delete drip rail or not?

[BIG ORANGE]

having all my sheet metal soda blasted and when I get the cab back the fab work begins! Just poundering wheather or not I want to rid myself of the drip rail, and is it as hard as they say it is? Will I have a water/leak issue if I decide to shave it off???
thanks for any info.

[mrein3]

I can't imagine shaving a drip rail unless your truck is a garage queen that only gets out when it isn't raining.

One day I had the convertible out and about when it started to rain. No biggie - I put the top up and continued on my way. Rain stops so I roll down the windows. Next corner ALL the rain on the roof landed on my arm and inside on my lap. Before that day I figured taking a drip rail off of a hard top would be cool. Now I'm thinking not so much.

If you look at modern cars they still have them. They are just better integrated into the body lines.

[special-K]

Leave it.I think it gives the truck a better look.It`s what newer trucks lack that makes these trucks what they are...handsome trucks that still look great 40 years later.

[Ackattack]

I shaved mine, yes it's as hard as they say.

I love the look. I haven't driven my truck in the rain, and it is not a daily driver so I can't comment on how leak tight it really is. I think the concern is water will come around and in through the top of the door.

[67cheby]

I am not afraid to cut up anything....but in my opinion i prefer the look of the drip rail on , i think they look a little odd without them !! Not saying i dont like trucks that have done this , i just dont prefer it

[BIG ORANGE]

Yea when I get all my metal back from strippin then I just got to decide. It's gonna be garage kept but you never know when your gonna be caught in the rain.
I also need to find the thread that shows all the correct holes in the firewall to fill in. Going with the vintage air, the cab is a non air truck, any advice on which kit to go with. I'm leaning toward the surefit kit!
Thanks guys for any advice or opinions, it really helps me make up my little mind!lol

[BIG ORANGE]

Come on guy's I need more response on this topic!

[68_chop_top]

I cut mine off, I love the look. I live in Texas and drive my truck daily. Not much a chance of rain but when it did, it is a pain. I still like it and will do it again.

[62ramptruck]

I have seen several of them removed and I like the truck better with the rail. As a rod shop operator I have removed this rail and with the right tools and a little patience it is not that bad. Just time consuming to do it right.

[BIG ORANGE]

Originally Posted by 62ramptruck

I have seen several of them removed and I like the truck better with the rail. As a rod shop operator I have removed this rail and with the right tools and a little patience it is not that bad. Just time consuming to do it right.

Thanks for that imput, thats the kind of feed back I'm lookin for!
Who has a truck without drip rails and does the rain get inside the truck?
I kinda think that the reason behind the drip rail was to "to keep the water out of the inside of cab" Duhh.......lol

[Richard H.]

Sorry guys, I'm not buying the rain thing... if your doors are not fit correctly at the top or your seal is off or old it is gonna leak. Same for the wind shield.
The biggest problem with water is driving or letting the truck set in the rain with the vent window left open.
Big OJ , you can look at my build thread and get an idea. It isn't hard but it does require patience ,time and filler metal.
Here is a thread on the subject.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=389735

[junkyardjohn]

B.o. I think it's totally up to you & how much tinkering you wan't to do. Think back about all the nice (extreemly nice) trucks you've built. Did anyone ever say?... What a nice looking truck... But it would look so much nicer with shaved driprails. For me.. I kinda like the way they look with em & i think it compliments the body lines. I don't see where you'd have any gain accept astetics. Just my personal opinion. (for what it's worth) john

[Dingfodgy]

I'm shaving mine right now. Mainly because the P.O. let this truck sit out in the elements for about 3 years with absolutely no seam sealer in the gutters....needless to say they rotted out- bad. It's not a terribly difficult process, just slow and time consuming. You have to cut out about 3-4 inches at a time, stitch weld the 2-3 pieces of metal (on the edge no less) and carefully smooth out with 36-40 grit rol-loc discs on a 3" die grinder. Due to some A-pillar issues, I haven't been able to re-mount the doors and check for gaps, but I'm assuming I'll need to weld in 1/4" filler rod to get the spacing correct again.

[noonzor]

im looking to do this soon too, just curious how many hrs guys have into shaving their driprails. its something im going to do, just to accomplish the overall "smooth" look that im going for. when trucks shave everything but the rails it looks kinda goofy.

[fine69]

I like them with, and without. Sort of depends on what color you are painting the truck. And the style of wheels on it.

[Rat Bastid]

keep it,looks good and its a big part of our trucks......i think its NOT worth the effort

[DaddyO]

I think it comes down to personal preference and wat type of look you are going for. I say if your truck is all stock and you have no rust issues, then keep it. If you are going for a more Resto Mod feel, then shave it


......... . I shaved mine and I have no issues with rain. She is not a garage queen either:

[yote1234]

preference!! im old school. so i like em !!

[67chevy1series]

NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OH MAN IMAGIN HOLDING YOUR BREATH SCREAMING THAT LONG ANYWAYS OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO no but seriously no

[BIG ORANGE]

Originally Posted by junkyardjohn

B.o. I think it's totally up to you & how much tinkering you wan't to do. Think back about all the nice (extreemly nice) trucks you've built. Did anyone ever say?... What a nice looking truck... But it would look so much nicer with shaved driprails. For me.. I kinda like the way they look with em & i think it compliments the body lines. I don't see where you'd have any gain accept astetics. Just my personal opinion. (for what it's worth) john

John thanks for your reply, you really made me think about this in away that I had'nt before!
This was the 1st truck I bought 15yrs ago when my son was born.
I want to do something completely different then all the trucks before this 1.
So I'm going with HOTROD black and some red highlites and whitewall tires.
Air,tilt,PS,PB, sidepipes,buckets, console, the hotrod look and nastagic rolled into 1.
But anyway I want shave the driprails due to color scheme and somethings that were said in this thread.
Thanks guys for all your comments it was a huge help!
Donnie Snipes
PS:
Oyeah 1 other thing, I bought a 1969 swb V8 auto,PS,PB truck with a super nice fleetside bed.
Been trying to buy this truck since 2004 and it finally paid off.
Gonna fix it up for my soon to be 16 yr old son, he hasnt even saw it yet, he is at the beach and comes home tommorrow.
He is gonna flip out when he see's it.
I'll try to post some pics of it.

[noonzor]

Originally Posted by BIG ORANGE

John thanks for your reply, you really made me think about this in away that I had'nt before!
This was the 1st truck I bought 15yrs ago when my son was born.
I want to do something completely different then all the trucks before this 1.
So I'm going with HOTROD black and some red highlites and whitewall tires.
Air,tilt,PS,PB, sidepipes,buckets, console, the hotrod look and nastagic rolled into 1.
But anyway I want shave the driprails due to color scheme and somethings that were said in this thread.
Thanks guys for all your comments it was a huge help!
Donnie Snipes
PS:
Oyeah 1 other thing, I bought a 1969 swb V8 auto,PS,PB truck with a super nice fleetside bed.
Been trying to buy this truck since 2004 and it finally paid off.
Gonna fix it up for my soon to be 16 yr old son, he hasnt even saw it yet, he is at the beach and comes home tommorrow.
He is gonna flip out when he see's it.
I'll try to post some pics of it.

man.... i got an 87 4door barely running jetta that i had to pay half for... ur sons gettin one sweet ride for his first!!