Hello people,

Doed anybody know how to remove the bed trim off an 85 elky?

Also does anybody know how to tighten the steering colum tilt bolts?

Thanks Mello

For info on tightening the tilt go here: http://links.chevelles.net/links/WorkShop/Interior/ and click on the link that says "Tighten Your Loose Steering Column" -Helped me a bit. It may not be exactly the same but should get you close.

Hopefully someone else has ideas on the trim.

Here's a write up Robert (acauth1) did for a 5th gen column.

http://elcaminocentral.com/article-95--0-0.html

I gave up on taking my trim and just ripped it off. I wasn't going to use it again and it was not in good enough condition to save.

I'm sure 4th and 5th gens are pretty similar (the clips look close to the same). When I took off mine for paint, I just pulled straight up. I knew I wanted to replace the clips anyways (ecparts.net has them cheap), so if they broke, it was no big deal. If I were to do it again (and save the clips) I would probably slide a plastic putty knife (to keep it from scratching)under the trim, and ease it off the clip. This pic shows a clip attached to the sheet metal. The trim "clips" to the clip.

http://elcaminocentral.com/users/77ss/forumpics/clip.jpg

im going to remove my trim, but before i do... I must applaude restorers like 77ss who have the patience to deal with this detail. i wish i did, i would love to keep it. anyboby want to buy the trim from my 77?

trim is bulky and ugly i think...that why u need to ripp it all off

i like my clean bodied 73 with shave door handles and trunk handle switched to the reveres side of the bed :-D

Pulling trim is a pain, especially to do it without eithe a) breaking the clips (after 20 years in the elements plastic gets brittle) or b) bending the pieces out of shape A is preferrable to B. Had a restoration job done to my bed area, luckily all mine were A. pay attention to the little plastic tabs, they are extremely important when reinstalling and help keep the trim from rubbing the body. Just do yourself a favor and buy a new set from Ecparts or who ever. Makes life simpler.

out where to pry or pull up to not bend the trim...I plan to replace the trim on top of the bed after dceaning up a little rust problem. I don't want top have to replace my trim if I an help it so I don't want to bend it all out of shape removing it.


Tazz

Brittle wasn't the word when I pulled my trim off of the clips on my 74. More like dust would be more fitting. My trim came off pretty easily since most of the clips were already broken. The few remainders were a bit of a pain tho.

I would reccommend taking a good hard look at how your rails are installed. Many times just popping off a small section of end trim first will start a domino effect that loosens up all the rest. The trim pieces will generally interlock by fitting into eachother in some fashion (at least on mine it was) so you'll need to find out where the first "domino" is anyway to get the rest loose. :-)

For me the first piece was the small corner piece at the rear of the bed. Once those were off the long rails almost flapped in the breeze. Same for the top corner pieces near the back window. Watch for hidden screws as well. Usually find them in corner sections. Hardest part to get off was the straight piece above the rear window.

Also if you keep the rails I would recommend having them polished up at a good plating shop. Mine came out with an almost mirror finish that I still can't get over.


:)