grrrrrrrr.....this darn 1971 grill

[bb71challenger]

I am attempting to get my 1971 Challenger grill ready for final cleaning and masking for paint. Anyone that has messed with one knows how complicated the paint is along with how brittle they are. I am trying to take off the 2 stainless surrounds to make it easier to paint and to facilitate polishing the surrounds. Anyone have a way to get the clips to release? I can get a few of them but the rest are firm in their resistance. I do not want to break the grill where they install even though all the access points for the clips are kind of pooched out from time I suppose. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[wally426ci]

I can at least say its a pain to get them to resettle once you reinstall them...... I can't remember how I did it but I will say it is possible to do without mangling.... 

[Slotts]

Sorry Brett, my inbox was full. Here is the picture I wanted to send.



I use my index finger and thumb to pull the clips out. Just a little at a time and work my way around until it finally comes out. Some PB Blaster could help if there is some rust build up. Yes, those slots do bow out over time. I have used a heat gun to help pull straighten out thosed bows. Trial and error until you get the heat just right to push them back in line.

Hope that was some help.

Slotts

[mopardave]

plastic trim stick on both sides of the clip and gently work it out.

[bb71challenger]

Thanks guys. The slots in my grill are much more pronounced than the ones in your pic Jim.  That is the reason I can tell exactly where each clip is. I will have to purchase a heat gun it looks like. I want the grill to look nice when I am done so bringing those slots back in would be great.