PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: rpaulsel on May 09, 2015, 04:31:34 AM

Title: wagon roof rack rail removal
Post by: rpaulsel on May 09, 2015, 04:31:34 AM
I'm ready to paint the '76 again.  It's been about 20 years since the last time, so I forgot how to get the stainless roof rails off.  Anyone with knowledge?  I didn't take off the trim surrounding the windows before, so never did know how to do that.  Again, anyone with knowledge?
Thanks,
Roger
Title: Re: wagon roof rack rail removal
Post by: pinto_one on May 09, 2015, 07:32:43 AM
Done this along time ago, the stainless cover are snaped over formed rails, you have to use a hooked tool to get one end started and then they will lift off, the rail are held on by clips in the middle of the rail, after you remove them you can remove them and then the seal, found most of the time the rails get water in it and rust very badly , later Blaine
Title: Re: wagon roof rack rail removal
Post by: rpaulsel on May 12, 2015, 02:38:58 AM
I got the door window trim figured out.  There are welded on studs all around the window opening.  Plastic clips fit onto the studs.  The bright trim snaps onto the plastic clips.  I slid a thin blade under the trim to locate the position of the clips, then simply used a screwdriver to pry between the clip and the trim to pop it off.  No special tool is required - just force it off.  The leading edge of the trim under the window is secured with an acorn nut.  No amount of prying will get that off.  It simply unscrews.  I don't think I dented the trim or even marred the paint. 

Thanks for the input on the wagon roof rack, but I still don't understand how to remove the stainless strips.
Title: Re: wagon roof rack rail removal
Post by: Wittsend on May 12, 2015, 12:19:53 PM
When I removed my rack it was to do roof repair. So, being gentle was not critical. After the 8 screws are removed the ends are lifted slightly to get then over the raised boss for the screw. Then the rack is pushed forward or backwards (can't remember specifically). The stainless portion of the rack is simply a cover for a regular steel mount. The stainless cover and the underlying steel come off together.  The mount (each rail) has a number of holes with a narrower slot. The roof has welded on pins. The holes drop over the pins and when slid tighten against the pins to hold the rails into place.

There may be a method of getting the stainless off the mount separately, but I don't know how. Usually the rack is removed because the mount under the stainless has rusted considerably. Or, the person just doesn't want the rack. If you desire to remove the rack and not replace it you will have to deal with the screw bosses (8 of them) and the pins (8* of them). * Early cars had 4 rails in the rack and later cars had 3 rails. That likely equates to 6 pins.