trim alignment - or - bed alignment...

[jocko]

Quick question for someone with one of these to compart to!
Pls take a look at this picture - from what I remember when I had my 72, the lower belt trim should align better between the bed and the c pillar/door, etc. But as I look at this pic, I can't really tell if the trim is installed mis-aligned or if the trim is installed in the right spot, but the sheetmetal (i.e. bed) is not leveled. I looked at this truck in person, and the bed looked quite kosher, no wobbly, no apparent misalignment, etc - but now that i check it out in a pic (I was taking the pic for a close up of the door dent - but then noticed the trim misalignment when I got home and looked closer at the pic). Just curious what y'all think...

(on another note - when I looked at this truck in person, for some reason it struck me that the little woodgrain lower trim piece directly in front of the wheelwell appears "lower" than all the other side trim pieces. Thought this was odd - so when I got home, I compared it to every other pic I had of other 71/72s and they're all like that. I had never noticed! Anyway, thought that was interesting...)

[Gene]

Since the bed can't come down it looks like your cab mounts might be pancaked some. Options are shim the cab or replace the mount.
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[jocko]

thanks gene - that's a good observation. I'm gonna play devil's advocate to my own question (so, pls forgive me) - but does it seem like the actual body lines align pretty well? The more I look at it, the more that seems the case - and makes it appear the either the bed trim was placed too high or the cab trim was placed too low... (i.e. note the gap between the top of the cab trim and the body line - and the lack of a gap between the top of the bed trim and the body line)

??

Is the original lower trim attached with adhesive or with clips?
Is aftermarket lower trim attached with adhesive or with clips?
The plot thickens. the more I stare, the more it appears the body lines align pretty well (to me).

Thanks again gene -that is definitely something I would definitely look at first before ripping the trim off - hadn't thought about cab mounts.

[Sicklajoie]

To me, it looks like a combination of both, but moreso with the trim.

[Gene]

Cab trim and bed trim should be attatched with clips, in these locations that's what led me to think it was cab sag.
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[jocko]

Originally Posted by Gene

Cab trim and bed trim should be attatched with clips, in these locations that's what led me to think it was cab sag.
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thanks - that's what I needed to determine. The guy did have some aftermarket side trim (don't know if this was it) and was wondering if maybe it was the stick-on variety. Which area WAS the stick on variety?

[Gene]

Originally Posted by jocko

thanks - that's what I needed to determine. The guy did have some aftermarket side trim (don't know if this was it) and was wondering if maybe it was the stick-on variety. Which area WAS the stick on variety?

Mine only had stick on, on the upper doors and upper bed trim. It does look like the trim is below the line now that I look closer.
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[dfwright]

It looks like from the picture that the trim on the bed is right up to the body line, and the trim on the cab is a 1/4" or so below the body line.

[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

To me, it looks like a combination of both, but moreso with the trim.

I agree. I have seen original trucks with the lower trim mounted right beneath the body line and other factory trucks with the trim mounted 1/4 of an inch or more below the body line.

[jocko]

yep, i'm inclined to agree, and lean more to the trim mismatch. Oh well, nothing a blowtorch and a lot of money can't fix...

[Gene]

Originally Posted by jocko

yep, i'm inclined to agree, and lean more to the trim mismatch. Oh well, nothing a blowtorch and a lot of money can't fix...

They make plastic clips for the wide trim also that you can use some doublesided 3m tape on, that stuff is very sticky if you clean the area well.

[PAWS 72]

Jocko mine was like that before I took it off.I think that the holes for the clips didn't get drilled rite to begin with.

If you use double sided tape split the differece.Nobody will know the defference.Been there did that

[jocko]

got it Paws, thank you. Yep - most of the trim would need to be replaced anyway, and the seller has it (if he hasn't sold it yet), so I may take another run up to visit him.

[leddzepp]

Every truck I have ever seen with trim is like that. If you try to move the lower trim from the bed down to line up with the cab trim, the contoured end that meets at the front of the tire will not line up.