Notices
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

Drip Rail

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 02:08 PM
  #1  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Question Drip Rail

How is drip rail attached ???????
How is it removed safely
Mine looks to be in good shape except there appears to have factory rubber or caulking in the bottom with slight separation from the cab which appears to be leaking down & causing some paint loss. I want to stop this cracking and replace what ever is in the drip rail. Is anything install in the bottom of these from the factory ???
 
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 05:50 PM
  #2  
LACzar's Avatar
LACzar
Tuned
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 349
Likes: 29
From: NW LA
Remove the old seam sealer and replace with 3M product. _ Tony.
 
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 05:58 PM
  #3  
1browski's Avatar
1browski
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
Originally Posted by LACzar
Remove the old seam sealer and replace with 3M product. _ Tony.
This is what I did on my 72 and need to do on my 70. Good thing it barely rains here.
 
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2022 | 09:19 PM
  #4  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Thank U both
 
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2022 | 11:01 AM
  #5  
Jsupreme's Avatar
Jsupreme
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 220
Likes: 27
Originally Posted by 1browski
This is what I did on my 72 and need to do on my 70. Good thing it barely rains here.
How did you do it? That stuff is hard as a rock!!!
 
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2022 | 01:43 PM
  #6  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Red face

Originally Posted by Jsupreme
How did you do it? That stuff is hard as a rock!!!
Yes and it seems to be quite a bit of it in the channel. It does look like it has held up well , unless it has been replaced in it's long history !!!
I would like some advice as to how to remove it
 
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2022 | 09:05 PM
  #7  
1browski's Avatar
1browski
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
My 72 was a full rebuild. The seam sealer was shrunk and pulled away from the edges already, so I just chiseled it out with a rounded off old screw driver. Then, I wire wheeled it all out. The cab was sanded down and had a couple coats of epoxy primer. Then seam sealer applied and it got 3 coats of single stage paint. What I am going to do on the 70 is different because Im not touching the original paint. I will chisel it out, then tape off just above it and wire wheel it clean. Then probably spray some primer and apply the seam sealer. I am not going to put any paint on it and leave it as is.
 
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2022 | 08:55 PM
  #8  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Question

Originally Posted by 1browski
My 72 was a full rebuild. The seam sealer was shrunk and pulled away from the edges already, so I just chiseled it out with a rounded off old screw driver. Then, I wire wheeled it all out. The cab was sanded down and had a couple coats of epoxy primer. Then seam sealer applied and it got 3 coats of single stage paint. What I am going to do on the 70 is different because Im not touching the original paint. I will chisel it out, then tape off just above it and wire wheel it clean. Then probably spray some primer and apply the seam sealer. I am not going to put any paint on it and leave it as is.
Did you use a Dremel tool ???
There is not much room inside that little channel.
This why I was curious as to how to take drip rail off & reinstall. Either one does not look easy Also why I asked for you guys tips to keep from taken it off , unless it is easy to do, then I could do a much better job !!!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 1, 2023 | 10:05 AM
  #9  
Crop Duster's Avatar
Crop Duster
Logistics Pro
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,474
Likes: 973
From: Tri Cities, TN
Club FTE Silver Member

To answer your question about removing the drip rail. That thing is sandwiched between the roof and cab. You have to remove the entire roof to get to it. Don't even think about it. Just chisel the old stuff out. Put a wire wheel on your drill and clean it up. Put some good rust inhibitive primer in there. Reseal it.
I use Evercoat 100823 epoxy sealer. 100823 - Maxim Control Flow Seam Sealer - ITW Evercoat
This is a 2-component epoxy sealer and requires mixing tips and a 26-1 calking gun.
 
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2023 | 11:46 AM
  #10  
1browski's Avatar
1browski
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
I didnt use a dremel tool, only a wire wheel. I didnt have rust repair work to do there. Use whatever tools work to clean it up. Like stated above, the roof skin is one of the pieces that come together there. I didnt look at it too hard but Im sure there is plenty of spot welds to grind out just to try to separate that.
 
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2023 | 08:22 PM
  #11  
JEFFFAFA's Avatar
JEFFFAFA
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 199
From: Phoenix, Az.
RTT, by "drip rail" if you mean the metal drip rail then go by what was stated above. If you meant the chrome molding on the drip rail, then I have heard the old-fashioned bottle and can opener works on the bottle opener end. Some folks call this a church key.
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2023 | 11:13 PM
  #12  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Red face

Originally Posted by JEFFFAFA
RTT, by "drip rail" if you mean the metal drip rail then go by what was stated above. If you meant the chrome molding on the drip rail, then I have heard the old-fashioned bottle and can opener works on the bottle opener end. Some folks call this a church key.
I thought the chrome molding IS the drip rail
Do you have a diagram of the drip rail area ???
 
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2023 | 11:53 PM
  #13  
1browski's Avatar
1browski
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
The drip rail is the rain gutter across the the top of your door and going across the windshield and the other door. Keeps water from running straight down doors and windshield. Its just above the windshield trim on my 70.


 
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2023 | 05:04 PM
  #14  
RTT's Avatar
RTT
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 106
From: COSMOS
Red face

Originally Posted by 1browski
The drip rail is the rain gutter across the the top of your door and going across the windshield and the other door. Keeps water from running straight down doors and windshield. Its just above the windshield trim on my 70.

OK, thank-you ! Now , is this easily removed , and replaced ? Mine has a chrome molding and the channel appears to have an 1/8" of caulking that is separating from the cab and I a worried it will start to rust the cab. Others have responded and I have gotten some good info , but no one has told me if or how to remove this rail . There is a seam there with seam sealer I believe & may need to be replaced .
So basically I want to know if I can take rail off , or replace seam sealer with the rail in place
I think my seam is either painted over or covered by caulking , I think it is painted over , I do not remember
Also does the bottom of the gutter NEED caulking , or painting or what ???
 
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2023 | 07:38 PM
  #15  
1browski's Avatar
1browski
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 345
Ive seen the back of the cab molding but have never seen a chrome drip rail molding. A picture would help. As far as the drip rail goes, under that seam sealer is where the roof skin spot welds to the cab. If you dont have rust damage into your windshield frame and anywhere the drip rail can access, I would clean it out and redo the seam sealer at a minimum.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:01 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE