Shaving Rain Gutters/Drip Rails

[Jeffs70]

I Know I have seen quit a few people asking how to Shave the Rain Gutters/Drip Rails.
So I figured while I do mine I will take Pictures and give more info on how I am going to go about doing this. Hope this info does go to good use for someone.

First of all You will need these Required Tools:
Safety Glasses
Welder
Grinder
Grinding Sandpaper Wheel
Sheet Metal
Sheet Metal Cutters
Always nice to have a Magnet
Sawzall or Angle Die Grinder with Cutting Wheel Or use a Cutting Wheel on your Angle Grinder.












Step #1.
If You have your Windshield and Rubber Seal still in your Truck you should Protect it/Cover it before starting this project Unless your replacing them like I am before this truck is finished.

[Jeffs70]

Step #2
Cut the Rain Gutter/Drip Rail from the top down around an Inch in Length at a Time.
Cutting to much can cause the roof to flex and move out of its original place.
Be careful not to cut to close to the roof till you get a visual of what your working with and how you want it to look. some people have different tastes how they wish theirs to look so mine may not be the look you desire.


Step #3
After Cutting the Rain Gutter/Drip Rail off take your grinder with your Grinding Sandpaper Wheel (Disc) if needing to grind alot of the rail still off to get closer to the roof and grind away till your happy.


Step #4
Cut some Small pieces of Sheet metal to fit in the bare area where needed (Good Place to use your Magnet to hold the small Sheet Metal Pieces in Place) and Tack weld them in. Other Helpful Tips and Info in Step #5

Notice the Big Gap with no Sheet Metal in the Picture - This is where you will Add Sheet Metal If going the way I am with my Shaved style


Step #5
Weld each side of where you have cut off the Rain Gutter/Drip Rail to keep it secure and not allow the roof to move or flex at all.
Remember do not weld to much in one area. you want to just tack weld it up (one touch at a time in each spot) if you heat the metal up to much you will warp the sheet metal. each time you Tack weld it move to the next spot far enough away. Knowing when to quit and take a break inbetween is a good thing. (See Picture 1)


Step #6
Sand down the welds smoothly with your Grinding Sandpaper Wheel(Disc). Do not use a Hard Grinding Disc also Do not sand to much of the Sheet Metal. Dont allow the Sheet Metal to turn Blue. That is what Causes it to Warp

[Jeffs70]

Here is the Passenger Side View of the Drip Rail with Primer