Technical Do it your self Trim Clips

After my F-1 was painted I started to install the hood trim using reproduction stock type formed wire clips. Evidently I have no skills for that sort of thing and had real difficulty inserting the clips into the trim in the right position and managing to get them in the holes without wrecking the paint. I think the repro's are of a thicker material than oem, hence the drama.
So, being from the south, I came up with the following attachment method. Using box store strip aluminum, McMaster-Carr sourced serrated studs and plastic nuts. Cut the strip to size, drill a small hole, bang the stud in with a hammer, done.
This allowed me to position the clips in the proper position without undue force and adjust the overall trim position easily. The aluminum has enough rigidity to hold in place but still have a little spring tension. I used plastic nuts (double nutted) to keep me from overtightening. In three years I yet to have one loosen.
That's the backstory, hopefully the pictures will suffice. This method should work for those hard to find oem clips too.

 

Genius idea

 

Interesting. May have to use that . Thanks .

 

An old machinist friend taught me that trick, all of the trim on my 40 and some on my 55 use that trick. Much better than the old clips for sure.

 

It makes total sense. They would have probably done that from the get-go, but it was probably cheaper to do the wire clips.

 

That’s tits. Just love the do it yourself attitude on this site.
Great idea

 

I refuse to use the original equipment style clips, I prefer to use the universal trim clips available at most shops that sell automotive paint, tape, ect, many different sizes.

I attached every piece of trim on the wagon with them. HRP

 

Don't forget about windshield urethane, in those spots where you can't get to the back side, a dot of urethane on the back of the trim, pressed in place, piece of masking tape to secure it overnight, and the bond is stronger than you'll ever imagine.

 

Magnifique!!!

 

Two words - Galvanic Corrosion.

 

3 words "74 years old" lol

 

Good job! You can buy this style ready-made, they look about the same size. If the flat part is too big to fit, they can be given a quick haircut. If you use these, make sure the corners are radiused a bit, if they are left "sharp", they can deform the strip when you start to tighten them up and the corners dig into the edge.

 

For those younger than 74 :
You could use all stainless steel components then, - s/s nut, bolt and strip behind, - problem solved…….

 

Great idea will use that idea for my chop top trim.

 

on my F-1 hood side trim, I just used a 1/4'" bolt with a flat washer slid into the trim, then slide them to fit the hood holes, worked super easy....mite not work on all trim.

 

Nice job! It amazes me how much time and money was wasted on every car manufacturer designing proprietary clips for almost every use. Thousands of them. How much money could a company make by selling you replacement clips?

 

My younger brother ran a body shop years ago until he developed a severe allergy to isocyanates. Windshield Urethane was his go to for a lot of things. I remember him repairing his tennis shoes with it. I tend to get it all over everything, kinda like Never Seize.

 

[QUOTE="charleyw, post: 14314967, member: 17856"I tend to get it all over everything, kinda like Never Seize.[/QUOTE]
Plus you can't get off your fingers with any commonly used chemicals

 

They make the fastener you made. It is the same thing. The flat piece is a bit wider (an inch?) with groves in it so you can trim to the width you need. No need to make the part from scratch. Good idea thou.

 

Zinc Chromate for the clips and the heads of the bolts prior to inserting the bolts through the clips. Worked for fastening dissimilar metals on aircraft.

 

Excellent creativity and problem solving.

 

Those can be modified too. eBay has them in small batch lots, body supply places want to sell you a box of 50.

 

Know of a 57 210 Chevy changed to Belair trim. Hard moldings around the windows were installed with urethane. Some 20+ years ago. The wipes you get for hand cleaning will remove the urethane if you don let it dry.

 

Trim to width required to fit your particular trim. To be clear, I like the tech tip, just showing an alternative.

 

I wish I would of thought of that, I drilled the holes a little bigger so the heavier clips would go in.

 

Nice, great enginuity, but hard to remove the trim if needed behind upholstery. There are places for both. The ends of my stainless all have nuts with star washers attached. I’ve used the universal type with and without a spring just to secure with nuts.

 

Nice.....thanks for sharing !

 

When I did my hood trim on my 50 half ton- you can see it in my avatar, I was able to put together enough useable originals. The trim sort of floats in the mounting holes, not sure that the new fasteners would work that way, but it is ingenious.

 

I've been fooling with F-1's since I was 14, saving parts and piecing together Trucks. But, as luck would have it, when it came time to do this one I couldn't come up with a good set of oem clips. As far as orienting trim, the home made clips allowed me to position them without problems. I'm not quite sure what you mean by floating. Thanks for commenting.