I've searched on this forum and some others, and really haven't found too much information on trim removal for a '55. I purchased a shop manual, and the body information is a joke.. It's like 10 pages mostly about door trim. I'd like to of course save my trim, and also document on here removal of all the trim on the vehicle.

I want to remove the trim on the front and rear glass first. Some of the trim is slid into a channel on the rubber gasket of the windsheild. I am not sure about the rear as well?? From what I gather the best way is to cut the rubber out, and then remove the trim from the rubber. Removing the rear glass is my biggest fear. The front glass is cracked, and has a bullet hole. The rear is perfect, and not cheap if I break it.

Anyone have any tips on removing both front and rear window trim, and the windows all together? I have been trying to find a good glass guy with knowledge of older cars, but up here in NH options are limited. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thanx!

 

PM me your snail mail address. I'll copy the 1955 trim charts out of the 1962 Body Parts catalog for you. They may help.

 

I would also be interested in that information.

 

I've never taken mine out myself but my car has had 4 windshields while I have had it (it was a rock magnet) plus one windshield was defective from the factory and it only showed up after the install,but all of them were done by different glass shops or body shops. They all knew how to remove the trim. You might check with a body shop if the glass shops are not getting you anywhere. I think they charge something like 5 hours labor to remove and replace not cheap so if you can get it done your self you would save a bunch....Tedd

PS ..I still have the windshield that had a flaw( you wouldn't see it unless I pointed it out) in it and if you are interested it is for sale, but pickup only I don't think I want the liability to ship it...

 

First, my disclaimer, this is my recollection of how the trim is attached. It's close if not exactly correct. I think you'll get the idea. If your car is a hardtop, the rear window instructions may be slightly different.

Let's start with the rear. The top and side pieces on the rear glass are removed by first removing the interior trim. This will expose the nuts that attach the trim to the car. There are two nuts that must be removed from each side piece and if memory serves, there are three nuts to remove for the top pieces. The top pieces are also held by clips. Once the nuts are removed the stainless will pop off the clips with a small amount of careful persuasion. The bottom trim piece clips to the rubber and comes out with the glass. If you're not going to reuse the rubber, use a utility knife to cut off the interior side of the rubber. Start pushing the glass out at the top. Tip it outward enough to where you can lift the bottom edge off the pinch weld. Don't be afraid of the glass. It's tempered glass. It takes a lot to break it.

The windshield is a little tougher to do. The top piece comes off with the rubber. The upright pieces, like the rear trim, has a couple nuts that must be removed from inside the car. There is also a clip at the bottom of the upright pieces. Once the nuts are removed, you tip the top end of the moulding away from the car just enough that you can slide the moulding rearward until it's clear of the bottom clip. The bottom pieces have one nut at each outer end. They are accessible from under the dash. Remove the nuts. After removing the nuts, you should be able to slide the mouldings outward off of their mounting clips. Slide them off. Do not try to pry them off. After the uprights and bottom pieces are off, you can remove the glass. Again, it's easiest if you cut the rubber off from the interior side.

I hope this helps you out!

 

I'll try to get those copies in this weekend's mail. I know the drawings show part #s for both the trim pieces and the mounting hardware and I think they show how they're attached.

I'll look thru other pre-1965 CSM's too and see if I can find anything on trim attachment like the later books have. Stuff like that is sometimes buried in the older books. The 64 book goes into detail on windshield and backlite trim removal and it was the last year for rubber channel gaskets, so there may be some useful tips on glass and trim removal there.

 

Thanks for the help guys!! I'm trying to take my time, and do some research on everything before I break stuff, and have to spend even more money than I should. As I start to take this apart, I'll be documenting it. I'll post some pictures as I do to help out the next guy.., or me in a few years when I forget.. Thanks a lot rocketraider, I appreciate your time!! I owe you one!!

 

Just wondering if the info I sent you and OldsScott got there, and if it was helpful? Windshield and back glass R&R info was in the 1954 CSM (54-56 are the same body). The moulding drawings had all the moulding and clip part numbers but looked like didn't have detailed removal info, which I thought it did.

 

Thanks for the information rocketraider. This will help me out a lot when it comes time to remove the glass.

 

Yes I received the information. Thanks a bunch!! It points out locations of some of the studs and nuts. Will aid when I start taking the trim off. I emptied a can of WD-40 on all the trim pieces to aid in removal. The charts do at least tell you how many clips and how many nuts each peice of molding has. This will definitely help.. I will take as many pictures I can as I go. Thanks again!! Good luck Olds Scott! Looks like we are in the same boat..