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1960 Fin Tip Removal?

Started by 76eldo, April 03, 2011, 11:17:15 AM

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76eldo

Hoping to get some advice from some 1960 owners here.

Everything is beautiful on my 1960 but the die cast rear fin tips have some minor pitting on them.  I bought a clean set recently and had them rechromed.

I see how the tail light comes out, but you can only get to the bottom screw of the fin tip.  I have to assume that the stainless molding has to come up to allow for access to the top screw.  The car has beautiful paint and I am wondering how to get the stainless strip up or off to allow access to the top screw without prying up against the paint.

I thought this would be easy, and it would have if just the tab slipped under the trim, but I have to get to that top screw to get these off.

Thanks for any assistance,

brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

David Greenburg

I can't speak to the '60 specifically, but I imagine it is like the '59, since both years use the same clips to hold the fin-top stainless trim in place.  You need to pop off the fin-top stainless, which will give you access to the top screw that holds the fin tip.  If you break one of the clips or they are rusted, they are available.   
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special

76eldo

It seems like if I get the fin tip loose at the bottom, I can get a thin screw driver under the tip and gently pry upwards at the top, under the long stainless strip.

I would like to have some clips on hand when I do this.  Where are these available?  Auto body supply, or at a restoration specialty supplier?

Thanks,

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

76eldo

Just down in the garage. I dropped the tail light down, took out the bottom screw of the tip and tried to pry gently to get the stainless strip to pop up. It isn't moving and I can't see a good way to pry up without bending the stainless or digging into the paint.

Maybe my friend at the body shop will have a clue.

Stumped for now.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

jagbuxx #12944

Restoraton Specialties had the replacement clips for my '61 when I refinished it.
I honestly can't remember how it came off. It may have slid on the clips towards the front of the car. Might require some tapping from behind. As it moves the width increases allowing the molding to "ride" off the clips.
It's been over 12 years so it's a bit foggy.....

Frank
Frank Burns #12944
76 Coupe d'Elegance EFI Galloway Green Firemist
70 deVille Convert San Mateo Red
61 Coupe Deville Bristol Blue
41 Series 61 Deluxe Coupe 6127D Black
08 STS 3.6 1SC  Thunder Gray
16 GTI Gray
03 T-Bird Black
16 Grand Cherokee Summit, Granite
19 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
07 Corvette Blue
20 MB S450 White

"Whatever the occasion, there
is no better way to arrive than in a Cadillac.

76eldo

So then you have to start all the way up where the snaps for the boot are... 

Gotta look at this again tomorrow.

Thanks,

brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

David Greenburg

For me it has been about 20 years since I had that fin trim off my '59.  I remember gently prying on it, and I recall sliding it slightly rearward, not forward,  to get it to "unhook" where it meets the trim near the rear window, or in your case the boot.  Hopefully someone who has done this more recently will chime in.  I did get my clips from Restoration Specialties.  But you can also find them pretty often on E-bay.   
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special