Safe Trim Removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 01-09-2006, 02:04 AM

I'm getting ready to start doing body work on my '69 GMC. The truck has both upper and lower moldings. The moldings are in excellent condition (except for the black paint) and I don't want to damage them when I take them off for the body work. I have a couple of questions with which I'd like your help...
1. What is a safe way to remove the moldings - do I slide them off or pry them off? What is the technique?
2. Can the clips be reused after the trim is removed or do I need to buy another set?

Thanks in advance for your help.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 01-09-2006, 10:05 AM

Molding removal can be tricky as the same clips were not always used. The upper fender, lower fender, upper cab, lower cab, and lower bed moldings were usually bolted on. "Stick on" clips could have been used in the middle of the upper and lower cab moldings. The bolted on moldings have to be removed by removing the 3/8" stamped nuts from the inside and they are not always easy to get at. Keep in mind the front clip was installed onto the truck fully assembled, (including the moldings), so access is difficult on the nuts close to the front door post.

The upper bed moldings and the tailgate moldings can be a real challenge as the push in clips are hard to remove. What I do is to carefully pull up on the moldings and reach into the clip to release the wire spring so that the clip can be rotated releasing the molding. I made a small tool out of bent flat stock to use on this. Penetrant sprayed onto the clips help out this part of removal.

The taillight moldings can usually be removed after removing the phillips screws by using a flat trim removal tool. (Most of the time they are beat up anyway and need replacing).

If the bolt on clips are not too rusted they can usually be cleaned up, painted and reused. The push in clips can be destroyed when removed so usually those have to be replaced.

Good luck!

Jim

bluec10 · 01-09-2006, 12:41 PM

Thanks Jim. I was looking for "the easy way" to do the job. I guess in this case there isn't one.

MAR-Ktech · 01-09-2006, 11:38 PM

I would not worry about the clips if you damage them, they are readily available. The moldings is what you need to protect. Mar-K has clip kits or individual clips. http://www.mar-k.com/55-72_GM_mouldings.pdf As best I can tell, original 69 did not use the plastic adhesive retainers, but used all metal clips either nut-on or push-in type, depending on location. The push in clips are not usually removed without damaging them. We have both types. Some areas of the bed are not accessable for the nut-on type clips.

Mar-Ktech

qksilver · 01-10-2006, 12:14 AM

just don't rush pulling the mouldings...........I did.
Tug don't pull..........

bluec10 · 01-11-2006, 02:35 AM

Kind of solved my own problem. I dug out a copy of the assembly manual for our trucks and it identifies the type of clips used for each molding. With the pictures I think I can figure out a "least damaging" way of getting the trim off the truck. Thanks.

01-09-2006, 02:04 AM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Safe Trim Removal I'm getting ready to start doing body work on my '69 GMC. The truck has both upper and lower moldings. The moldings are in excellent condition (except for the black paint) and I don't want to damage them when I take them off for the body work. I have a couple of questions with which I'd like your help... 1. What is a safe way to remove the moldings - do I slide them off or pry them off? What is the technique? 2. Can the clips be reused after the trim is removed or do I need to buy another set? Thanks in advance for your help. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-09-2006, 10:05 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Safe Trim Removal Molding removal can be tricky as the same clips were not always used. The upper fender, lower fender, upper cab, lower cab, and lower bed moldings were usually bolted on. "Stick on" clips could have been used in the middle of the upper and lower cab moldings. The bolted on moldings have to be removed by removing the 3/8" stamped nuts from the inside and they are not always easy to get at. Keep in mind the front clip was installed onto the truck fully assembled, (including the moldings), so access is difficult on the nuts close to the front door post. The upper bed moldings and the tailgate moldings can be a real challenge as the push in clips are hard to remove. What I do is to carefully pull up on the moldings and reach into the clip to release the wire spring so that the clip can be rotated releasing the molding. I made a small tool out of bent flat stock to use on this. Penetrant sprayed onto the clips help out this part of removal. The taillight moldings can usually be removed after removing the phillips screws by using a flat trim removal tool. (Most of the time they are beat up anyway and need replacing). If the bolt on clips are not too rusted they can usually be cleaned up, painted and reused. The push in clips can be destroyed when removed so usually those have to be replaced. Good luck! Jim

01-09-2006, 12:41 PM	#3
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Safe Trim Removal Thanks Jim. I was looking for "the easy way" to do the job. I guess in this case there isn't one. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

01-09-2006, 11:38 PM	#4
MAR-Ktech Truck Parts Mfg. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 697	Re: Safe Trim Removal I would not worry about the clips if you damage them, they are readily available. The moldings is what you need to protect. Mar-K has clip kits or individual clips. http://www.mar-k.com/55-72_GM_mouldings.pdf As best I can tell, original 69 did not use the plastic adhesive retainers, but used all metal clips either nut-on or push-in type, depending on location. The push in clips are not usually removed without damaging them. We have both types. Some areas of the bed are not accessable for the nut-on type clips. Mar-Ktech __________________ GET MAR-K Quality! Restoration and Custom Pickup Parts for Chevy, GMC, Ford, Dodge and Custom Trucks

01-10-2006, 12:14 AM	#5
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Safe Trim Removal just don't rush pulling the mouldings...........I did. Tug don't pull..........

01-11-2006, 02:35 AM	#6
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Safe Trim Removal Kind of solved my own problem. I dug out a copy of the assembly manual for our trucks and it identifies the type of clips used for each molding. With the pictures I think I can figure out a "least damaging" way of getting the trim off the truck. Thanks. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.



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