The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Deluxe Panel Trim removal HELP!

Hey guys, I just picked up a set of deluxe panel front fenders with a full set of trim on them. I am curious how the trim is attached to the fender and how to carefully remove them.. Are they just clips on the back side the slide into the trim? The insides of the fenders have about 3/4" of mud and undercoating, so just looking for advice before I start cutting into them...

Clean off the mud. There should be either studs with nuts, or clips sticking out in there, depending on who and how put the trim on. Perhaps there is a third possibility though?

So there is threaded studs on the bottom pieces of the trim? I will have to try and cut past the undercoating.. The top spears appear to be held on by clips that slide into the trim..?

Hey, are your spears on the tops of the fenders?! Let's see some pictures please!

When I got my trim, the old timer told me how the spears were on the tops of the fenders. Now, all the spears you see these days, are on the sides. I suppose Tim or someone might have the installation sheets. I don't know if the trim was a dealer installed option, or if they were installed at the factory, or both.

My spears have a full length insert in the bottom, with threaded studs that poke through the finder, and then are bolted on the inside.

The "swooshes" have a lip on the fender side. Mine don't have the clips with them, but from the other trim I've seen, I assume they would have had about 4 inserts, with either spring clips that poke through, or studs. When I put mine on, I'll be using the multi fit oblong studded clips, like Mac's antique auto parts sell. I think they are about a buck a piece, and are much easier to deal with than those darn spring clips.


No matter how your trim is held in place, you'll need to clean off the inside of the fender to see how to get it off.

Hope this helps.

They are on the sides, just above the 3 wrap arounds. I will get some pictures when I get home. I was just curious how all this is attached, just so I dont destroy anything important digging into undercoating and mud/cow manure!

The 14-piece stainless steel fender trim was available as part of RPO 390B, installed at the factory on Panel trucks. These "bright metal moldings for front and rear fenders)" were not available in an RPO for Canopy Express or Carryall Suburban trucks. And, it looks like this option was not an RPO for Panels between late 1952 (maybe late 1951) through 1953.

No one has posted information about an installation manual or hole-drilling templates. Presumably, someone could have bought the stainless trim as parts from GM (but they were not listed as an accessory).

Here is an illustration, showing the placement of these moldings.

I would wash them at the car wash or if you have a pressure washer use it on the inside of the fenders.You might have to apply something to soften the undercoating.

Tim,so the trims were never an option for the suburban carryalls ?




Tim

Tim,

I have never seen the fender trims listed as an option (nor shown in a GM photo or illustration) for a Suburban. In some years, 1947-1951, the Truck Data Books even states it explicitly: "(Not available on Canopy Express models or Carryall Suburbans)".

I think the option might not have been available in 52-53 (minimal brightwork those year and no RPO-390 De Luxe Equipment was available). In 1954/55, it is not so clear - the trim pieces do not seem to be specifically mentioned in the TBD. However, the Engineering Features manual states and shows it being available only on Panel trucks.

Since just about anything might have been special ordered, I would guess that someone might have been able to special order the fender trims for a Carryall Suburban or Canopy Express.

Are you taking the fenders or front clip off to do other work? Perhaps life would be a lot easier if you took off the front clip, and then you could use your power tools, a lot of light and maybe a propane torch to melt off any undercoating and get those pieces off without doing any damage.

send pm a pm i will take them off for you if you give me the junk moldings lol they have clips and nuts on the inside of the fenders

As far as I've been able to tell, the fender brightwork never came back after the Korean War chrome/stainless shortages. The 54/55.1 DeLuxe panels only had the stainless windshield, side door and rear door window trim, along with the standard DeLuxe items available on all models. I've seen some of those advertising drawings of '54s with the trim, but I've never seen a photo of an original truck with it installed.

1954 Panel with bright metal (stainless steel) front and rear fender molding.

blue/white two-tone 1954 Panel with fender moldings

red/white two-tone 19545 Panel with fender moldings

Also, most likely, the need for copper and nickel during the Korean Conflict (War) was the main reason for minimal bright metal on trucks in 52-53? During that time, nickel shortages caused Canadian nickels to be made with chromium plated steel.

Those are all drawings from the art department, which I have found to be not-exactly-accurate on any number of vehicle makes and models over the years. (Ever seen one of those Ram's-head hood ornaments in the flesh?) The few photos I've seen of '54 DeLuxe panels didn't appear to have ever had the trim.

I'm perfectly willing to admit if I'm wrong, I just haven't seen any physical evidence that the trim was brought back with the return of chrome and stainless in '54.

Most of us have never seen an Advance-Design truck fresh out of the factory. I have a few such photos, but none with that De luxe fender trim (for any year). And, I am also a doubting Thomas when it comes to artists' illustrations.

It does seem very unlikely, however, that Chevrolet would clearly state in their 40-page 1954 Trucks Sales Booklet that the:

"De luxe equipment* for panel models include bright metal molding on fenders, windshield, and door windows. Interior panel features include right hand sunshade, left hand arm rest, cigar lighter and dual horns."

* NEW COMFORTMASTER DE LUXE CAB*: Available for all 1954 cab models . . . "

Click on my Gallery Link,below my signature. 54Panel, I bought it in 74, it has the oblong holes in the fenders for the factory mounted mouldings. Im positive theyve been there since day one.

That's pretty strong evidence. I stand corrected that at least some 54 DeLuxe panels got the fender trim.

Rather amusingly, the passenger-side visor was standard with the DeLuxe package, but the passenger seat was still optional.

Man, I love this place. So much knowledge!

No pass. side seat when i got it in 74. There was a visor, and its still there.
It came from Sieferts Flowers, Oakland,Ca.

Hello,

I do not not have pattern for molding and bolt hole locations.
but the assembly instruction shows how the bright metal
reveal moldings are fastened to the front and rear fenders.

Front and rear fender Sargent stripes are fasten with clip,bolt,nut.
Spears are fastened with nut, bolt looks to be part of spear.

Now if I only could buy one of these machines I could make as many spears and Sargent stripes as I wanted. Simply amazing!!!

Thanks

jorb

I dug a little deeper and the 1929-1957 master parts catalog clearly states under group number 8.204
47-51, 54-55 Panel (1st Ser.) pertaining to rear fender moldings. It skips years 52-53

There also was two different parts numbers for rear and front fenders, one number for
fenders with holes stamped out for molding bolts, one number for fenders without molding holes.

(Master Cat. does not show parts numbers for fenders that are stamped out)

Assembly instruction does show 54-55 1st front hole stamped fender part number and 47-55 1st. rear hole stamped fender part number.

Also the 54-55 1st front fender is different because they moved the blinker/parking light under the head light.

FYI