Grille ? - removing chrome trim

[meanboyjr]

Tried searching this, but didn't come up with anything...

I took the grille off my K5 today to repair some broken tabs. I figured since I was going to repair it, I might as well clean it up, and then repaint it.

I noticed that the horizontal chrome trim pieces (3 of them) are not held on with any speed nuts or tabs. They look pressed on. I tried giving them a tug, but I couldn't budge them. It looks like someone tried to pry one off at some point, as one end is bent up a bit, but other than that, they are pretty firmly attached.

I can mask these off, but I'd like to remove them to make it easier to clean and paint. Anyone know how to get them off the grille without breaking anything?

TIA.


EDIT: Whoops, forgot - it's a '76, stock grille. I have a pic to post if needed.

 

[ChrisPerry]

I pulled them off my 75 by prying up on the edges lightly. I seem to remember they came off pretty easily, but it's been a few years.

EDIT: I just looked at mine and they are held in place by the bottom part of the trim. If you take the grille off the truck so you can get to the back, you can pry down on the bottom edge of the trim and it should come loose.(the bottom wraps around the grille and secures them from being stolen)

 

[meanboyjr]

Thanks for the tip.

I was messing with it yesterday, and I noticed that the lower edges of the chrome trim seemed to be folded over, holding them in place. I tried prying an edge loose with a long, thin-bladed flat screwdriver, but I heard a few cracking noises and decided to stop before I broke more of the grille off. The plastic in some areas is very brittle, probably from a combination of age and heat.

They stayed in place. I took the easy way out and painted over them.