Drip rails, go or stay? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

red caddy · 04-28-2009, 11:01 AM

I started the body prep on my '86 GMC and have some "Q"'s.

Factory drip rails, Should I shave them or put 'em back? If I shave them, what's the best way to fill the screw holes? Welding will leave bare metal inside the roof, I can't see any way to seal in side. Dimpleing and filling with "all metal", then normal surface prep, looks like the way to go if I shave them. Any tricks I should know?

What, if any problems will I encounter if I leave them off? Our normal Tropical Monsoon rains, here in so. Florida, have me concerned about water intrusion. What do ya'all think? Thanks, Paul

spr85gmc · 04-28-2009, 11:06 AM

unless your shaving everything on the cab i say leave them, dont get me wrong truck look sick with out them but just a pain in the butt if water starts leaking in...... so be sure all your seals are nice and tight.

*78 Chevyrado* · 04-28-2009, 11:08 AM

If you have to deal with even light rain, I'd keep the drip rails. Without them when you open the door the water on the roof doesnt just fall straight down but it can run like a river and go a foot or so to the inside of the cab. They are very useful IMO.

69BBsuburban · 04-28-2009, 11:20 AM

Leave 'em....
BUT, if you decide to shave 'em, I'd just weld up the holes. It's not going to rust away. There's bare metal under there as it is (from the screw) and if it's just "dimpled" and filled with filler, it will corrode much quicker than a solidly welded hole.

slugish · 04-28-2009, 08:02 PM

Leave them > my 2 cents

pokethesmot · 04-28-2009, 08:03 PM

leave em

baknblk · 04-28-2009, 08:37 PM

shave them makes it look so much better..but yes if its rainin watch for the water

JohnC · 04-29-2009, 09:16 AM

I would say with as much rain as you get in your area I would leave them, or really make sure they seal off good. Nothing like finding out later when rust starts popping through. There is a truck here in town that has them shaved, and is starting to rust in areas around the back of the cab where they leaked. Now it not only looks terrible, but it's a lot more work to fix the problem created.

mhicks · 04-29-2009, 09:34 AM

My '73 didn't come with them and I added them. I think you will wished you would have kept them if you get rid of them.

04-28-2009, 11:01 AM	#1
red caddy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Venice Florida Posts: 83	Drip rails, go or stay? I started the body prep on my '86 GMC and have some "Q"'s. Factory drip rails, Should I shave them or put 'em back? If I shave them, what's the best way to fill the screw holes? Welding will leave bare metal inside the roof, I can't see any way to seal in side. Dimpleing and filling with "all metal", then normal surface prep, looks like the way to go if I shave them. Any tricks I should know? What, if any problems will I encounter if I leave them off? Our normal Tropical Monsoon rains, here in so. Florida, have me concerned about water intrusion. What do ya'all think? Thanks, Paul

04-28-2009, 11:06 AM	#2
spr85gmc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: san antonio Posts: 648	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? unless your shaving everything on the cab i say leave them, dont get me wrong truck look sick with out them but just a pain in the butt if water starts leaking in...... so be sure all your seals are nice and tight.

04-28-2009, 11:08 AM	#3
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? If you have to deal with even light rain, I'd keep the drip rails. Without them when you open the door the water on the roof doesnt just fall straight down but it can run like a river and go a foot or so to the inside of the cab. They are very useful IMO.

04-28-2009, 11:20 AM	#4
69BBsuburban Right in front of you. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roy, Wa Posts: 584	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? Leave 'em.... BUT, if you decide to shave 'em, I'd just weld up the holes. It's not going to rust away. There's bare metal under there as it is (from the screw) and if it's just "dimpled" and filled with filler, it will corrode much quicker than a solidly welded hole.

04-28-2009, 08:02 PM	#5
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? Leave them > my 2 cents

04-28-2009, 08:03 PM	#6
pokethesmot profeshinaly unimployed Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: hazlehurst, GA Posts: 1,232	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? leave em __________________ my ride click here my myspace "having mud flaps is like asking for a smaller trophy"

04-28-2009, 08:37 PM	#7
baknblk Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: southeastern ky Posts: 88	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? shave them makes it look so much better..but yes if its rainin watch for the water

04-29-2009, 09:16 AM	#8
JohnC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 7,461	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? I would say with as much rain as you get in your area I would leave them, or really make sure they seal off good. Nothing like finding out later when rust starts popping through. There is a truck here in town that has them shaved, and is starting to rust in areas around the back of the cab where they leaked. Now it not only looks terrible, but it's a lot more work to fix the problem created.

04-29-2009, 09:34 AM	#9
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: Drip rails, go or stay? My '73 didn't come with them and I added them. I think you will wished you would have kept them if you get rid of them.



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