What is your trick for installing the rubber trim on the rocker molding?

[Tom F.]

I have never found a smooth way of installing the rubber molding on the 69-73 S rocker panel trim. I have tried sliding - hopeless if the aluminum trim is at all chewed up, for instance by road debris thrown up by the front wheels. I have tried seating the bottom ridge of the rubber molding in the aluminum trim, then pressing the top side of the rubber molding with a blunt tool, inch by inch, until the top ridge is seated in the trim. This seems to work, but it takes forever - the factory assembly people must have had a faster way.

All of my experiences have been with factory parts, some of them kind of crusty from years and miles.

[t6dpilot]

I recently installed mine after having them off for a clean up. I dreaded this part of the reassembly, but in the end it went pretty smoothly. I soaked the rubber piece in hot/warm water for several minutes and the lubed it up with hand soap. I carefully slid it in the rocker trim spreading soap several inches at a time. I also coaxed it along in the middle and at the far end and this seemed to help it slide better. The begining part of the process slid pretty easily, but got tougher as I progressed towards the end. Once you get about 3/4 of the way through the process, you can only move it an inch or so at a time.

[X-Faktory]

I recently installed mine, during the reassembly of my 71E. It is a beeeyatch of a job. Not technically hard, but time consuming. I also used soap and water, with the addition of much cursing.

Regards,

Al

[BBausser]

Wht worked for me was simmering them in a large stock pot with soapy water, then having some one with a good grip and a little strength help stretch them. Make sure the deco is clean and they should slide right in. Dont worry if it's a little long they shrink when they cool/ Make sure no women, especially wife's are around. They have the tendency to get upset when you use the kitchen to cook auro parts.

[Ghost Chaser]

i used copious amounts of WD-40 and fed it into the end slot a little at a time, on my back, on the driveway, cussing, shouting, grunting and sweating.

rich

[edmayo]

I use Wurth clear silicone paste on the rubber, set the bottom edge of the rubber into the deco lip, then use a plastic spatula to push in the top edge. Once you get it started it goes fairly quickly.

[chiroracer]

along with lubricant I drilled one end(repro rubber extra long) and twisted a coat hanger through it then janked it with ze vice grip and had my monkey feed the other end through.Trim to taste. Steve

[EA911]

Yep - I'm with Tom's method. Worked well for me but as others have experience it does take time and patience.

[albuquerque]

Hi.
I want to remove both rocker panels so I can strip the black paint on them.
How do I remove them from the car?
Thank you

José

[edmayo]

You have to first remove the rubber insert, start at one end, use a plastic spatula to get the end out of the groove, then just peel the insert out. There are sheet metal screws behind the rubber that you need to remove in addition to the exposed ones.