Removing Chrome Trim

[jerseydave]

What is the trick to remove the chrome trim above the doors along the roof channel? I was told it was tricky and easy to mess up. I am prepping my car for paint and I want to get everything off the car.

[BQS4]

Dave;
Unless you have a new set of trim, you're not going to get the old stuff off without mess ing them up. It would be easier just to tape it over. I had to do this with my Sportwagon

[jerseydave]

But Gene I want to take it off. Why is it so hard to remove, is it glued on? Down towards the bottom of the window/door it looks like it would make my paint look bad. How would the car look without that trim? I was 50/50 on putting the wheel well and rocker panel chrome back on.

[RallyBob]

Dave, we should have removed the trim from your car while I was at your meet. I've probably stripped that trim off 100 Mantas over the years. Would've made a nice tech day at least.

Bob

[jerseydave]

Damn Bob I'd drive on up but I just stripped the paint off the hood & surrounding areas. I also noticing how good the paint looked under the stripe I removed on the one fender yesterday! I guess the best way is slow and easy to remove the trim.

[74Opel1900]

Dave, I say get new chrome trim. After all we are going to put in an order to Dr. Manta soon enough and it's only 6 Euros a meter which is about $7.70 for a little over 3 ft.

[jerseydave]

I don't think that is the trim I need, its a lot higher than that. You must be looking at the chome insert for the windshield rubber!!!!

I wish it was that low.

[GTRoy]

What is the trick to remove the chrome trim above the doors along the roof channel? I was told it was tricky and easy to mess up. I am prepping my car for paint and I want to get everything off the car.

Dave, If you mean the bright "drip rail" mldg at edge of roof above doors, use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner # 08987 , available at autobody supply. Get a plastic pry tool, (about 5 inch with one chisel end and one more rounded end) from auto glass shop. Spray the cleaner around the edges of the mldg about a foot at a time, gently pry lower edge of mldg away from roof. Cleaner makes every thing really slippery but it evaporates quickley so you have to repeat and pry a little more at a time. Dont try to pull mldg off too fast or it will kink. Mldg will twist some anyway but if you go easy and dont buckle it you will be able to reinstall. Use same spray when you reinstall and hand pressure to press mldg in place, rubber hammer will dent mldg, not what you want. HTH Roy

[jerseydave]

Thanks Roy I'll give that a try tonight.

[74Opel1900]

I don't think that is the trim I need, its a lot higher than that. You must be looking at the chome insert for the windshield rubber!!!!

I wish it was that low.

You're right, that is what I was looking at. If you need an extra hand with this I can help you remove it when I come to your garage (probably a week from tomorrow). Things are shaping up nicely with my car. My mechanic actually called me today to let me know things are on track now. I'm going there tomorrow to detail the engine bay while he has the engine out.

[blitz74]

The drip rail trim is held on with metal clips and is kind of a pain in the butt to get off. Very hard to do without bending it or twisting it since it's so flimsy. If you are having it polished though, most trim shops can straighten it out for you. I recommend starting at the back by the quarter window and carefully pulling or pying it off. Once you have the end off it gets a little easier, and you have to pull or pry it off in sections because of the clips.

The trim on top of the door sill is also attached with metal clips. However... the trim on the A pillar is screwed and glued to the inner trim piece, you have to peel away the weatherstrip to get it off. The trim at the bottom of the quarter window is held on with screws and glue also. HTH

[jerseydave]

The drip rail trim is held on with metal clips and is kind of a pain in the butt to get off. Very hard to do without bending it or twisting it since it's so flimsy.

Damn where were you an hour and a half ago, actually after squeezing pulling and prying "VERY GENTLY" I figured out the drip rail, the first side took a while, the other side I did in about 2 minutes. Tomorrow using the knowledge gained from blitz74 I should get the rest of the trim. I actually didn't lose much time because the chemical stripper is on the car until tomorrow morning, so I have been working around what I have brushed on.