73 Rallye vinyl top trim removal

[Tilar]

How is it done?

My top is bad and I just ordered a new one from Legendary, along with new front bucket seat covers. I got a quote of $550 to replace the top if I buy the new one top. This seems sort of high and I klnow I could do it if I knew how to get all the trim off without screwing things up. Anyone have pics of how this is done?

It almost looks like I'm going to have to take the headliner down to get it all off.

[twodko]

Hello Tilar,

This might not help you much because my Charger is a 69 but what I did was look through my FSM for all the hidden screws, fasteners etc. Then I really looked (felt) around inside the trunk for bolts or clips. I removed all the speed nuts from the trim where I found them and gently pried up on the trim I knew was attached with clips. Hopefully your 3rd gen will be as easy too. As far as the headliner goes, I had to pull off the back window interior trim and carefully pull the headliner away from the sheet metal "teeth" the cloth is attached to. This was necessary to remove the 2 Charger emblems on each side of the cars' sail panel.
If you don't know how to remove the exterior window trim find someone who does to either show you how or do it for you. Patience is the key. Scraping the old vinyl off isn't hard either. The shop who is installing my new Legendary interior is doing my vinyl top for $400. Let us know what you end up doing and good luck.

Tom

[NHCharger]

My 71 & 72 have vinyl tops and the trim snaps on over plastic holders. Not sure on a 73 but I cannot imagine you would need to remove the headliner.
Page Nacho.

[FLG]

My 71 & 72 have vinyl tops and the trim snaps on over plastic holders. Not sure on a 73 but I cannot imagine you would need to remove the headliner.
Page Nacho.

Yep, plastic clips.

BTW you might as well order new ones cause your going to break em...after 30+ years they get quite brittle.

[Nacho-RT74]

I don't have pics

canopy or full vinyl top ? ( halo )

[Tilar]

I'd call it a full top. It doesnt come down quite to the drip mouldings but it does go clear around the rear window.

Here is a shot from the front side.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,66769.msg752450.html#msg752450

[Tilar]

My 71 & 72 have vinyl tops and the trim snaps on over plastic holders. Not sure on a 73 but I cannot imagine you would need to remove the headliner.
Page Nacho.

Yep, plastic clips.

BTW you might as well order new ones cause your going to break em...after 30+ years they get quite brittle.

Are these the correct ones?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mopar-Vinyl-Top-Trim-Clips-71-72-73-74-Dodge-Charger_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem439d202e1cQQitemZ290398940700QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Nacho-RT74]

that is called HALO ROOF. is the "full vinyl" top available to 73/74s

yes those plastic clips are some of them ( I think rmemeber 22 clips are used )... some others are with a spring with a nut down the "dutchtman panel" ( I think a couple also on bottom of C pillar molding )

the L shaped molding at bottom sail panel usually have a phillips screw down the C one runing to the front windshield.

The Corners have speeds nuts down the trunk area.

at the end you can:

-Pry out the ones from C pillar to Front windshield. In fact you can pry out just the roof ones and then slide out the ones going down to C pillar
-Slide out to front the ones on bottom of C pillar ( with L shaped on it )
-remove the rear corners after remove the speed nuts on them
-slide out the sides the ones on dutchman panel.

In that way and order you won't damage any other misterious kind of clip/retainer, and every one will be easily visible to you

[Tilar]

Great! Thanks a lot.  I think I'm going to tackle this one myself. 

I ordered some front seat covers and a vinyl top from Legendary. The seat covers came today. They said the top was something like 18 days out when I ordered it so it should be here in another week or so.