removing and reapplying side trim

[blazin_blazer]

I've been collecting parts for awhile now, w/ intentions on building...err,rebuilding my '80 k5. i was planing on bracing the rockers and cutting the top off to make it full 'vert, i have a set of doors off a '75, that i was going to re-skin.

like i stated, i was planing on cutting the top on the '80 and making it a full'vert. well, while gathering parts, i gathered up a '74 rolling chassis & tub(it also has a th350/np203, d shafts, everythings there except engine & no top...all for $250) so now i think the '80 will keep its lid, b/c the '74 still has the rocker boxes intact, they are fairly rusted, but it looks easier to fix the rockers on the '74 than beef up/repair the '80s rockers and then taking its top off.

my '80 has every piece of body trim on it, while the '74 has none, i want to know how to remove this body trim w/o damaging it, b/c i want to put it on the '74...i want the body trim b/c I'm planning on a 2 tone paint job and need the trim to divide between the 2 diff colors, i don't want to use pinstripe, i want the stock trim. I've seen a truck before w/ trim removed and it had these springy wire looking things that held the trim on. but the '74 has nothing on the sides.

so, 1st off.. how do i get the trim off of those spring retainers on my '80 model w/o damaging the trim?

2nd'ly, how can i put the trim on the '74? With technology where it is now, is there some sort of ''super'' permanent 3m double sided tape i can use to reinstall the trim on the '74 body tub and it has to stay stuck on the body(I've heard of some tape that would pull the paint off, before letting lose)? i like the idea of using some sort of double sided tape, it just seems that it would be the easiest way and hold trim tighter, but i want it to stay stuck! I'm not going for the easy way out, i want to do it right, but alot has changed since 80 and this may very well be a ''right'' way to place body trim correctly now.

or will i have to salvage the springy clips off of my '80 and attach them to the '74 to hold the trim? will/would my local paint/auto body supply store have those springy clips if tape is a bad idea? although, those springy wire clips have held the trim on my '80 for 28 years now! 1 of the reasons i like the tape method is it would hold the trim tight, the clip thingy's, hold the trim good, but it is holding it loosely, (I've riden in trucks where that trim would vibrate and make noise) and it will move fairly easy w/your finger abit.

any thoughts,ideas,pros, or cons on either method?

 

[lectric80]

I don't know about the double sided tape, but I do know the 3m trim adhesive is pretty strong stuff. I don't know if it would hold properly on the 80's trim, since there are some screws as well, but if you only use the screws with the adhesive it would probably hold for quite a while.

On another note, you could also get new clips from LMC for all the trim, so that even if you damage one, you would have replacements. I don't know how strong they are, since I haven't started buying the new trim for my 80 yet, but they should hold pretty well. I wish I was removing the trim that was on mine, since it was missing when I bought the truck, and now I want it all on there.