Guys my 78 F150 has very little rust on the whole truck. It does have couple bad spots on the drip rails and I was thinking of shaving them. But I don't want to make a mistake and it look sick afterward so give me your opinions and thoughts. Also If anyone has any pics with theirs shaved please post for me to see. I have looked in the picture gallery and can't find any. All responses welcome please give me a hand.

Thanks

Keith

 

I don't really think that would look right, they are part of the body lines. But I never was for shaving anything.

 

Hmmm, tough call. Might make it look like a late model. Then again, it might not look right.

 

If you shave the rails water will run down into the door gap. Since these trucks are not built like late models with an internal drip groove the water will run down against the gasket. The water will swamp the seal and run inside due to wind pressure and vibration.

 

Good point Eric, I didn't think of that. Keith, could you cut out the bad spot and splice in a piece from a donor truck?

 

- You should be able to chisel off the bad spot, or the whole drip rail and tack in one from a different truck. I would shave it, because my truck's drip rail on the D-side is rusted thru and every time you open the window all the water and dew from the roof goes right on your arm and the armrest. It can get to be a pain over time.

P.S. you can cover up the splice with the chrome peices that slide over them.

-Dan

 

<I would shave it, because my truck's drip >


-Whoops, I mean "wouldn't shave it" Don't want you to get the wrong idea. Hate those darn errors.

-Dan

 

Thanks fellows I guess thats what I'll have to do is tack in some new ones. Thanks for all the help.

Keith

 

><I would shave it, because my truck's drip >
>
>
> -Whoops, I mean "wouldn't shave it" Don't want you to get
>the wrong idea. Hate those darn errors.
>
> -Dan

HEY Dan, Right beside that REPLY icon there is the EDIT icon.
You have ONE hour to edit a post.
Try it, you'll like it!


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Due to the way the drip rail is made, splicing is not going to be easy. There are 3 layers all spot welded together.

I plan to shave them.

 

Scot-

You won't like it when your arm and upholstery gets wet all the time. When you open the door it can dump several ounces of water in your seat. You also won't like the constant drips inside when it rains.

-Unless of course you live and stay in the desert where it never rains...

It is a difficult repair and it must be done right.

 

Torque1st,
Are you speaking from experience? I've considered this myself and have heard arguments against it. The arguments make sense but I would like someone to say: "I have done it and would never recommend it because ...".

How are the drip rails installed? Are they just soldered to the body of the truck?

 

Hehe- I am speaking from seeing it done on a few hotrods and talking to the owners... I would NEVER do anything like that. Now if you believe that, -could I interest you in some real estate...?

The drip rails are made of several layers of sheet metal spot welded together to form a seam for the roof and reinforcement members. In the old days they used to lead in the seam, now they just use some "guckemputty". The chrome strips are fastened by friction if I 'member right.

If you shave them and don't get all the layers welded back together right you will get some funny pops, squeaks, and rattles from the area.

Like I said, if you check out the new cars they all have a drip groove covered by the edge of the door.

 

Big D,
I've got the skinny on your rusty rain rails!
The first trick and the hardest is to eliminate the rust. Use a sandblster. Use a die grinder. Use a wire brush.
Don't use a DA! I ground my DA pad up trying to get into the tight spots.
After you removed the bad stuff, wipe down all exposed metal with some phophatizing solution. I like OSPHO.
Find yourself some bondo called Dura-Glass. Its green and about three times as strong as Bondo.
Work it in and sand/grind it into shape. The chrome strip will snap over it and you'll be good to go.
Mine lasted for years.
My Way is the Highway,
KingFisher

 

Thanks Fisher that sounds like a winner. I was thinking the same thing but just using the fiberglass kit will it work or do I need the duraglass. I would like to thank everyone for giving such great information to all my questions.

Thanks

Keith