Hello all,

I'm getting ready to do body work on my '81 wagon. Only three little spots to deal with. Drivers side door by the lower trim - no problem. Hatch door window trim area - window being removed Monday - no problems perceived. Drivers side rear window under molding - PROBLEM - I don't know how to get trim off of the car without damaging it. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks

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Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

Don't know if this will apply, since my wagon is 10 years newer. I have same issue and just found that removing two screws from trim (inside rear door jamb) allowed me to carefully pry vertical part of trim away from the rubber below.

Mine is held on by two plastic fasteners beneath the trim that fit in holes in the body. Took a thin plastic steak knife handle that barely fit behind the trim in the top of the door jamb and gently slid it down prying outward on the trim. I was afraid it would bend, but the fasteners popped out without any damage.

I did not have nerve enough to try to remove the trim any further on the horrizontal part, but with it loosened I was able to get behind the rubber and scrape through the rust and apply phosphoric acid based rust treatment. As soon as weather clears I will treat again and then prime the spot prior to painting.

Another alternative is to contact a bodyman or glass man and get them to remove the trim and ruber gasket. I was momentarily tempted to break the window and remove the rubber in one piece. It would almost be worth the $50 glass break deductable to be sure I was reaching all the rust.

I did this repair not long ago, maybe the following link will help. See link: 300 TE: Warning about rust in side windows of loading space

It sounds like Rusty's instructions for the first piece of trim are the same for the 124. After that I just used my plastic upholstery tools to remove everything else, trim gasket, window. Just go slow and use only plastic tools so there will be absolutely no damage.