59 cove moldings

[Ed Jennings]

I am trying to remove the cove moldings on a 59 prior to painting. Pretty simple and straightforward task, other than some of the unique fastners that Bubba installed the last time they were off. I cannot seem to locate the fastners for the short lower piece on the fender. The front couple of nuts are accessable through the fenderwell, but I can't find the rear couple (2?). I thought they were accessable behind the kick panel, but I sure don't see them anywhere. I looked in the AIM, but the pictures aren't very helpful. Maybe I just need new glasses. The last time I took these parts off was 30 years ago, and I didn't need glasses! Can someone tell me where to look?

[John H.]

Re: 59 cove moldings

Ed -

The rearmost attachments of the cove moldings aren't "T"-nuts like the ones that are further forward, due to the access issue you described. They have little "S"-shaped retainers attached from the outside with low-profile-head screws; the top of the molding hooks over the top of the retainer, and the bottom of the molding "snaps" over the bottom of the retainer. I don't have a '59 A.I.M., but they're shown on page 141 of Noland's book, top illustration, View "B".

[Ed Jennings]

Thanks, John, That was easy enough *NM*

[John M.]

Re: Thanks, John, That was easy enough

Hey Ed, a word of advice when you put them back on. You have to use the same flat headed screws that was in them, if you use a round headed screw, it will dent the trim when it snaps back on!

Regards, John McGraw