Aluminum side molding removal

[WFarm]

Any tricks or special tools for removing the aluminum rear side molding on my 75 Blazer? I remove the screw back by the tailgate and can easily slide the molding back a few inches until the front end hits the clip. How do you release the molding from the clips without destroying anything?

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[bucket]

There's one or two spring clips that push into a hole in the body, the rest of the 'clips' are flat pads with 3M tape on them, which need carefully removed with a razor blade.

 

[WFarm]

I don’t see any 3M tape, but can get a peek at the metal clips. Plus seeing as it moves back and forth freely until the “closed” end up by the door hits one of those clips would indicate it’s not taped. Don’t know how to get those darned clips to release without breaking something.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Here's a couple good videos from my buddy, Jason

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[TotalyHucked]

Also found this old thread

Trim Removal.

Alright, guys.. Here's the problem.. I've got the 73-80 side and tailgate trim on my 78 K10. The tailgate band was simple enough, then the band underneath the back window was simple enough, as well. My problem is those damn side trim with the glue and clips and all that non-sense. Any tips on...

www.gmsquarebody.com

 

[WFarm]

Thanks Zach. I had found those videos before I posed the question here. Thought they would help but in the removal video he does not show the bedside trim. That straight piece above the front tire is exactly how my long bedside piece is mounted, but the bedside piece is closed at the front end so it won’t slide over the clips. Nothing is glued.

I’ll keep pokin around and see what I can break.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Yeah, I guess those weren't specific to the bedside. I'll try to remember to ask one of our R&D guys tomorrow, he's test fit our new trim. I'll see what he says about how to get the old off without hurting it

 

[WFarm]

Thanks Zach. I’m going to look tonight and see if there is a way to carefully open the closed end of the trim piece. If the end can be opened the whole piece will slide right off the clips. Other than that I’ll wait to see what your folks might suggest.

 

[waterpirate]

Back in the day we had a tool for that. Flat looking thing with a pointy hook on one side. It went up behind the trim and the hook pulled the spring down out of the edge trim spring hooks into.
Eric

 

[bucket]

Thanks Zach. I had found those videos before I posed the question here. Thought they would help but in the removal video he does not show the bedside trim. That straight piece above the front tire is exactly how my long bedside piece is mounted, but the bedside piece is closed at the front end so it won’t slide over the clips. Nothing is glued.

I’ll keep pokin around and see what I can break.

The square pads with the 3M tape are able to slide within the trim. That's why you'll commonly see a truck with several screws in the bedside trim. The tape deteriorated and let go, then the owner ran screws into the trim so it didn't fall off.

If I were home, I could provide picture examples of K5 bed trim... but I'm several states away.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Didn't get up to the shop till nearly 2pm yesterday cuz I was junkyarding and the guy I was gonna ask was gone. But I axed him today and he told me there's a spring clip front and rear of that bed trim piece. This is a pickup, we're not sure how the blazer's are and our one early blazer is a stripper model with no trim. Here you can see the holes for the trim clips. Unfortunately, if your blazer has one of these up front, it has to be popped out of the bedside for the trim to come off. In a truck, you can reach up between the inner and outer bedsides with a really long pair of pliers or a skinny arm and pinch the clip nose closed. I don't think you have that option on a Blazer

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[TotalyHucked]

Here's the relief in the trim I was talking about for the clips

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It's in between those two clips, about a foot from the rear of the trim

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And these are the spring clips

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[WFarm]

Big help! Thank you!!