I need to remove my drip rail moldings to have them restored, but I've never done this before. My car does have a vinyl top, which I will not be replacing.

What is the best way to remove this trim without damaging it or the vinyl top underneath? Is there a special trim removal tool I should purchase, or can you unsnap the trim from the rail using your hands??

I know a lot of you have experience with this...any help with a process to do this correctly would be a BIG help!

Thanks everyone!

Different than your are thinking. Remove the window weatherstripping from the roof. Under there are screws in the channel, remove them. The trim is screwed to the car, not snapped around the gutter like the others.

See pictures

They're held in place with an adhesive gasket, and the U channel that holds the roof rail weatherstripping has a series of Philips head screws holding the whole deal in...start by pulling out the roof rail weatherstripping, it should not be glued in, if original...you'll the see the series of screws front to back, then after you remove the U channel, look for any errand screws, esp at the base of the A pillar holding the small dog legged vinyl top trim piece, the weatherstripping roof rail rubber should also have a hidden Philips head screw where it starts down at the base of the A pillar inside the door jamb

Mike

Great info guys...

So when I remove the weather strip channel, and the screws that hold the channel to the roof, the drip rail molding will just pull off the roof by hand? Assuming there are no error screws.

I can see that the drip rail molding is sandwiched between the weather strip channel and the roof.

Thanks for the heads-up on the hidden Philips screw at the base of the A pillar!

Like dayclons said, it has adhesive foam on the backside so it will need to be prayed off, do not damage it! Take your time and work it and it will start to come off.

The pictures are perfect, thanks NANKET. I see exactly what you and Mike mean now.

My car has been previously restored so I'm guessing the adhesive has already been broken/removed and probably isn't as sticky and will make them easier to remove. I will be careful as I remove both the channel and the molding just to be sure I don’t damage anything.

Rob

Sounds good! Hopefully they put them on dry, if they used sealer could be a fight. good luck.

NANKET & Mike:

I removed my weather strip channels and drip rail moldings this morning, and it was exactly as you said. Thankfully there was no adhesive backing so they basically came right off. Your guidance was a BIG HELP...thanks again!!

I don't have the correct screws that hold the trim to the roof and I don't have the correct hidden screw at the base of the weather strip. Any idea where I can find the correct screws? I'd prefer original/NOS if possible.

Rob

Rob, great deal on the trim removal, glad it helped. Unsure where to get the screws.

Are these what you are looking for?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-70-E-Body-Barracuda-Cuda-Challenger-22pcs-Roof-Rail-Mount-Screw-Kit-/221994169497?hash=item33afe23499:g:dsIAAOSwwPhWlqT3&vxp=mtr

These are not what I used but I had an exterior screw kit that had what I needed. I do not see it around anymore.
Craig

Thanks, Craig. That is what I'm looking for.