shaved drip rails?

[dave73]

Anyone shave the drip rails on their car? What's involved in doing this?

[anlauto]

Cut them off, weld it up and grind it down. 

[YellowThumper]

Cut them off, weld it up and grind it down. 

Lol and paint.

[dave73]

Do the drip rails hide the seam of where the roof skin attaches? I think I read that on the moparts forum?

Never taken them off before so want to know what to expect.

[JS29]

 If you do this, make sure you protect the glass and interior WELL!                     

[YellowThumper]

Do the drip rails hide the seam of where the roof skin attaches? I think I read that on the moparts forum?

Never taken them off before so want to know what to expect.

Roof and edge seam will be 2 separate pieces of steel. There will be a lengthy seam of weld to reconnect them. I imagine you could cut off short lengths, weld to fix. Then repeat many more times. Assume patch pieces will also be necessary. Lots of work for negligible visual change.
Now ask yourself with drip rails removed can you live with front and rear windows still retaining their trim pieces?  Then their flush mount research begins.

[Marty]

This. ^

[70 Challenger Lover]

I just put a roof skin on my RT and it may be a bit of work to make it look nice. Where the roof comes down at the rail, it changes pitch angle and creates a trough to sit in the groove of the rail that's already welded at the edge of the roof bracing. I would think that if you cut off the brace underneath, and then trimmed the roof skin to match, it might look a little funny as the roof line changes pitch as it comes to the door. Obviously there would be welding along that edge where they meet but I'm guessing you would want to rework that edge into something smoother so it didn't look like you just hacked off a piece of the car.

[jimynick]

It's kinda like the people you see that pierce/cut/mutilate their bodies and think it's an improvement. Rarely do the general public agree, but it's your car and your call. 

[70 Challenger Lover]

I actually love the look of the shiny stainless rail along the roof line.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I actually love the look of the shiny stainless rail along the roof line.

I agree, the shiny trim is largely what makes a classic car look like a classic car. [emoji106]


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[YellowThumper]

I actually love the look of the shiny stainless rail along the roof line.

I agree, the shiny trim is largely what makes a classic car look like a classic car. [emoji106]


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Exactly my point as I noted there would still be front and rear window trim.

[HEMICUDA]

Cut them off, weld it up and grind it down. 

Way over simplified and much more to it actually.  First, I would never do this on a MOPAR.  My father-in-law purchased this car new, my mother-in law drove it 12 months a year until my wife and brother-in law drove it in high school in the late 70's.  It's a "nothing car" 6-cylinder 3-speed, I've had it stored in my shop for years.  Back in the day, the kids at the high school shop class had three turns at in the years my wife's mother drive it.  We literally replaced 95% of entire car, if it didn't have its history, the remaining 5% would have went into the dumpster.

Shaved drip rails, pocket door handles, frenched in tail lights, back-up & parking lights & rear license plate.  We also welded all the panel seams in the front as well as narrowing the front & rear bumpers and pulling them up tight with the body.  LS6 engine w/full custom SS exhaust exiting behind the rear tires, 4L60 trans, 12 bolt Moser rear with Ride Tech 4 link rear, tubular coil over front, power rack steering, Flaming River tilt column, Holley Terminator X wiring & Vintage air.  There's a bunch more, those are the biggest modifications.

What I can say about doing this type of build, it's way easier than all are other OE style builds we do.  Best thing is, my wife has no clue I'm doing her car.

[dave73]

Thanks for all the feedback, a lot of great points posted in here.