Belt trim fastener on fender?

[DanMcG]

Getting ready to strip a front fender (81-87 style) to get ready for paint and found the belt trim molding had a trim clip built in and a hole in the fender for it to fit in.
My 85 has the molding without the clip or associated hole. I was just wondering if they all were like this and my fender might be an aftermarket.
It's no big deal since I'll be replacing the existing, I'm just curious I guess.
Thanks, Dan

 

[PrairieDrifter]

My suburban has these holes on the front clip but also in front of the rear tire and under the taillight. Mine was repainted so it was missing the clips and was just glued on. So I would guess it's factory.

 

[DanMcG]

I just peeled back the other side fender trim and it doesn't have the same set up either. So what I thought was an unmolested truck might have replacement fenders, or they stopped doing it for the 85's

 

[Grit dog]

My 86 that I am 99.9% certain has all original body panels, has no holes under that trim. Trim on mine was replaced at least once as it had the cut to fit stuff on it.
But I have never removed that trim off of any other 80s model. I bought new pre-cut trim (81-87 same p/n) no clips on any of the trim pieces.

 

[Grit dog]

I could imagine that "locator holes" for the trim may have been a production assembly aid? Quicker on the assembly line, no measuring or matching up needed.
But then it would make sense to have them on all panels.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Rolling change.

The original design had clips in the "coves" to help the molding adhere when bent in such a way.

Holes = corrosion, so there was a move to eliminate holes in the exterior sheet metal when possible.

I know my '87 does not have holes for the adhesive (rubber) moldings; the holes under the tail lamp remained for the metal corner piece.

K

 

[DanMcG]

Thanks @Keith! That's interesting.

 

[RoryH19]

Rolling change.

The original design had clips in the "coves" to help the molding adhere when bent in such a way.

Holes = corrosion, so there was a move to eliminate holes in the exterior sheet metal when possible.

I know my '87 does not have holes for the adhesive (rubber) moldings; the holes under the tail lamp remained for the metal corner piece.

K

Same, my 87 r10 doesn't have any holes. My 82 k5 had the holes. Both have original metal.

 

[Memaloose]

From what I've seen, the 80's trucks have mostly adhesive trim. My '75 has screws, push in clips and bolt clips. I bought some NOS replacement trim and thankfully it came with all the original new clips. Personally, I don't like trim as it gets scraped off and dented in the brush but if it's street only, it looks nice. I'm trying to keep my '75 Scottsdale all original. If I ever get it repainted, I'll have all or mostly all NOS trim to put back on.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Yes, to reiterate what’s been said. The factory original panels had holes.
The new trim attaches with adhesive only, so weld up the holes during body work if possible.

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[scrap--metal]

My '85 K10 does not have holes and I believe the body panels to be original, but have no way to prove it.

 

[Craig 85]

Here's my '85 (11/84 production date) the day I bought it. It had 1 repaint, but the side trim had not been removed for the paint job. The only holes for the trim are at the bed corners.

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