Drip rail removal

[z0sick]

I'm no pro... just a guy in his garage. Never messed with a drip rail before and never done body work at all prior to this car, so take it for what it's worth (not much).

A good place to start with drip rail removal is with a decent drip rail.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails1.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails2.jpg

After you find a decent drip rail, you'll need a good way to destroy them.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails5.jpg

I prefer the grip and bend the hell out of it method.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails6.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails7.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails8.jpg

After it's all bent, its time to chop. I took a page from someone else's book and did the chop/tack weld method. (6 inches at a time)
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails11.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails15.jpg

After the whole thing had been chopped off and tacked, I welded between the tacks and cleaned it up with a flap wheel.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails17.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails19.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails20.jpg

End result = no drip rails...
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails21.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/Shaveddriprails22.jpg

[cencalc6]

Great Job!

[214Chevy]

I'm no pro...

Hey, I thought you said you were not a pro...looks damn good to me. Not to mention the money you saved doing it yourself.

[Richio1]

Yeah for never doing anything like this before you did a damn nice job.

[z0sick]

Yeah for never doing anything like this before you did a damn nice job.

Thanks... anyone can do it once you get over the fact that once you cut, you can't go back.

[clay69camaro]

Great job. I will be following this method this week!

Thanks for posting

[z0sick]

Great job. I will be following this method this week!

Thanks for posting

Let us know how it goes! Feel free to post some pics here.

[Jgpclone]

looks great :hail: i like how it looks now u convinced my but im not a pro also how much time did it involve:cheers:

[z0sick]

looks great :hail: i like how it looks now u convinced my but im not a pro also how much time did it involve:cheers:

It took me about 5 min to cut them off and 30 min per side to weld and grind. Not long at all. I could have/should have spent more time and made them look even better.

[Black93GT]

I envy you for having a decent drip rail to start with. Replacing my quarter panel led me to a discovery of rusted roof and rail. We'll see how it goes from here.

Looks good though. You give me hope for when it's my time.

[Injected65]

Thanks for the pictures. Seeing that makes me think maybe I should move forward with removing the drip rails on my Mustang.

[clay69camaro]

Now if I'm replacing the roof and the quarters, can I just bend them out and wait till the other parts are replaced before I tack and grind?

[redfire69]

Now if I'm replacing the roof and the quarters, can I just bend them out and wait till the other parts are replaced before I tack and grind?

That's what I would do since the roof panel is likely spot welded to the drip rail along the inside edge...

[z0sick]

Fresh out of the paint booth today... Atomic Orange and Cyber Gray Metallic.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint27_zps294f0d0a.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint26_zpsc7bd8cb9.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint25_zpsa67d2f77.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint24_zpsb02c068a.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint23_zps0e3ef482.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint22_zps953a5be6.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint20_zps94ed2e2b.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint15_zps12933da8.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint9_zps27527c8f.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint8_zps87bb77f8.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint7_zpsc12c74e9.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint6_zpsf16919f6.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint2_zps0cbdbe4a.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc101/z0sick/68%20Camaro/FreshPaint1_zps598d4325.jpg

[DEIGuy38]

Car looks great. Love the color combo, shaved drip rails and molded rear spoiler. Can't wait to see completed pictures.

[Gatekeeper]

A couple of vette colors which great together. :thumbsup: Wish mine was painted, got a little ways to go.

[Dieselman]

I'm considering doing this on my 65 Mustang....
Why bend the drip rail prior to cutting? Wouldn't this allow for possible warping?

BTW, I LOVE the paint!!! Awesome color combo!!

[LS7 Z/28]

I'm way late to this but thanks for sharing, that turned out fantastic. Makes me less afraid to attempt it.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Why bend the drip rail prior to cutting? Wouldn't this allow for possible warping?

On Mustangs maybe. Camaros should be good cause the only thing holding it together in that section is rust and seam sealer. The spot weld is closer to the roof lip.

[cluxford]

That looks great !

[Dieselman]

Thank you Vince.
g