about to buy 73-80 body mould

[78-5.3]

ive been searching for info on this for weeks great info!!question are the holes alittle bit bigger than the stud or is there room for movement!!!!!

[78-5.3]

i got my molds today from brothersi i quickly looked over them and im happy with the way they look !!looking forward to installing them but i have to get some good 3M adhesive tape AND start laying them out to drill holes !! not looking forward to that!!!:-0

[menace121978]

cant wait to see them!

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by 78-5.3

ive been searching for info on this for weeks great info!!question are the holes alittle bit bigger than the stud or is there room for movement!!!!!

If I remember correctly, the holes were slightly larger than the studs. Something like 5/16" holes for 1/4" studs. And you can file the holes oval shaped a little if it becomes necessary to adjust the molding up/down a little. Just dab a little touch-up paint on the raw edge so it doesn't get rusty.

Note that holes labeled I and J on my sketch accept snap-in type clips that use a slightly larger hole. 3/8" I belive but I'd recommend drilling a hole in a scrap of sheetmetal and test fitting one of the clips to make sure. These holes are probably the most critical in terms of positioning since you can't oval them out or the clips will be loose.

Also note that the factory used a couple more of those snap-in clips (like go in holes I & J) back near the rear of the bed ... just before the molding wraps around by the tail lights. I didn't put those holes on my sketch since we substituted more stick-on clips there too.

Ray

[78-5.3]

i started to put the front moulds yesterday they are not an easy install and really flimsy i need to remove the front piece and bend it slighty closer to the panel other than that they look very good for twainese repo's



























you can see on the first 2 pics there isnt any holes i measured down approx 5/8 from the body line and made a pilot hole and then a 1/4 hole !! the bottom hole right down close where the bumper is stuff some paper towel or a rag so f you drop a speed nut down there it will land on the towel!!! it was a night mare trying to fish out a speed nut!!!

[78-5.3]

only only 12 pieces to go

[turbo350]

Great thread! 78 and others post up some pics when your finished with your truck, its motivation for the rest of us.

[Dads79GMC]

78-5.3, great start. Concur with Turbo350, more pics will be appreciated when complete.

Keep up the good work.

Ray, I need to thank you again for the contribution.

Mike

[78-5.3]

oh im replacing the adhisive that comes with the molding wth 3m super strength adhesive tape

[78-5.3]

progress more pics coming tomorrow night!!!

[78-5.3]

so i just about competed the moulds on my truck i removed the drivers side fender molding i wasnt happy with the way the clips that are supplied with the moulds attach !! once you tighten up the clips they make there own thread ! there ok if you dont wanna remove the trim but if you have too its a nightmare so what i did was go to the hardware store and got a 12/24 dye and made my own threads!! now i could of used 10/24 dye but i was concerned with how much material that would have been removed 12/24 is more that great!! i also got a heap of 12/24 nuts i made threads on all the clips with the push on clip style nuts!! here are a few pics of the progress

[78-5.3]

here are a few other pics!! oh its best to install the fender moulding in one piece not like in the classis truck how too !! you will bend the mouldin trying to fit the front to the rear!! the moulding require a lttle queaking but nothing major and i think for the money i paid was well worth it !!!!! NOTICED
I Snapped a few lines once i had the right measurements

[76-C10Strokin]

wow! looks good. Great idea threading those clips. this is a great thread.

[78-5.3]

thanks im gonna go out side and take some more pics ,waitnig till it warms past -5F!! im happy with the convex mouldings there a good alternative to the very expensive NOS trim and with some finese they look good fitted !!!

[78-5.3]

here are a couple more pics

[menace121978]

nice work man! turned out sharp!!

[76-C10Strokin]

WOW, again, looks great, I hope I remember this thread if/ when i decide to do the moulds, my truck didnt orig come with them but i was thinkin eventually i would like to do a burnt orange and black or gray two tone and those are grrrreeeaatt with the two tones, great on the solids too... mine is currently the light blue, forget what they call it. 76 c10 custom deluxe. with a 383, 400 trans. it aint much but shes my baby.

[78-5.3]

yeah the two tome paint scheme looks great!!! that will be my next ride!!!

[78 Chevyrado]

Excellent work! I love how they look when they're when they're so new and shiny!

When I did my front fender moulds, to deal with losing speed nuts and stuff, I put a
couple of layers of masking tape on the end of my socket so I had to force the nut into the socket that way it couldnt fall out until I wanted to let go of it. I also put electric tape to tape the socket to the extension so you can get the extension back out since it will be stuck good to the socket.

[flamingbig10]

looks great

[JOEGMC]

Great job, that looks awesome I love these trucks with the molding. Nice work

[78-5.3]

thanks i took the truck out for the first time today got it registed !! i got lots of looks and compliments that 5.3 loves to REV !! cant wat till spring!@!!!!

[76-C10Strokin]

oh bet that felt great, getting the registration and all the looks. -5? wooo way too cold for this Texan. did your truck already have the rear mold or did you add that as well?

[bluex]

78-5.3 - Looks great!

I plan on doing this to my truck as well. My plan was to stick all the molding on with the 3m tape to avoid all the drilling? How do you think that would work?

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by bluex

78-5.3 - Looks great!

I plan on doing this to my truck as well. My plan was to stick all the molding on with the 3m tape to avoid all the drilling? How do you think that would work?

the only problem i see is when your lineing up the moulding with the 3M TAPE if you dont have it lined up and you install it , it will stick like hell and will be hard to remove! I didnt have holes either ! the front fenders are the only panel that require the most holes ! i did replace one hole with a 3M stick , that was the PASS side fender it was the one thats obstructed but the heater motor !for THE CAB moulds i made the plasic backing for the 3M tape and stuck then on!! i didnt drill holes there!!
the front doors reqiure only one hole for a clip & nut and a screw in the other end the middle of the doors are 3M tape ,the 1/4 panels require only 4 holes to be drilled larger holes these are for the PUSH ON CLIPS (see pics)and one screw hole near the tail lights ,the middle of the 1/4 panels are 3M sticks the lower 1/4 are PUSH ON CLIP that require a larger hole on the end near the cab side and on the clip & nut on the other end and 3M Sticks in the middle !!REMEMBER ! the middle of the hole is approx 5/8 from the body line DRILL A SMALL PILOT HOLE FIRST and when it comes to drilling the screw holes make sure you lineup the moulding and drill the hole that is fastened by the clip and nut first fit the moulding then mark remove moulding and drill the hole!!! do this for ALL SCREW FASTENED HOLES , this will make sure you drill the hole in the correct position
good luck!!!!

if you have any Q'S hit me back here to help!!!