When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm thinking the car is not completely restored if the pinch weld trim was not installed. Likely for the Convertible, which makes sense since there was no CS hardtop 442, and I can't think of anyplace on the 3387 or 3377 that trim was installed on a pinch weld.
Dre-day - You still haven't answered earlier questions (ie - IS THIS A CONVERTIBLE?) but assuming it's a convertible then I ask:
Is the convertible top already installed on the car??
Anyway.....the pinchweld stainless trim is held onto the body with a bunch of small screws that get screwed in from the underside of the pinchweld piece.
If the pinchweld piece you have isn't from YOUR CAR then maybe you got the wrong pinchweld trim piece...68 and 69 pinchweld trims are SLIGHTLY different compared to '70-72. The reason I mention this is you said your painter mentioned something that sounds like it doesn't fit correctly.
Look on the underside of each pinchweld trim piece and see if you can spot a few small holes in each trim piece where screws would go through the pinchweld. If you or the painter see these holes then that is where the screw holes will be on THE BODY OF THE CAR as well. These screws are installed from UNDER the pinchweld trim piece.
When I did my '68 (Lansing car) and '69 (Fremont car), there were only 5-6 clips for each car to hold the pinchweld in place. I later found out from jdana that the body service manual calls for some 10-11 clips but it appears that the assembly plant took some short cuts here.
You've got to have those clips or the pinchweld will simply not stay in place. In fact, you stand the chance of bending the pinchweld badly without those clips. The boot is tightly stretched and attaches to the pinchweld. If the pinchweld is not firmly in place, the boot will definitely pull it out of place and quite possibly bend it, even severely.
The convertible top was not on my car when I installed the pinchweld so that made it easier. I looked below where the pinchweld goes to find the holes where the tiny screw goes in for each clip. The screw actually holds the clip in place. Once all the clips were in place, I went around with the "assembled" pinchweld and snapped the pinchweld in place onto the clips with my hand,with just some slight pressure on top at each clip. The pinchweld went on nicely for both cars.
When I did my '68 (Lansing car) and '69 (Fremont car), there were only 5-6 clips for each car to hold the pinchweld in place. I later found out from jdana that the body service manual calls for some 10-11 clips but it appears that the assembly plant took some short cuts here.
You've got to have those clips or the pinchweld will simply not stay in place. In fact, you stand the chance of bending the pinchweld badly without those clips. The boot is tightly stretched and attaches to the pinchweld. If the pinchweld is not firmly in place, the boot will definitely pull it out of place and quite possibly bend it, even severely.
The convertible top was not on my car when I installed the pinchweld so that made it easier. I looked below where the pinchweld goes to find the holes where the tiny screw goes in for each clip. The screw actually holds the clip in place. Once all the clips were in place, I went around with the "assembled" pinchweld and snapped the pinchweld in place onto the clips with my hand,with just some slight pressure on top at each clip. The pinchweld went on nicely for both cars.
Randy C.
I dont think my 70 Cutlass convertible has them. Where can I get them or how do they look like?
Yes it's a convertible, when you put it up to the body the trim appears to be too big
Originally Posted by 70Post
Dre-day - You still haven't answered earlier questions (ie - IS THIS A CONVERTIBLE?) but assuming it's a convertible then I ask:
Is the convertible top already installed on the car??
Anyway.....the pinchweld stainless trim is held onto the body with a bunch of small screws that get screwed in from the underside of the pinchweld piece.
If the pinchweld piece you have isn't from YOUR CAR then maybe you got the wrong pinchweld trim piece...68 and 69 pinchweld trims are SLIGHTLY different compared to '70-72. The reason I mention this is you said your painter mentioned something that sounds like it doesn't fit correctly.
Look on the underside of each pinchweld trim piece and see if you can spot a few small holes in each trim piece where screws would go through the pinchweld. If you or the painter see these holes then that is where the screw holes will be on THE BODY OF THE CAR as well. These screws are installed from UNDER the pinchweld trim piece.
Dre-day - You still haven't answered earlier questions (ie - IS THIS A CONVERTIBLE?) but assuming it's a convertible then I ask:
Is the convertible top already installed on the car??
Anyway.....the pinchweld stainless trim is held onto the body with a bunch of small screws that get screwed in from the underside of the pinchweld piece.
If the pinchweld piece you have isn't from YOUR CAR then maybe you got the wrong pinchweld trim piece...68 and 69 pinchweld trims are SLIGHTLY different compared to '70-72. The reason I mention this is you said your painter mentioned something that sounds like it doesn't fit correctly.
Look on the underside of each pinchweld trim piece and see if you can spot a few small holes in each trim piece where screws would go through the pinchweld. If you or the painter see these holes then that is where the screw holes will be on THE BODY OF THE CAR as well. These screws are installed from UNDER the pinchweld trim piece.
70-72 did not use clips, like Patton says, it's just small screws. I think the clips were used up to like 68 or so, maybe 69. It's difficult to measure and drill those holes if they have been filled in. But...it's do-able, I had to do it on my 70 GS. There was a really good article online from some mag, called "In a Pinch", that explained how to do it. I think it's gone now.......
Last edited by mrolds69; Aug 27, 2017 at 02:36 PM.
Didn't know 72 didn't use them because I never took mine off on the last car. Saw them online listing 72. My current car needs the pinch weld installed so I bought them.
Back to the OP. Have you determined the trim is correct?
My original trim is the exact same size but when I attempt to put it on it appears to be to large any advice?
Sorry.....No advice possible without clear/detailed pics of what you mean. This thread is going nowhere until you can post some pics and/or better info (at least you confirmed it's a convert).
Can't tell what you mean when you say "My original trim is the exact same size......"
"Exact same size" AS WHAT??????
If you have this pinchweld molding set/pair with you....turn it over and look at the backside....are there some small "tabs" with holes for screws to go through on the backside?
>Pinchweld moldings I have pulled from a '68/9 Tempest convert were held on with the clips
>Pinchweld moldings I have pulled from '70-2 Cutlass converts were held on with backside screws
>Somebody tried installing the '68/9 Tempest pinchweld I have on a '72 442 convert and it did not fit.....was either too long or too short (don't remember which) on each SIDE up at the front where they all have a screw hole/tab.
Just pulled the pinchweld trim off of my 72 cutlass convertible. There are 7 philips screws that hold it on. 2 are in the quarter window felts on each side. 2 are around the 90 bends, 2 are half way up on each long side of the trim and the last one is slightly right of the trim connector. A dremel with a couple of cut-off wheels stacked, a mirror, and a flashlight will help as much as anything if they won't turn out. They look like #6 or #8 x 1/2". I'm looking for some stainless ones now.
Just pulled the pinchweld trim off of my 72 cutlass convertible. There are 7 philips screws that hold it on. 2 are in the quarter window felts on each side. 2 are around the 90 bends, 2 are half way up on each long side of the trim and the last one is slightly right of the trim connector. A dremel with a couple of cut-off wheels stacked, a mirror, and a flashlight will help as much as anything if they won't turn out. They look like #6 or #8 x 1/2". I'm looking for some stainless ones now.
Great idea. I'm putting the pinch weld back on my '72 now after a repaint . The stainless screws is a great idea, have you found any yet? My old top is coming off soon preparing for a new one so I might just wait till the screws are easier to reach.
You can find some stainless screws at your local hardware store like ace or true value. A bigger selection can be found at industrial suppiers like mcmaster carr or msc. Fastenall may be source too.
ive had good luck finding good stainless stuff at fair prices on amazon, it helps to know the exact fastener name and designations.
