What is the difference between vinyl and non-vinyl top drip rail moldings(68 chevelle )? Just wider at the top to accomodate the vinyl top? I just bought some from a guy on TC and they were from a vinyl top car, but I dont have vinyl top... Will they fit?

I would simply try them. :D

I have some off a vinyl roof car and for some reason they seem somewhat bigger (wider) than those that came off a Chevelle without a vinyl top. Now I know that that Chevrolet may not have a different part number for these. Who knows?

Super.....are you looking to part with the moldings? I don't think there is a difference between vinyl or not. Only one listing for all drip rails in supplier catalogs. Anyway, I might be interested in your moldings.

There is a difference in the moldings, the vinyl molding is wider to accomodate the thickness of the top where it is folded over the drip rail. Do a search & you will find many examples of folks who were unable to use the moldings on vinyl top cars. I would think that the fit of the moldings would be loose on a non-vinyl car, but you might make it up with some kind of sealer or adhesive.


BL

ctrain22,
I'm actually looking to find out if they will be too big on my drip rails. I have seen several posts in the past couple weeks that strongly suggests that there are two different styles, non-vinyl and vinyl top moldings.(some guy in the wanted ads looking for vinyl top moldings, the guys reply to your post in member classifieds) I dont have a vinyl top but I also dont have a set of non-vinyl top moldings, so I am going to use them if I cant find anything else. Are you looking for a mint set? or will anything work? I noticed your car doesnt have a vinyl top, just waiting for the moldings?

ok, so after doing a fairly extensive search in the archives, the opinions are mixed, some say no problem, others say no way, so I gotta think there is a difference.

My guess would be that they originally were the same (both vinyl top and non-viny) molding since there is no documentation stating two different parts numbers but when they were place on vinyl top cars they were stretched over the vinyl material. After being stretched over the vinyl for 30some years they are now too wide to fit tight on a non vinyl application. This said I would think some moldings may fit and others not as well depending how stretched they got.

Trooper

There was no difference on the 69 moldings I have.

Scott
The top is on now. Just needed the molding. I had some long pieces, but are a little more "used" than I would have wanted. From what I have read and heard, the there is no difference. The vinyl only goes over the top of the rail, about 1/8" inch. Basically, the molding just helps keep the vinyl in place. It doesn't really need that much more width in the molding. Have since bought the verticles and corners off ebay, although still waitng for them. Now all I need is one right rear corner molding(pot metal) that goes over the right quarter.

I did a quick check in a GM parts book. There seem to be some moldings that are the same on 2-tone vs. 'soft trim' roofs (like the rear quarter belt reveal molding) but the scalp molding (drip rails to us) are different between 2-tone vs. vinyl roof cars. I really have to research it when I get some time and post what I find. Those parts books have some contrived names for parts, so I need to cross-reference against my '67 Fisher Body manual to make sure I am looking at the correct moldings.

Black 70 454 M22 one owner. After my frame off and new paint an OEM V top installed. The drip rail mouldings "new from year one" bent the first set bent the secondset. the v top elkys have a wider mld. The V top goes the bottom of gutter up over the top and the drip rail holds it in place. after i cut the v top to put on the JUNK repo. stuff. I would like to find a set of O E M gutter mld. red 396 sta wgn........Bob in Pitt. robinls5@aol.com

I don't no if 72 is the same but I pulled the moldings off my 72 vynle top parts car and installed them on my 70 no vynle no problems

Update guys:

I put the vinyl top moldings on my non-vinyl top car and they fit. They are however a little loose, but they look great. I'll take a little loose over cheap repro jumk anyday!

When the upholsterer did the vinyl roof on our '72 Lemans Sport he tucked the vinyl right down into the gutter then back up and out over the drip rail before putting the mouldings back on. He also said that a lot of trim shops don't bother to do this little extra work. The vinyl is quite thick and I would think that the two extra thicknesses of vinyl would need a wider trim piece but I don't know for a fact.

Alotta of the problem is, the new vinyl tops are alot thicker than the originals, and its hard to get the moldings to go over top, if you cut the top back so it does not go under the molding, the moldings will snap into place just fine