[Stefan Hil (Stefan)]

Hi there.
Does anybody know how to remove the chrome trim around the front and rear window without destroying it? I´m going to to some body work on my ´73 Rallye to prepare it for a paintjob. I also have to remove the roof rail (?) chrom trim on both sides of the car. What´s the best way to do it? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, Stefan

[Alex (Alex)]

A big flat scraper between the glass and the trim and patience will remove the screen trims, they are held in place with little clips screwed to the body.

As for the drip rails, they are a bit tricky, the best thing I have come across so far is a bottle opener with the tips wrapped in masking tape to prevent it marking the trim, then very carefully, lever them up over the drip rail a bit at a time, take your time and work from one end and then the other until you meet in the middle.

[Christer (Christer)]

When it comes to the front and rear screen trims, I am almost positive that I have seen a special tool somewhere. If you are intrested in knowing more about this tool, I will try to search for that magazine. They are a bit tricky to loosen. I think I used some kind of thin screwdriver myself, but I am afraid that this caused one or two dents. Not fun!

[Ted S (Teds)]

any good autoparts store will have the trim removal tool

[Hans (72challenger)]

...in the US.

Remember Ted, for the European guys it's most of the time harder to find 'simple' parts & tools then finding the 'hard to find' parts, cause these things we order from an importer or directly from the US in the first time. For example last x-mas I have been searching for days to find a simple nipple for my brakelines!

[Jay Gilmore (Mickey_mouse]

In England l use a local snap on rep or Conewell rep to get my trim tools..
Re bleed nipples l use Russell Speed bleeder nipples they have a one way valve undo half a turn bleed and tighten up disc front Part no 3959 rear drum 3953.about £9.00 a set. if you have problems getting in Europe l'm sure an English supplier .Like Geoff Hauser Racing or Wasp Enginnering would help out.Email jason@mopar.uk.net if you need further details

[Stefan Hil (Stefan)]

Thank you all for your advice. I heard about that removal tool that Christer is talking about. Maybe the moparshop guys here have one that I can borrow. But maybe such tools are available here for other (European) cars. Some of those cars used to have more chrome trim in the 70ties, too. I think those tools won´t bee too expensive if available. If I´m not successful here maybe I´ll try my luck in England.
But it´s so right what Hans says. Sometimes it is really hard to find just simple things here in Europe. It was e.g. impossible to find a rear rubber bumper filler for my 73 Rallye. The original one is very bad and I searched nearly everywhere. The result was nothing. In the end I got it for free together with two rechromed original bumpers I ordered in the U.S...

[Dave C (One side smokin&#]

I have removed the rear trim on mine in order to seal the usual bottom corner leaks so I have been through this ordeal. Theoretically you use the trim tool or a hook style tool to grab and pull the clips toward the glass and they will release the edge of the molding. Problem is the factories got very sloppy installing the glass and the excess butyl tape would just squish out all over the clips, glass and body. Then the moldings were installed over this mess and the excess goo was wiped off as well as possible before it hardened. What I did basically was try to pull the clips back while gently prying up on the moldings with a screwdriver or my fingers and then, with a box cutter blade, cut the goo around the clips and moldings. Just be sure to allow plenty of time and patience.