stopped midway in removing all the trim off the ext for some paint prep. but stopped on the hatch...

how do you get the molding off the hatch? it seems attached differently than the others, and rather than completely screwing it up, thought i'd ask "the best mechanic" MS forums.

also, do the badges just pop off easy? noticed the star is bolted on, but wasnt sure about the rest.

yes, i promise pics when the paint is done! probably in a few weeks!

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1979 300TD wagon (non-turbo)
266,000+

If it's the same as on the sedans the hatch trim probably has about 10 bolts on the backside holding it on. The emblems you can carefully pry off, kind of shimmying them up on the sides first and then removing it. Just had mine painted, hope yours comes out good.
-Zach

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1978 240D Auomatic
Custom Charcoal Gray, Navy MB tex, kenwood/Elemental/Boston/Aura sound,
Shaved antenna and emblems.

1990 Lincoln Town Car, Sleeper/Strip car in progress, 17.75@77mph.

By molding, I assume you are talking about the horizontal trim piece that runs the full width of the hatch...that is attached by 7 (?) screws with hex-heads (8 mm?), and on each end, there are those red trim clips ...just pop each end of the molding off by gently prying....the red trim piece should stay on the car, but may come off with the piece. You can easily get at the screws through strategically placed holes in the interior body of the hatch...very easy.

The badges are attached with little plastic pieces.....you cant get these off and re-use them....you must melt them from the inside with a soldering iron to get the badges off....4 on one side, 3 on the other. These pieces are very difficult to locate, but I very unexpectely found them in a True Value hardware store near me!!! They cost about $1.50 each! They work by placing the little trim piece into the hole in the body...then you push the stud from the badge into i...this expands the body of the trim piece, holding it into the body hole...I cant think of any way of re-using these because they hold the stud very tightly... they are designed to have the stud of the badge slide on in one direction, but not in the other. If you can't find them, I will pick them up for you and send them out.

Mark

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1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)