Windshield Revel Molding Removal

pseftoncomcastnet

Hitting a brick wall!

I got the windshields out of my '51 Commodore with no problem, but the revel moldings are another story, In the manual you just push them loose. Looks like you start at the center divider and work outwards. But on my car the moldings are glued to the body with some vicious black gum and they start to bend without a hint of budging. I can dissolve the black stuff around the molding edges with Goof-Off Solvent, but there seems to be a layer of it between the body and the molding that I just can't seem to get solvent to.

Has anybody else had this problem? And is there a solution?

Peter Sefton

Ric West IN

Hi  Peter,      I have used a hair dryer to warm/soften the black stuff.  Then push gently with small windshield ice scraper.   Don't let it bend!!  Almost impossible to straighten.   Yes start at the center post.

I have also softened the black stuff with penetrating oil to aide in removing this trim.  Carb or brake cleaner

would probably also work, but fumes are problematic.

"Ric"

Lance

Peter, use a paint scraper to obtain the widest area of contact when you gently tap the center bars toward the doors on each side of the divider bar. Don't worry if it seems stuck. That was just a nasty  sealer Hudson used. It will come loose. It just may take a few taps on the handle of the putty knife.   When both sides are removed, start gently tapping again on the upper side of the "U" shaped channel that still remains both on the right and left hand side. As the molding comes loose and downward toward the dash gently start pulling it away from the corners first upper and the start lifting the bottom portion upwards toward the antenna. you should be able to pop it out. Just be gentle and have patience. Good luck.

pseftoncomcastnet

Thanks - these are both excellent suggestions. The penetrating oil was very effective at dissolving the glop at either end of the molding strips, which was where the factory had slathered it on thickest. A bit of tapping with a wide scraper nudged  loose and I was able to wiggle it loose without crimping a strip.

Peter S.

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RL Chilton

Good job!  Ric's right.  That molding is very difficult to straighten properly.