Hey everyone,
Has anyone attempted/had luck removing and replacing the studs that hold the plastic clips for the chrome trim that runs along the top edge of the door and quarter panel? If so, how did you accomplish it? If not, what was your work around? Did you pitch them and bore holes like the top of the fender?
Thanks.

 

I have removed the clips along the upper door trim. You have to remove the door panel and reach up with a 3/8" (?) wrench. I haven't tried the rear 1/4 ones and am not sure if they use the same clip. I purchased these at NAPA, there the same as were on my car and I didn't have to wait for them.

 

Your doors don't have studs? My doors have a hole at the leading and trailing edges which use the spring clips you showed, but have studs between those two with slide on plastic clips. Interesting. Every '69 I've ever had was like mine. Except for the Supreme. Are the convertibles different or has someone replaced your door skin in the past?

 

This is how my doors are. The quarter panel is the same for the continuation of this trim and the vinyl top trim as well. It also uses these studs across the deck lid for the vinyl top trim.

 

Interesting, I do not have any studs, just holes. The same for the rear quarters.
Steve

 

I need to replace my quarter panel and will lose the studs unless there is a way to keep them. I don't know what it could be though. They are small and would be obnoxious to try and remove and reinstall successfully. They are basically spot welded to the panel. I think holes are going to be the only option.

 

I have seen people use self tapping screws with heads the same size as the studs to hold those clips on replacement panels.

 

I like the idea Joel. I'll give that some thought. Thanks.

 

Something like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/22366346073...hoCwvEQAvD_BwE

 

Well would you look at that! Awesome. Many thanks Joel.

 

The right way to reinstall the trim rivets is to use a stud welder with a trim rivet tip. Drilling holes for screws in fresh sheet metal is never a great idea, and is a good way to cause leaks and rust. There's a reason why the factory used trim rivets.

 

Joe, Fashionably late. Where were you 3 posts ago?
You are absolutely correct. I was not relishing the idea of screws or holes. I just got off of Eastwoods site and like what I'm seeing. Looks like problem solved.
Thank you. Cheers.

 

Out in the shop putting my 200-4R back together.

 

Just to clarify, the '69 doors originally had a hole at the leading and trailing edge of the door for a screw type clip. Between these two were the the short trim posts that had the sliding plastic clips for the trim. If your door has additional holes, a painter took the easy way out at some point in the car's past. The convertible trim on the quarter panels is a little different. A screw type clip is used at the leading and trailing edge again (round hole), but the rest of the panel has a series of oval holes (rectangular with rounded edges). A very special clip was used in each of these holes. Most people refer to it as a 'tooth' because that's what it looks like and has a small o-ring at the root that seals against the outside of the panel. Lots of discussions regarding these clips on the forum as reproductions are very spotty for quality. Save your originals! Many a painter will just use round screw type replacement clips along the quarters due to the difficult nature of making the original style work.

 

factory used the screws for repair purposes,has rubber tip to "seal" it,but itusually just fell off. still have a bunch of those. fisher had a bunch of different stud guns,studs for vinyl top,glass clips and trim, then some the size of a .22 cal bullit for the diesel firewall insulation blanket, then there were threaded studs to hold the plastic taillight panels on. this was in the 70s -90s