Help on removing exterior trim

[akusler763]

I am new to my car, it is a 57 Fairlane 500 2 door sedan. Over the winter I plan on removing the trim to clean up the body and prime, etc. but I am looking for any pictures, videos, or guides on how to safely remove the trim, Any help is greatly appreciated.

[RICH MUISE]

Welcome to the forum, it's always great to see a first post!
It's always good to have an extra pair of hands when removing trim to prevent unwanted scratches, etc. I've never done a Fairlane, but should be the same as my Custom. You will find at least two types of fasteners....the push-in type, and the theaded post type with speed nuts on the inside. The push-ins are located where there is limited or no access to the backside to remove nuts. It's really as simple as that. Pick up some plastic prying tools from Harbor freight to minimize scratches. The fasteners , if factory installed, will have a putty-like material around them, so some light tugging may be in order. Don't force anything, if it doesn't pop off with minimal tugging/prying, check to make sure you have the nuts off all the threaded fasteners.
If I remember correctly, the holes will be round for the threaded fasteners, and square for the pop-ins. Good to remember when reassembly comes around.
Rich

[CobraJoe]

Welcome aboard! and as Rich said, pretty straight forward; just be sure to spray the nuts on the threaded fasteners and work them slowly if they are severely corroded. Not always the case, but on most cars, usually your ends are the threaded type and middle are push in style.
When you have a chance, post up some pics of your ride, we'd love to se it!

[Lgcustom]

I'll second what the other guys said. The threaded clips will mostly be at the ends. You'll need to remove interior trim panels on the doors and quarter panels to access the nuts. Oh, and welcome by the way!

[lalessi1]

Here you go... not great quality but readable hopefully! Welcome to the forum.

[Ford Blue blood]

This link was posted by one of our members a while back.  It really shows most anything you need to know about the body and assorted items on it.  Click on any page in the link and it will open a new window.  You can roll on it to enlarge for details.  By the way, welcome aboard.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN9pXqBDycEj1-GXCUBhf6aGefwue6P5UnUWOdhXHx8CRmCzogpAjdLKpaS4ZcrTg?key=U2RxRkNqY1hGTll2REhURmNDSXdKQmdXTDkycFJR

[akusler763]

Thank you all, this is very helpful for me. I have attached a pic for anyone interested. I'll try and get some build updates in that forums I go through things this winter. I have loved the 57 body style since I was a teenager and now at 40 I have one . My Dad is a 55/56 ford guy, but this style has always been a nicer look in my opinion.

[djfordmanjack]

Welcome to this forum ! Great looking car!

I know you didn't ask and please forgive me, but is the reason you need to remove the trim that you want to repaint ? Your car looks to have a huge amount of pretty decent og paint left, which can never be brought back after a repaint. it looks as it could be saved with very minimal welding work involved to the rockers and lower fender corners (which are typical problem areas on 57 Fords) that could easily be blended or just hit with grey primer. If you find the idea interesting search for our forum member Swank who did a great job in preserving og paint and patina.
Anyways, great to have you here and another neat 57 saved !

Guenter

[rmk57]

  Was that car drag raced at one time? Looks like F/SA on the side glass.

[RICH MUISE]

Great looking car. imho, you have the best of both worlds there......the quietness of a sedan with the look of a hardtop. Pretty solid looking as Guenter said, hope it holds true after you start digging. If you do need panels, EMS makes the best of what is available.
btw, what part of the country do you live in? I see a route 66 sticker on the car. Can't see enough of the landscape in the pic to take a guess.

[akusler763]

  Was that car drag raced at one time? Looks like F/SA on the side glass.

My father brought the car up from New Mexico and he wrote that on there to take pictures. It was in a New Mexico Junk Yard since the 70's and I have no history on it, but the F/SA was all him to be funny.

[akusler763]

Great looking car. imho, you have the best of both worlds there......the quietness of a sedan with the look of a hardtop. Pretty solid looking as Guenter said, hope it holds true after you start digging. If you do need panels, EMS makes the best of what is available.
btw, what part of the country do you live in? I see a route 66 sticker on the car. Can't see enough of the landscape in the pic to take a guess.

The Car is from New Mexico, I am in Minnesota. We don't see cars this clean up here at all At least not ones that have been sitting for 40+ years.

[akusler763]

Welcome to this forum ! Great looking car!

I know you didn't ask and please forgive me, but is the reason you need to remove the trim that you want to repaint ? Your car looks to have a huge amount of pretty decent og paint left, which can never be brought back after a repaint. it looks as it could be saved with very minimal welding work involved to the rockers and lower fender corners (which are typical problem areas on 57 Fords) that could easily be blended or just hit with grey primer. If you find the idea interesting search for our forum member Swank who did a great job in preserving og paint and patina.
Anyways, great to have you here and another neat 57 saved !

Guenter

Part of the reason is to repaint, part is to clean and straighten a bit of it and get 40+ years of dust from between the trim and the sheetmetal. The paint is not original, but is close and is very old. My plan is to fix some of the sheetmetal (rockers, and fender corners, one headlight bucket)and then try and blend to match the patina and drive with that look while I save long term for a good paint job. The only spot that has no paint at all is the roof and hoping I can paint it to make it look like a patina. I'll look for that thread from Swank.

[RICH MUISE]

Headlight bucket.......I assume you're talking about the actual bucket that the headlight bulb mounts into, and not the headlight surround. Some guys had better luck than me finding rust free buckets. I've got a cool way of repairing those badly rusted buckets if you need to go that route.

[SkylinerRon]

For the rusty roof POR-15 works very well to stop the rust.

tiptools.com for info.

Good luck,

Ron.