How do you remove the rain rails?

[MarkRobinson]

I'm stripping my car for a repair/full paint job, doing it right, including removing the rain-rails.

Sooo, how do you get them off? Just TLC & care with standard tools?

[ewalt98]

I asked that same question a few months ago..and ended up figuring it out myself.
Basically, you just pry it off.
There are a number of clips that attach to the body and the rail trim slips over them. To remove, I used a screw driver wrapped in tape, and heavy tape on the body where the screw driver would touch as I pried the trim off. Started at the back end, and pried just a little bit at a time, moving forward until I was able to release that section from the clip. Then moved forward to the next clip.
The clips themselves are held on via a diagonal slit on the clip and a pin on the body.
The trim is pretty durable, but as long as you are careful and methodic, you should have it safely off in just a few minutes.
Hope that is somewhat clear!

Eric
1985.5 NA

[MarkRobinson]

Clear enough: that's what I was thinking I'd try anyway.

[KevsPorsche944]

I like to go to salvage yard and try it there first. If you can find one.

[ideola]

If you're repainting you don't have to be so careful about scratching the paint. But when you get toward the front, you have to be really careful because the clips are closer and you can easily bend the channel during removal. Once bent, it's really hard to get it back into the proper shape. I did a writeup not to long ago on how to add these late style channels to the earlier chassis: How to Install Late Rain Channels on an Early Chassis

[coffeenudge]

Hey, thanks for the info. Somebody apparently tried to break in to my car before I bought it, and the passenger side rail is smashed where they tried to pry above the door to open it. Now I know how to get it off to either repair or replace. Much obliged!

[MarkRobinson]

Great write up, thanks!