Just picked up this car to begin my first resto. My question is about the ugly aluminum molding on side of car. It can easily be pulled off but there are small protruding circles where it held trim on. Whats the best way to get rid of those before i paint. Its the metal trim along the top sides of the car.

I removed the mouldings on mine that were specific to a vinyl top since the car no longer has one and the rocker mouldings. I welded up the holes that were left, then ground the spots flush and filled with body filler then sanded and covered with epoxy primer before the high build primer went on all over the car

Oh yeah I forgot to say that I used a high speed and wiz wheel to grind the little posts off
flush and I also had holes at the bottom that were the ones I welded up.