Remove chrome trim on 73 Polara to remove old cruddy vinyl, refresh roof seams and then do a bedliner re-spray - how to remove chrome?

[73Polara360]

What is the tool I need to remove this trim, and the trick to doing it?
The next phase of this project is to tear the rotting vinyl off, address any surface rust issues beneath, look at the roof seams, and I think I'll be doing a white rhino-liner or bed-liner textured re-spray.
I know some people have done welding and cleaned up the clip attachment points and done a full roof re-paint, but I will maintain the cars original look with the chrome trim intact and a textured spray-over.
I will not be replacing the vinyl I hate vinyl.

I know some people have also just gone to town with a cutter and not removed the chrome - I am divided on this.
If I'm going to snap clips and have issues getting the chrome back on, maybe those folks were right - don't bother?
But I'd really like to have the chrome off so I can wire brush any rusty dust and apply a little bit of Por-15 to any areas beginning to rust before I apply primer and my final coat.

What's everyone's experience here.

Thank you.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

It's hard to remove those trims unless you've experience, and easy to wreck them. Replacements are very hard to find.

If I were you, I'd consider just cutting the vinyl away.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

The rain rail trim screws on underneath the door seal. The belt trim has a bunch of bolt on clips for the section between the trunk hinges and maybe into the c pillar. The front sections just snap over a special stud.

Once you get all the nuts off the center section should lift up a little. I don’t recall what I did but I did have significant rust. I think that you should be able to get a paint stick under the trim and work it up.

I have some pictures, might take a little bit to find.


Alan

 

[CBODY67]

You might get inside the trunk (propping it os it will not close!) and look at the backside of the sheet metal. In some cases, the OEMs used a wire clip, kind of diamond-shapped with a point, which would stick through a hole in the metal (compressing in doing so) and then expand again to hold the molding on. With a bit of gray foam rubber to seal the hole from water. For those, you'll need to compress them from the inside so you can get the molding removed easily. I believe that's the way my '70 Monaco is? So you might look inside to verify.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[73Polara360]

Thanks for the input chaps I will see if I can find the underside of things in the trunk, and on the exterior I will gingerly remove all the screws and lift up the trim pieces as much as they'll allow etc.
Sounds like this is not the thing I want to go in there with my plastic trim tools and just start being forceful so, within the above limitations, I will do my best.