgur.com/rw9uJXk.jpg

I haven't done this myself but these bolts are underneath the colored portion. Supposedly they must be removed first, then you can remove the two bolts on the underside.

Ah thank you for finding this image! This is the first time I've seen what it looks like behind the cover.

So the bolts are related to removing the whole end piece, that makes sense, so I don't need to worry about those.

Boosting the levels a bit to see more detail:

https://abload.de/img/endplateipky3.jpg


Looks like there's plenty of glue around the edge, and maybe those two square pads are also sticky.

And I've marked all the holes which might be for clips... could be a nightmare!

Did you find this in a thread on here? Would be grateful if you could link me, maybe then I can ask the guy how he did it.

I was mistaken about it being a thread, it was from a conversation I was having with a member here. I'll ask him and get back to you here.

From my understanding, the (silver in your case) cap is glued on to the black portion. He broke his painted piece removing it. But the whole end piece (silver and black) is not removable unless you remove the painted piece first and remove those screws. My guess is it that it has been constructed this way to prevent the end caps accidentally coming off.

If you are wanting to wrap the end pieces, I would suggest removing the wing. Pop off the two black bolt covers on top of the wing using a panel tool, remove the four bolts underneath, the wing is now removable.

Ah ok.

It sounds like the painted parts aren't going to come off without causing damage - even if I somehow managed to cut through the glue and didn't snap any clips it would likely create some pry tool marks at the very least.

I could try wrapping without removing them from the wing, but it's going to be difficult to create a neat fold around the edge. I imagine that removing the wing entirely probably isn't going to help that much, access to the end pieces is already pretty good.

I came to the same conclusion when trying to remove them.

Gave up eventually and decided to get it liquid wrapped. Easier this way.

I guess it makes sense. It allows them to make the wings as a piece, and then just stick the correct color end cap on at some point further along the assembly line.

It looks like the glue is on the perimeter of the cap. I wonder if you could use some thin fishing wire to saw through the glue (and perhaps through the pads, which is probably double sided glue), then pry the clips off.

how does the glue know it's double sided as it's coming out of the tube?

How does the thermos know if it needs to keep the drink cold or hot?

well that's simple. if you look at the wall thickness of any thermos, it's thick enough to squeeze at least one gremlin in there!

but glue comes a tube, there's no space for gremlins!