Drip rails

[maverickfe]

Hey has anyone shaved there drip rails and if they have do you have some pictures ? I dont know if i will be doing this or not just wanted too see if anyone has.

[BobbyFord]

There are some of the guys on here that have done it, do a search in the body section. It's not for the faint of heart and involves quite a bit of work.

[dantheman71]

I did do it, and I wouldn't do it again! Of course my project isn't finished but that part is pretty much done. I recently found a totally rust free cab and I am considering using that one instead just to get drip rails back. When we cut the drip rail off we found that the metal was a bit thin on one side making it a real PITA to weld it back together. Not only is there a lot of strength in the drip rail but it serves a purpose, once you take it away everytime the truck gets rained on (or if it is a show truck everytime it gets washed) you will get a bunch of water in behind your windshield rubber which will likely cause problems in the very near future. Plus along the side it keeps water from getting down into top of the door where it will run down and once again cause problems. That is just my but I wish I could go back in time and leave them alone. I would still fill the body seam along the back but I would just leave the drip rail and paint it.
Here is a pic of the cab after the welding was done, this is the side that the metal was thin and we had to put a 1/8 rod in behind it so we had something better to weld to.


If you do decide to go ahead and cut them the one piece of advice I would give is only cut out about 8 inches at a time and then weld that section before you cut the next. That way you don't have to worry about everything getting out of alignment because once you cut off the drip rail there isnt much holding the top skin from folding back and making a convertible. Was I smart enough to do the 8 inches at a time method?? Of course not, I like to learn things the hard way.

Also, if you want to see some shaving, check out Mike Nagatani's truck to see a finished awesome looking truck!
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=35141

[elgemcdlf]

This is a mod I wrestle with for my truck. I think for it to look totally correct the roof has to be moved back so there is no overhang left above the windshield. At that point I was thinking converting to a glue in windshield (rear window as well). As Bobby says not for the faint of heart. Least wise if I do decide to follow that path.

[derbydad276]

dont do it it was done by p/o on mine and you get soaked when you open the doors on rainy days

[elgemcdlf]

dont do it it was done by p/o on mine and you get soaked when you open the doors on rainy days

Not a problem with my truck. Shaved the wipers early on. She doesn't see the rain.