Vinyl top installed - drip rail trim won't fit! Suggestions?

[RDR838]

Hi!

I finally got my Charger a vinyl top, the guy did an amazing job. But he left me alone with the stainless driprail trim. It won't fit anymore. My buddy suggested to cut the vinyl but that can't be weather proof!?! I guess I'll need to spread the trim? How do I do that?

Any help would be great!

Thanks!

[twodko]

Bluntly put its a bitch! That and the glove box reinstall were the 2 things that exhausted my bag o' bad words and I know a lot of 'em. The best advice I can offer is to start with the straight pieces at the windshield then work the long curved pieces. Begin by placing the trims edge over the gutter rails and "wrap" the trim as best you can then try to increase the fitment more and more as the trim edge "seats" in the new vinyl. This may take a couple days. When I got my trim to the point where I could almost get it fully seated I used the ball of my palm to smack it in place. I tried using a short piece of knot free pine I routed a round bottom groove in first but no go. This worked great on the drivers side. I tried the same approach on the other side and it worked to a point. The straight piece buldged a bit where the vinyl top seam is on the "A" pillar and I f**ked up the trim end where it meets the VT check molding by smackin' it too hard with my hand flatening it. Afterwards I thought it may have gone easier if I had applied some soapy water to the drip rail to lube the trim. Try that and see if it helps. You might also try some sort of GENTLE heat to soften the vinyl BUT be very very careful or you could actually melt the vinyl material. Don't use a heat gun, try a hair dryer.
Perhaps some other members have some tricks that work. I know Per had the same trouble with his. Good luck.

[tan top]

also make sure you sort of click it over the top edge first , before smacking it in a down wards motion sort of thing !!

[twodko]

What he said.

[68r/t]

Did the car have a vinyl top before? there is a difference between vinyl and non vinyl trim.

[HOTROD]

  or use some KY  ?!

[RDR838]

Did the car have a vinyl top before? there is a difference between vinyl and non vinyl trim.

No vinyl top before! I didn't know there was a difference! Argh, another 250 Dollars for new trim?

Found an ad @ ebay which says there were 2 part numbers for 2 different sets. But later Chrysler used another part for both? The repops are supposed to be universal.

Anyone ever used repro-trim on the driprails?

What's KY? Nevermind 

Thank you guys!

RDR838

[Belgium R/T -68]

I used the repop ones, they are universal for with or without vinyltop. With the
instructions above it's rather simple if you are with 2. I used my original bad ones for training.

Per

[ACUDANUT]

 What's K Y....Lube for a dry hole.  LOL

[twodko]

RDR838,
Sorry dude, I forgot about the trim difference between VT and non-VT cars.

PS Don't get these guys started on a KY thread!

[RDR838]

Okay, thx again!

I'll order the repro-trim then.

Google didn't help me with KY, all I found was stuff from Kentucky   

[hemi-hampton]

Sometimes if you put mega coats of Surface Primer, sealer, paint & clear on this drip rail it gets such a build up of material on it, it can get difficult to add the trim. LEON.

[ACUDANUT]

Did the car have a vinyl top before? there is a difference between vinyl and non vinyl trim.

This is true. Same for the 3rd gen chargers.