72 challenger drip rail removal???

[challenger007]

How do you get the drip rails chrome pieces off without damage??  Some one painted them and I would like to take them off to clean off the paint...Thanks everyone!!!.....

[Street_Challenged73]

Challenger007, first you'll have to pull out your weatherstripping that's underneath the drip rail in the groove, or where the window edges meet the roof.  Under that you'll see a few small pan head Phillips screws that you'll have to remove.  After those are all out, gently begin to pull the trim pieces that fit below the drip rail moulding.  After that's off, you'll see the drip rail's screws holding it onto the roof lip.  Once you get all those out, do the same as before and gently begin to pull the drip rail moulding off.  (I've had the best luck pulling from the front back.)  Good luck!

[Videomagician]

How about some pics?  Mine were painted so I'm not sure what is chrome and what is not.   The seam sealer in the channels was cracking and coming off, so I removed all of it too.

Can partially see the painted drip rails in this pic:

[Cuda340-73]

Videomagician, when you replace the seam sealer should it be painted? Mine's disintegrating too and I'm planning on replacing it.

[Videomagician]

Well, mine WAS painted, but I'm not sure if that is correct or not.  (EVERYTHING was painted on my car if you count overspray.   )

Looks like this stuff is paintable.

[Street_Challenged73]

Videomagician, I'll get a photo for you tomorrow after school.  Otherwise, here's a quick description....Nothing was painted on either of the cars I pulled the mouldings off.  The leading edge of the "visable" drip rail moulding should be shiny (stainless, I believe) and the inner moulding piece just has a strip of polished stainless visible and the rest is a dull silver.....  I think a picture should clear this up better.

[Videomagician]

Cool.  Thanks.  

Also, I need to see a photo of how a vinyl top meets the drip rail and the bottom chrome piece across the bottom of the window - If anyone has one handy.

[Street_Challenged73]

Here are the pictures I promised you.  Sorry they're not installed on the car..

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[Street_Challenged73]

And the close-up view.  Videomagician, these are stainless, so you should be able to polish them back to a high luster without resorting to chroming them.  Hopefully these were a help to you.  Sorry I don't have a photo of the vinyl top installed..

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[challenger007]

 Hi, hey thanks alot guys for all the info, I was able to remove them and ready to strip the paint off,...much appreciated for the detailed instructions....Thx ..Tim

[Street_Challenged73]

Hey, I'm here to try to answer anything I can to help out fellow E-body owners..

[Videomagician]

Hoping to be where I can look at mine in a couple weeks.  Thanks!