Manta chrome roof rail trim and window chrome

[Gordy]

I searched but saw no advice on how to, or if you even can, remove the chrome strip on a Manta A roof rail. I would like to get it off to get a better quality paint job but don't want to destroy it and need to be able to get it back on of course. I plan to be cutting an entire roof of a Manta in a bone yard to get the sun roof out intact and hope to cut it low on the pillars to be able to save the side window chrome etc. Has anyone had luck in working with these side chrome pieces?? Thanks, Gordy

[BQS4]

Gordy;
I have stripped enough cars over the years to know that that one piece, or those two pieces of chrome cannot come off without ruining them. You'd almost have to have a NOS set just to put back on. These pieces have to be "rolled" to get them off and when you do that, they're FUBAR'ed
Good luck.

[Gordy]

Didn't think it'd be easy
Maybe on the roof I'm cutting off at the junk yard, once I ger it home, I can do some serious cutting and actually cut the roof lip off and remove it. Will keep you posted.
Next question would be...has anyone found an acceptable "replacement" maybe in a plastic chrome stripping etc?

[tomking]

I removed the trim from a 1900 wagon and was able to keep 4 of 6 pieces useable. The front first piece is same as manta I think. The next one for wagon of course is longer. The third one is the one which curves down behind last window and is GLUED on. Those two did not survive removal.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Gordy Didn't think it'd be easy Maybe on the roof I'm cutting off at the junk yard, once I ger it home, I can do some serious cutting and actually cut the roof lip off and remove it. Will keep you posted. Next question would be...has anyone found an acceptable "replacement" maybe in a plastic chrome stripping etc?

Gordy;
Unlike Tom, I removed ALL the trim off the sides of a Sportwagon, but, these two pieces. I had to work a few nights at cleaning the old glue or whatever Opel used originally to glue it all on as it was hard, but, I used 3M's "Ultrapro Trim & Emblem Adhesive" to re-attach it all.

[Mike Preble]

You need to glue it back on??? Mine just kind of slid tightly back on. Maybe I have been lucky that it hasn't come off while driving as I don't go above 88MPH. I am always afraid the flux capacitor will kick in and send me back to the future.

Seriously, I used a few small pieces of flat wood to shape the pieces carefully so that they fit back on tightly. I used the wood like a hammer and dolly to shape but not dent the channels. Took some careful work but but wasn't doing much in front of the TV one night.

Mike

[Gordy]

Success!
The roof I cut off at the junk yard has a very rusty sunroof but when I got it all apart and removed the entire tray from the roof, the cables and mechanisum are in really good shape. I will post some pictures in a bit.
After I got the sunroof out I turned my attention to the chrome on the roof edge and was able to remove it with only minor damage which should straighten out real easily. I am going back to the junk yard and now that I know how to remove it will get the pieces off their other Manta.
Here is what I found.... There are small little clips spaced about every foot or so which hold the chrome onto the roof edge. I believe that those who have found glue holding their's on, that that may be a PO's method of reinstalling it.

I will reconfirm these steps after I get back to the junk yard and remove the chrome from a vehicle where the roof is still attached.
To do the job you almost need to remove all of the above door weather stripping and remove the flip out quarter windows by removing the aluminum piece just above the door catch in the door jamb and then removing the screws that hold the center pillar trim up. At that point you can pull down and the rear glass will come out. (you need to unscrew the 3 screws that attach the rear of the window on the latch, from the sail panel of course). Next I took out all the screws that hold the above widow chrome (the track that all the weather stripping slides into). That leaves you with nothing left up there but the chrome roof edge.
The front foot or so that runs up the A pillar is a seperate strip and can be removed by CAREFULLY taking a srewdriver and prying it from under it to roll it upwards a little bit. I would not remove it at this point because if you grow faint hearted in removing the rest you can still leave it alone at this point!
To remove the rest of the strip, I started at the rear and by looking under the trim you should notice little rusty areas wher the retainer clips are. By taking a small screwdriver and gently prying from bottom of trim upwards the chrome will begin to loosen somewhat. Try to work the chrome a little where each rusty clip seems to be. By now the chrome should feel a little loose and then start at the back again and pry gently upward to roll the chrome up and off the roof edge. once you have the curved part removed from the sail panel, the rest goes quickly. Roll it upwards and the whole chrome piece will come off. I will post pictures of the removed chrome to show the minimal damage.
When I remove the trim from the car still at the boneyard I will take pictures of the process as I do it. I believe the install will be the reverse, starting at the front and attaching the rear last. It probably might be easier to attach it with an adhesive but I will attempt to use the clips first.
My Manta which I purchased from Charles Goin (thank you Charles!) will be getting re-painted this winter and I will have the chrome roof edge removed for the paint and will let you know how a serious re-install of the chrome goes!
I've only owned 1 other Manta in my life (a new 1973 silver Manta Luxus) and love having a Manta again. I owned a 1974 1900 wagon from new in 1974 until she rusted out on me in 1986. Still have the jack, spare tire with the mag style wheel, and a few items from that which I will use on the Manta.

[Gordy]

[url=http://www.opelgt.com/photos//showphoto.php?photo=

Here is the roof trim removed and a picture of the clips which held the chrome strip to the roof edge.

[Gordy]

Here is the sunroof from the junkyard. We cut the whole roof off the car and then removed the entire sunroof tray once we got home. The car had sat for over 20 years at the yard but the cables etc were still pretty well lubed up.

[Gordy]

After removing one more set of roof edge trim here is some more advice. The front piece of trim that runs up the A pillar (the windshield post) is attached to the chrome screwed on trim that the weatherstripping goes into. The first step to remove the chrome trim is thus to remove the rear quarter pop out windows, then remove the weather stripping that covers the screws that hold the chrome strip that the weatherstrip slips into above the window glass and at that time the A pillar roof trim will come off attached to the wearher strip above window chrome. After that the rear roof trim can carefully be removed by gently prying where the retainer clips are and rolling the trim off.