Drip rail molding removal & installation

The chrome drip rail molding that goes over the rear 1/4 windows and along the roof line and over the doors . . .

How easy are they to remove and install? Does it require a special tool?

I know these were not standard on all the cars. Is it easy to put on a Maverick that did not have it originally?

Thanks for your input!

 

David; I made the mistake of taking mine off when I had my car painted, and dented it. Looks bad. However, the car looks better without it, IMHO. If you want to keep it, and the drip rails aren't rusted, leave them alone. Just my $.02

Earl

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

Here is where I am at:

Two different Mavericks:

First Maverick needs repainted and the rails will need to come off, because it starting to rust near the rails. I would like to be able to put the rails back on.

Second Maverick doesn't have them on, but I like the look and would like to put a set on this car.

So I would really like to get some suggestions on how to do this without damaging anything.

Thanks!

 

David; use a round-tipped church key (bottle opener) with electrical tape wrapped around it. Be gentle, do it slowly and be carefull not to push too hard. Wish I had known about this when I took mine off. Good luck!!

Earl

 

Earl,

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like the molding just pulls out with a little gentle and consistent persuasion.

How easy do they go on? Did you have a problems putting yours back on? I assume yours got dented when you were taking it off?

 

David; I didn't put them back on. I think the car looks better without them, but that is just personal opinion. Mine got pretty bad, so I had it painted without them, and liked what I got back, so never pursued any more moldings.

Earl

 

I have a Sprint that did not come with the stainless trim. Personally, I like it so I took it all off another car and put it on mine. To get it off I just used a straight slot screw driver and started at the front underside and gently tapped the lip off, slowly working my way to the back. I didnt have any problems. To put it back on I used a rubber mallet and tapped it back on with a downward/in motion on the top crown and it popped right back on. I did the same for the door trim. For the wing windows, I just swapped out the whole window.