I'm desperately needing to know how the exterior (race track style) trim is removed on a 1977 ford 4x4 pickup

 

Remove the tail light lens, you will see some 5/16 or 11/32 nuts that hold on a metal tab with a spring arm. Remove the nuts the metal tab will come off with the trim.

Then look on the backside of the bed skin, again nuts on the inside and plastic clips (on the outside) that are riveted to the bed side skin.

Also use a 5 gallon bucket of patience.

 

X2 on what Rich said about patience. There are multiple fasteners above the wheel wells that can be difficult to reach since the inner fenders are in the way. For the front, you can remove the inner fender but for the rear you have to reach up around it to get the nuts off.

Here's a picture so you can have a reference for where the fasteners are located. If I remember correctly, the top middle hole (maybe the top 2 or 3) has a spring clip that you need to pinch together to get it to fit out the hole. The other holes have nuts on the back as Rich mentioned.

 

If you go to Dennis Carpenter.com and look at replacement trim you can see a diagram that show where the clips and studs are located.

 

Go to DennisCarpenter.com and look at replacement trim. There's a diagram showing the location of the clips and studs.

 

+100 on patience. A real pain it was removing all the trim, but it was still better than having to weld up the resultant holes!

 

Just took all of mine off for paint. The hardest ones are at the nuts just behind the grill at the front side marker lights. X2 on the Dennis Carpenter Diagram. Huge help.

 

There is a small access hole in the grill shell/core support area for that side marker light PITA one. Remove the front grill insert and look for a hole.

If you are pulling off the outer grill shell for paint? Removing the side marker light will let you get in there with an eye, a light and even a extension with a swivel joint to get to the very top corner one.

 

Start with the easy pieces first, cab corners & doors. Get a feel for how the trim is held on where it isn't too difficult, then move on the the harder ones.

Like others have said, the front of the upper front fender is hard to get to. Take your time, walk away for a while if you run in to difficulty. Don't force anything, use care, nice clean pieces of trim are getting harder to find.