1937 belt molding clips

[B Readling CLC#25871]

Anyone have suggestions for  molding clips that will work on a series 5011? They will have to be the push in type. I have tried a number of universal types with no luck. I have also tried  clip numbers 1397,1776 and  1888 from restoration specialties with no luck. Am nearing the finish and it's too late to back out now. What will work???

[Tom Beaver]

I couldn't find any belt molding clips that would fit a 38 either.  If the 37 is like the 38 you will notice that some of the factory clips were essentially a flat plate with a stud attached at the center, they seem to have used these to anchor the ends of the belt moldings.  Also, most all of the holes in the body for attaching the moldings are accessable from behind, if the door or kick panels are off.  What I did was get some rocker panel clips which were the same size as the factory studed fasteners and used them everywhere except a couple of locations where I couldn't get my hand behind the mounting hole.  I got the rocker panel clips from Restoration Specialties, I think they were 1" wide and I don't recall the length (1 1/4" ?).  I used a thin flat washer and a Nylok nut on the back side.  This worked well, was much easier on the paint and could be tightened easily.  For the couple of holes I couldn't get a nut on I reused an original clip that I still had.  Since to get the moldings off you have to take the panels off anyway, so this doesn't cause any further complications.

Tom Beaver

[Steve Passmore]

I did much the same as Tom except I made all the clips myself by cutting strips of thin stainless steel sheet, drilling a hole and welding a very small bolt through it with a rubber washer on the inside.   The odd one I couldn't get at I used an old clip.
I found this and the rubber washer a much better arrangement than the clip because as Tom said, you have to remove the trim panels to get the bolted end clops off anyway and the factory specs of applying a blob of sealant to the inside of every clip is a bit messy and not the most water tight, plus the clips always take the paint the minute they are attached, remove the trim on any old car and look where the rust is, (around the hole)