want to shave drip rails

[SLVRBOY]

i have a 67 fastback im rebuilding im going to shave the door handles.
i wanted to shave the drip rail off but a friend said that water would get
in around the doors. then i saw the article in mustang and ford where
it was done to a 65. what kind of problems would i run into doing this?

 

[one2gamble]

its possible that water could sneak past the windows as they dont seal the same way as newer cars. You could also get more wind noise around the windows if they dont seal nice and tight as the rail does create a minor wind dead zone around the top edge of the window.

Its been done plenty of times though, I went a different route keeping the lip but getting rid of the funky rail look. We will see how it works.

http://goldcoastmotoring.com/mustang/images/3-05/DSC00974-02.jpg

 

[12sec67]

cut mine all the way off. but yet to paint the car or have weather stripping installed. also the drip rail is a dody seam. if you plan on removing them i recomend getting subframe connectors.

 

[SLVRBOY]

thanks guys

 

[meanroy]

thanks guys

Ya sounds good to me too.

I'm getting ready to join the two halves of the 'stang.

I've been considering using the drip metal for an alignment reference. be good to just eliminate, simplify construction for sure. But that would make the alignment harder.

Sounds like you're down in the nitty gritty for sure.

Post some pics.

Roy.

 

[slepe67]

Sorry to "hijack", but, does the drip rail actually serve as some sort of reinforcement for the car? I plan to hack mine off as well, and was going to install subframe connectors anywho, but, that's kinda nice to know...

 

[unluckyengineer]

yeah sorry if I could double that hijack as I am currently removing mine on the drivers side cause there is a rust problem up there.. haha I read structural and my eyes almost bugged out of my head.. and there are quite a few tack welds on there so I figured I would ask before I have a slumping ford on my hands..

 

[Jester67]

Sorry to "hijack", but, does the drip rail actually serve as some sort of reinforcement for the car? I plan to hack mine off as well, and was going to install subframe connectors anywho, but, that's kinda nice to know...

We are talking about a unibody car here almost everything on the body is structural. I have read where the A body pillar cracked and broke. On convertibles they put a lot of reinforcement into the bottom to make up for the lose of the top. It is my understanding that the drip rail is the seam where the top attaches to the car and the removal of the drip rail will remove a gusset. The drip rail is a lap joint and will be replaced with a butt joint so it will need to be re-welded over its entire length. With all this in mind I would be careful when removing any part. That being said I think if you where to add some reinforcement on the inside of the car to stiffen this area and place a good weld you SHOULD be ok. Good luck.

 

[SLVRBOY]

Im Going To Put Subframe Connectors On It Anyway
So It Should Be O.k.

The Car Was A 6 Cyl. That Was
Owned By A Surfer Kid. The 6 Was
Yanked Out And A Friend Cut The
Front End Off (firewall Included)
And Welded A New One On From A
Parts Car. Lots Of Rust Up Front..

So I Still Have A Long Way To Go
On The Car But Ill Post Some Pics.

Thanks Again For The Help , This Site Is Great

 

[SLVRBOY]

Pics.

 

[SLVRBOY]

Ill Send More Pics When I Get Some Good Ones