Cut drip rails off

[KohrtRacing]

Has anyone cut the drip rails off their 1968 Charger before? Would love to see pictures if so. Thanks in advance.

 

[Kern Dog]

They look like an old man with no eyebrows.

 

[KohrtRacing]

They look like an old man with no eyebrows.

Do you have pictures?

 

[j-c-c-62]

Has anyone cut the drip rails off their 1968 Charger before? Would love to see pictures if so. Thanks in advance.

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You have my attention.

 

[RemCharger]

Do you have pictures?

 

[Kern Dog]

Do you have pictures?

Sure.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Trying for that extra tenth? Make a pass, next pass use duct tape to cover them.

 

[Kern Dog]

 

[KohrtRacing]

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yeah that doesn’t look so great. Looks very concept car ish.

 

[eldubb440]

yeah that doesn’t look so great. Looks very concept car ish.

and those goofy wheels aren't helping it any

 

[Kern Dog]

Eliminating them along with a few other things may improve the aero enough to cut down on wind noise that we get with these cars. Stuff like wiper arms out there catching and disturbing the air, side view mirrors, rain gutters, wheels and tires recessed in the fenders instead of sitting out flush to the wheel openings, flush mount the grille, etc.
Unfortunately, these changes have a drastic impact on the classic appearance of the cars.

 

[murfman]

The only reason they are there in the first place was to make it easy to weld the roof panel on during assembly. They serve no useful purpose with curved side glass. Water will still get in if your windows are open more than an inch or two. I was surprised how much of a difference in wind noise there was when I drove my Superbird with the A pillar trim off.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Well, I am not bald and don't have red hair, and I like aero.
I was hoping this thread would go a bit deeper than cosmetics.
And wind noise is turbulent air flow, ie bad.

 

[eldubb440]

it's early....

 

[KohrtRacing]

Eliminating them along with a few other things may improve the aero enough to cut down on wind noise that we get with these cars. Stuff like wiper arms out there catching and disturbing the air, side view mirrors, rain gutters, wheels and tires recessed in the fenders instead of sitting out flush to the wheel openings, flush mount the grille, etc.
Unfortunately, these changes have a drastic impact on the classic appearance of the cars.

I’m not so much considering it for aerodynamics, I’m considering it for appearance. As of now, looks ugly in my book but wanted to keep an open mind.

 

[KohrtRacing]

Though I will say. I’m painting the drips and I may never put the chrome trim back on. I like the look of cars without the trim but I’m not much of a chrome guy either. Thinking the bumpers are getting painted too.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

Though I will say. I’m painting the drips and I may never put the chrome trim back on. I like the look of cars without the trim but I’m not much of a chrome guy either. Thinking the bumpers are getting painted too.

I left the chrome off my 71 charger for years after I painted it. Couple summers ago I put it back on thinking I was gonna sell it. Looks waaaaayyyy better with it on IMO. Gives some contrast to the body lines.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Trying for that extra tenth? Make a pass, next pass use duct tape to cover them.

Are you implying the weight of the duct tape might slow the car down?

And for the record, I agree, chrome drip trim is effectively a car's eye liner.

 

[gkent]

If I were doing it myself I'd go for it - the thought had also crossed my mind at one point. But if paying someone to do that mod I think it'd be an expensive proposition. Having recently installed the roof rail trim on a freshly painted car I can tell you that the car looks naked (not in a nice way) with all the other trim on and that trim missing.

 

[Kern Dog]

The drip rails are one part of the classic styling cues that new cars don’t have.
I don’t intentionally drive my car in the rain so the drip rails on mine are just along for the ride.
I was sort of teasing about the eyebrow comments but I do think the cars don’t look as good with them removed.
I removed them from an ‘84 Chevy truck, others have removed them from Dodge trucks as well.
It isn’t like putting a Chevy engine in the car!