Body moldings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Paul Clark · 08-08-2002, 11:15 PM

Now I know why you guys don't put the body moldings (trim) back on your trucks. It has nothing to do with making it look cleaner. It's because they are such a bear to put back on.

No directions with my fasteners. So I'm looking at a vendor's catalogue diagram for help. What they show and what I've got don't match up.
For example, the bottom piece on each door shows that you should use a fastener that has a threaded stud on both ends of the door. Use the sticky stuff in between. Guess where the threaded stud goes on the front of the door? Directly behind the hinge!
Took a 3/8 wrench to the grinder to make it fit.
I have one side on, but I'm really dreading the other side.
Never had to work so hard to get some trim before.

p.s. The front piece on the bed is "almost" too long. And the top piece on the bed looks like it was too short, so "they" spliced in about 4" extra with aluminum tape. Looks cheap.
Anybody else have similar experiences? Hope not.
Almost wish I would have plugged the holes.
It will look cool when it's done, but I might be dead by then.

RipMeyer · 08-08-2002, 11:28 PM

I feel the same way you do but about filling the holes. HOLY CRAP there are alot of`em. I might be dead before I am done. Either way its going to be a pain in the A$$.

You could substitute your post for one I was going to make about filling holes LOL

Bill72BB · 08-08-2002, 11:41 PM

I'm close to painting mine and am dreading taking off the trim and putting new on . Who did you get your trim from?

Thanks Bill

tom hand · 08-09-2002, 09:00 AM

Isn't trim fun. If it was easy little girls would do it! At some point the factory started putting it on with stick-on fasteners. [71-72?] The stick-on ones work better than some of the aftermarket bolt on ones. The fasteners to hold the bottom trim on are too small, and I cleaned up and reused a lot of my originals because the new ones suck. The trim itself was perfect, exactly like the original including the 4 inch extenstion on the top trim. Bill72BB I got mine from GMC Paul.

Paul Clark · 08-09-2002, 10:00 AM

Trim looks great on your truck, Tom. Thanks for setting me straight on that 4" extension. Does it go at the front or rear of the bed?
Also, have got some clips that are "push-in". Any idea where I should use them?
Thanks again

Southpa · 08-09-2002, 10:07 AM

I recently pulled the trim off and found the push-in clips go in the doors. It saves having to pull inside panels off and mess around inside the door. I'm going to make an attempt to hammer the dents out and repaint all my trim later. Those little ones along the back of the tailgate can be a nasty too.

ChevLoRay · 08-09-2002, 10:22 AM

I'm glad you started this thread. My '69 had upper and lower moldings, when new. I know that this was TOO much trim, although this is my opinion. Lower trim only, would have been nice, but I'm guessing the dealerships saw an opportunity to make a few more bucks. No biggee.

I have one piece missing from my truck. But, I'm not going to use any of it, after I remove it. Clean look? Sure. My truck was black, too, so I know how it would look with all of it on. I really prefer the lower bodyside molding that was optional on the '67-68's. However, I'm not gonna use that either.

You wrote about polishing and reusing your trim. This stuff is anodized. How are you refinishing this trim and what are you doing to protect it, assuming you're removing the anodizing and are polishing the bare aluminum?

tom hand · 08-09-2002, 10:29 AM

The 4" extention goes to the rear. My truck had 6 push-in clips. One went on the top trim at the front of the door. The top trim on the bed had one front and back with the stick-ons in between. Of couse mine is a 72 and like I said they only used the stick-ons for a couple of years.

Paul Clark · 08-09-2002, 10:38 AM

I really, really wanted to use the push on clips for each end of the lower door piece. Couldn't do it 'cause they are a little wider than the bolt clips and wouldn't get far enough to the ends of the trim to line up with the holes in the door.
The vendor's catalogue with the trim/clips illustration doesn't show any push in clips.

tom hand · 08-09-2002, 10:51 AM

Yea that front bottom clip on the doors is a bit*h. I used a 3/8's ingnition wrench.

