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Drip rail trim. 70" w/vinyl top

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crookedbowtie

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Who has a good experience with after market drip rail trim? Need some for a 70' with a vinyl top. Is the vinyl top trim really different like I have been told? Where to buy, not to buy? Quality compared to original, installation tips all greatly appreciated. Looking at some offered by The Parts Place inc. on Ebay...decent??
 
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#2 ·
I tried some of the aftermarket drip rail trim on the passenger side of my 70, but I still had some original GM trim on the driver's side. It was passable, but it was not as nice as the original stuff. I finally decided to get a set of GM drip rails off ebay and have them restored....not cheap but they are noticeably better than the repop stuff. I have noticed that most of the reproduction stainless trim is lacking in fit and finish compared to original GM trim. I will say that the reproduction trim did fit ok with a little "tweaking". You can get reproduction end pieces through Trim Parts.
As far as installation, it just clips over the drip rail. Take your time and it won't be a difficult job.

Jeff
 
#3 ·
Mike, although I never tried the aftermarket driprails myself, like most repro. parts, they usually are sub standard.

As far as being a difference between vinyl and non vinyl trim being different, I am positive they are. A few months ago I just went through this. I have a set of NOS driprails I bought over 16 years ago that would not fit my driprails, no matter how hard I tried. (of course without beating them on with a hammer) I ended up finding a nice used set from a vinyl top car and they just snapped on, no problem. Before I installed them though, I compared the two and the used GM set, definitely had a bigger lip that wraped around the driprail than my NOS ones.

Do yourseld a favor and find a set of used GM mouldings, just make sure they are from a vinyl top car. You will save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run.

Mike
 
#4 ·
How do you remove them without damaging them? Is there a special tool to remove them? I know where there are two windshield pilar ones, but I don't know how to remove them.
 
#5 ·
Luis said:
How do you remove them without damaging them? Is there a special tool to remove them? I know where there are two windshield pilar ones, but I don't know how to remove them.
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Luis,

I've always used an old pop bottle cap opener. The one similar to the pointed type can piercing tool but has a rounded end on the other side. I place a 1" putty knife between the opener and the moulding and start from one end and work toward the other.
 
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#6 ·
Another method to remove the trim is to use a little wood block and while sitting in the car, catch the trim edge with the wood and tap it off. I've been forced to use after market rain gutter trim on my 67 and it is of poor quality. It is aluminum instead of the original stainless and it fits like grand ma's nylons.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Thanks guys, so it sounds like no body makes a great set. I don't want aluminum..does any body make stainless? I guess I will try to find a used set, really all I need are the two long pieces. I have been watching Ebay without much luck.
 
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#8 ·
All the 68 and up cars used STAINLESS driprails (from the factory) and I am pretty sure that is what the repro guys sell also for those years, not aluminum.
I know on a lot of other brand A bodies, PRE-68, GM ORIGINALLY USED ALUMINUM trim up there so that may be what 67Shovel is referring to.
 
#9 ·
67 had aluminum for sure. I know because mine is at the anodizer now, not cheap. Repro is like everything else repro, you have to work with it.
 
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#10 ·
RoyalPlum67SS said:
67 had aluminum for sure. I know because mine is at the anodizer now, not cheap. Repro is like everything else repro, you have to work with it.
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Humm, not to steal the thread but I disagree with the 67 having aluminum rain gutter trim from the factory. I have two sets of the original stainless rain gutter trim that needs the kinks taken out of. Did they come either way?
 
#11 ·
67 did have aluminum, as a matter of fact the vinyl top moldings are aluminum. They look like stainless but they are (not). I recently learned of this myself. I would doubt that GM used two types of metal but, to be honest I can't say for sure. You can have your originals repaired. Its not cheap though.
 
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RoyalPlum67SS
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