Fabricating trim/molding studs - 76 450SEL

[blueeagle289]

I am now in the process of restoring a 76 450SEL and am able to find almost any part I need on the internet or locally; new or reman. One item that defied my search was the studs for the side door trim pieces. The rocker panel studs are available, but not the mid level side molding ones that fit into Red Buttons placed in the doors, etc.etc. Rather than buying all new pieces with the studs in place, since mine are in mint and original condition, I decided to look for a solution to the need for a few of these studs to fill in the gaps where they were missing. Accordingly, I decided to fabricate these studs by using an epoxy type substance (any epoxy, QuikSteel type of material) to create a base in the correct locations of the trim piece (which are clearly demarked inside the trim) and inserting a "stud" cut off from a stock GM item that is available anywhere. Once the epoxy sets, the stud is ready for insertion in the red button opposite each such location.

In this way, with careful measuring of the stud depth for cutoff, these items can be "manufactured" to work well for trim retention. Just another way to solve this problem; perhaps others have done it differently.

[Russ114]

that's weird, i bought those little clips from my local dealer about a week ago, and reattached my side trim on my 79 450SEL...

i think i paid about 20c each or something... but still they're new with MB on them.

[blueeagle289]

That is strange that you could find those at a dealer. I checked with Performance Parts where I got the red buttons and also the Rocker Panel clips that can be inserted in the rubber strip inside the trim piece. But, the clips for my side trim are put in at the factory; crimped in place. There does not even appear to be a way to force a clip in the spot where one is missing; that would involve taking out some of the clips via the open slot near the end of the piece or sliding them all down to put in new ones. Perhaps the 79 trim pieces are slightly different, allowing the insertion of a new clip. My dealer said there is nothing available for that purpose; that you can only buy new trim -- with the clips in place when manufactured. ???