08-08-2002, 11:15 PM	#1
Paul Clark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Center Point, IA Posts: 502	Body moldings Now I know why you guys don't put the body moldings (trim) back on your trucks. It has nothing to do with making it look cleaner. It's because they are such a bear to put back on. No directions with my fasteners. So I'm looking at a vendor's catalogue diagram for help. What they show and what I've got don't match up. For example, the bottom piece on each door shows that you should use a fastener that has a threaded stud on both ends of the door. Use the sticky stuff in between. Guess where the threaded stud goes on the front of the door? Directly behind the hinge! Took a 3/8 wrench to the grinder to make it fit. I have one side on, but I'm really dreading the other side. Never had to work so hard to get some trim before. p.s. The front piece on the bed is "almost" too long. And the top piece on the bed looks like it was too short, so "they" spliced in about 4" extra with aluminum tape. Looks cheap. Anybody else have similar experiences? Hope not. Almost wish I would have plugged the holes. It will look cool when it's done, but I might be dead by then.

08-08-2002, 11:41 PM	#3
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,979	I'm close to painting mine and am dreading taking off the trim and putting new on . Who did you get your trim from? Thanks Bill __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

08-09-2002, 09:00 AM	#4
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Isn't trim fun. If it was easy little girls would do it! At some point the factory started putting it on with stick-on fasteners. [71-72?] The stick-on ones work better than some of the aftermarket bolt on ones. The fasteners to hold the bottom trim on are too small, and I cleaned up and reused a lot of my originals because the new ones suck. The trim itself was perfect, exactly like the original including the 4 inch extenstion on the top trim. Bill72BB I got mine from GMC Paul. Attached Images __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS Last edited by tom hand; 08-09-2002 at 09:03 AM.

08-09-2002, 10:07 AM	#6
Southpa Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,409	I recently pulled the trim off and found the push-in clips go in the doors. It saves having to pull inside panels off and mess around inside the door. I'm going to make an attempt to hammer the dents out and repaint all my trim later. Those little ones along the back of the tailgate can be a nasty too. __________________ 1970 GMC 1500 Custom Original 350/TH350 Victoria, BC, Canada You can wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one gets filled first.

08-09-2002, 10:22 AM	#7
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	I'm glad you started this thread. My '69 had upper and lower moldings, when new. I know that this was TOO much trim, although this is my opinion. Lower trim only, would have been nice, but I'm guessing the dealerships saw an opportunity to make a few more bucks. No biggee. I have one piece missing from my truck. But, I'm not going to use any of it, after I remove it. Clean look? Sure. My truck was black, too, so I know how it would look with all of it on. I really prefer the lower bodyside molding that was optional on the '67-68's. However, I'm not gonna use that either. You wrote about polishing and reusing your trim. This stuff is anodized. How are you refinishing this trim and what are you doing to protect it, assuming you're removing the anodizing and are polishing the bare aluminum? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-08-2002, 11:28 PM	#2
RipMeyer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 649	I feel the same way you do but about filling the holes. HOLY CRAP there are alot of`em. I might be dead before I am done. Either way its going to be a pain in the A$$. You could substitute your post for one I was going to make about filling holes LOL

08-09-2002, 10:00 AM	#5
Paul Clark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Center Point, IA Posts: 502	Trim looks great on your truck, Tom. Thanks for setting me straight on that 4" extension. Does it go at the front or rear of the bed? Also, have got some clips that are "push-in". Any idea where I should use them? Thanks again

08-09-2002, 10:29 AM	#8
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	The 4" extention goes to the rear. My truck had 6 push-in clips. One went on the top trim at the front of the door. The top trim on the bed had one front and back with the stick-ons in between. Of couse mine is a 72 and like I said they only used the stick-ons for a couple of years. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

08-09-2002, 10:38 AM	#9
Paul Clark Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Center Point, IA Posts: 502	I really, really wanted to use the push on clips for each end of the lower door piece. Couldn't do it 'cause they are a little wider than the bolt clips and wouldn't get far enough to the ends of the trim to line up with the holes in the door. The vendor's catalogue with the trim/clips illustration doesn't show any push in clips.

08-09-2002, 10:51 AM	#10
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Yea that front bottom clip on the doors is a bit*h. I used a 3/8's ingnition wrench. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.