OK, that makes more sense. That trim was used on vinyl top cars as std. item. My '71 once had the vinyl top and it had that trim too. I deleted it when I tore the top off. I didn't use the std. rubber trim with tiny stainless steel when I bought my new door weatherstripping, as I've had it "clean" for so long I didn't want it back.

 

Ohhh ok, good to know. What did you use to cut off the weld stud? And do you happen to have a pic of your door with the "clean" look? I might copy you

 

My 80 has the studs but no vinyl top.

 

I used a pair of pliers to break the studs, but a small grinder with cutoff wheel would do as well. This is the only side view I could find in my pictures that's close up enough to see the doors:


As you can see I've still got the upright piece of chrome behind the door glass, but all the other chrome around the doors and hood edges are stripped off and cleaned up. I also don't have any emblems anywhere on the body to indicate the make or model. ONly the SS emblem left on the grille.

 

Ok thanks I'll try that.

Wow, that looks clean! I likey!! So what do you do about the rain? Without that small chrome piece and rubber weatherstrip, water can go into you doors, right? Or you don't drive in the rain, do you?

You see, sits outside all year...no garage to put it in I'll probably be better to buy the small chrome molding that has that rubber blade to keep out the water, huh?
Yours sure does look nice though!

 

I have the rubber still, just not the chrome. I ordered the new rubber seals that are designed for doors that have the chrome trim, so they are just rubber with the felt edge towards the window, but not the stainless steel edge. The cars that had chrome still had rubber edges, but not with the metal. Once you pull the chrome you'll see what's left, and that's what I have.
I don't drive in the rain unless I'm caught in it, but I do occasionally wash it, so I still need weatherstripping. Plus it does double duty to hold the glass in place.

 

Huh, interesting. Well, looks like I'll be copying you then...if you don't mind Thanks for everything! I appreciate it

 

I agree. When I put new felts on my 78 the chrome strip wasn't near the shape of the door, so when I installed it it scratch the crap out of my paint. Dug down to the metal in a couple spots.

 

Same thing here! I bought the new felts with stainless steel edges, but when I held them up to the door edge they were a horrible match. I could forsee some issues like you had, so I exchanged them for the same as I originally had.

 

Do you think I could just remove the stainless from mine? I can take the time to roll them to the contour of the door now that I don't have to worry about paint.