RE: IML: How to remove 55 sill molding?

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

Most of the clips on the '55 Imperial do have nuts fastening them to the the fenders. The rocker panel clips are the "push through" type. They all function the same way. The "push up-pull out" action is what releases them. 

I have some other cars that use bolt on clips to retain the stainless. On those cars, no amount of "pushing up and pulling out" will move anything enough to get the trim off the car. In some cases, on those cars, the trim clips have had to be completely destroyed to remove the trim. 

The '55 and '56 Imperials are NOT this way, particularly in the area we are discussing here. ALL of the lower stainless will come off the car without disturbing the clips from behind. It is necessary to remove the rocker moulding first, then the "pork chop", and then the wheel house trim. This is true for both front and rear wheel house trim mouldings. The pork chop will come off easier if you can unbolt the clip from the back, but this is usually not possible.

Paul

In an email dated Sun, 2 1 2005 8:58:38 pm GMT, "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

>Forgive me for wading into something I know absolutely nothing about, but I
>want to caution you that in many cars of that era, the spring clips were
>used only in locations where the back side of the panel was not accessible.
>
>
>In the case of the cars I know best (and these are not 55-56 Imperials), the
>fasteners for the rocker panel moldings were all spring clips EXCEPT the
>ones that can be accessed from inside the front fenders, and the last one to
>the rear, right in front of the rear wheel. Those few fasteners are the bolt
>through type. ?
>
>Unfortunately, this is also the area where mud and other debris builds up,
>and I suppose in some areas these areas are prone to rust, but I caution you
>to look inside the lower edge of the front fender to see if the first few
>fasteners are sticking through with nuts on them. ?You'll probably have to
>clean the area off with a wire brush or a pressure washer to see them. ?If
>they are spring clips, you'll see them easily enough, but if they are the
>stud type with nuts on them, you might have to clean really well, soak with
>penetrating oil, and carefully unscrew them to avoid damage to the trim
>strip.
>
>Dick Benjamin
>
>
>
>
>
>
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