Don't want to crash the party, but I am having my driver painted but right now running into a pre-paint problem.

The body shop painting the car wants me to remove the rear window trim. My 1978 has the chrome trim. I am told it is not made anymore????  SO I am trying to find someone who has done it before to remove it.  The body shop tells me to go to a glass shop the glass shop tells me to go to the body shop???Catch 22????  OK there is a tool which I have seen two kinds to get under and de-clip it.  I am still searching for the correct tool,tools?  second if the clips break but right now they all look like they are attached but break on removal how do yo replace them without removing the glass.

I have no problem paying for the glass to be removed and replace once new clips are put in if needed but I can't even find someone to remove the trim and reinstall it????

I am probably going to try and remove it myself after I find the right tool?????

and if then clips are broken have a glass guy come remove the glass and replace it.

But first I need the chrome trim removed????

That is my question to you and hope you can shed some light on how its done and who can do it or myself and where do I get the tool. The clips you can buy but the tool???????

Thanks for all your help, sorry if I'm on the wrong forum.  did not want to barg in but You must have had to remove your trim for painting???

Thanks BB 1978

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You'll need a tool like this...or similar. Mine doesn't look like this, but the one I have is a hunnert years old, so....
You should be able to find the tool at any parts house, such as Pep Boys, NAPA, Autozone, etc.



How to use the tool

hth


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Yes that is what I'm looking for but check several auto stores and they only have a straight tool with a u shape on the end not sure that will work but its not in stock anyway?  But Thanks I will search for one of those and I guess try it myself, it's getting it back on that concerns me but it should just snap over the same clips if not broken. 

Thanks again for the photo and if anyone has a site to buy one I'm in line.$$$$

Thanks BB78

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Mine is the one on the bottom left  here...



You can get them on ebay, if ya can't find one locally...
Window trim tools


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks again I was able to order one and the pics how how to do it so now we will see whats underneath and how the clips are?

Thanks once again for all your help!

BB78

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Ok it's been a while so an update on the removal of the rear window chrome trim piece for body painting!!!!

First no one told me that the French definition of the word CORVETTE is FUN, or (Oui Oui)

Just kidding but it's been another Corvette education but what should I expect after buying my first Corvette from the Alligator salesman from the swamps of Florida???

I purchase a red handle clip removal tool (anyone need one I will sale to you for cheap as no longer needed and never needed) not because Joel gave me wrong info he was correct if the previous person put the chrome trim on the right way or 100% the right way!

I tried to get the clip tool under the chrome to release the clips but there was no way!  Yes I can understand when the window goes in there must be some adhesive and rubber protection but the clips were covered with rubber goo and sealant that no way to unclip with the tool. I got a thin flat head screw driver under and carefully pop a section of chrome of the clip and worked my way around. Every clip was totally surrounded with goo and hard rubber that It has taken quite a while to dig the rubber clear to remove the clips. I am putting all new ones in as the existing ones are glued rubber sealant tight.

Just endless fun.....  One last question the chrome or I guess not true chrome trim is in pretty good shape but has anyone gotten there's re chromed or steel zinced maybe the correct covering to look like new,a stainless steel look?????

Hope this is all worth it for the paint job.

I'm not sure how they even got that much black sealant under the chrome in the first place, must have squeezed it all out and it engulfed the clips!

any info on getting the chrome/stainless steel looking window piece re-chromed/steeled would be greatly appreciated.

BB78

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Well that sux!  Most likely someone tried to fix a leak by cramming as much sealer in there as they could, instead of removing the glass and doing it right.

The trim IS stainless steel....it can be polished out nicely with some jeweler's rouge, and a buffer wheel....or you can send it out to have it done. I wouldn't recommend trying to have it chromed....the chrome won't stick very well, since the trim is somewhat flexible.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I just bought a 75 from Texas about 7 months ago,motor was a stock rebuild,shift kit in the Turbo 400. Runs good paint is a little under par but I drive it..............I'll paint it in October. Identical to yours in color.............your car looks great to me!  Ray

Yes I debated for a while on painting it. There are some cracks and small dings and the head light panels are crackle,but when the right rear tire blew on me it smacked the rear panel and messed the looks up. I decided if I'm going to fix up the interior and it looks good now I want a good paint job , not show car but for what I drive it I want it to look clean. It's been an education, so now if I can get the trim back on the rear window? Maybe that's why it was full of sealant ???? Does anyone have a recent experience with getting the stainless piece re-coated,not the proper term but the alligator man got paint on some parts and it's removing the steel coating in removing the paint? Thanks again for all input,and I always get a wave of approval when I drive my car, not a high volume color? BB 78

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I stopped at a metal polishing place and he was not convinced it was stainless steel. he had another piece from another older car and it was much stronger and a different sheen on it. He thought it could be aluminum,or and after market replacement.

He would not try to buff it with a machine since it was thin.

Could the alligator swamp car salesman from the swamps of Florida tricked me again????

I was told there are no rear window moldings being made to buy a new one. Mine is not bad but some spots its like having to remove body paint overspray from some areas it was not silver but looked like it went through the original coating of stainless like it was not solid so no silver to buff.

It is not bad and I can buff it up to  look mostly good but would not mind having a new clean looking trim.  But again its a DRIVER.

I'm just concerned that if its not the original then maybe I will be filling the void with adhesive like the prior version to get it to adhere.  First I need to get it painted but getting the run around.

Ok any input appreciated but I will just buff it the best I can and put in new clips and try to get her in place and go with it.

Thanks BB78

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New member here and if you don't mind me joining in, that's a beautiful car with a beautiful paint job. You  got a more than fair price for the paint job. and by the way, I also have a daughter. Impossible to put anything before them. Congrats.

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