Drip rail - is it needed/wanted?
Drip rail - is it needed/wanted? Painting my 02 camaro ss for the second time in the past 6 months (never use Asylum Autowerks in indianapolis unless you like giving money to idiots that claim to be painters).
The first place bent the crap out of the drip rail and damaged (kinked) it pretty good. So along with removing the body molding I was wondering if the drip rail was something that others had removed in the past to provide a sleeker look and less hassle to deal with as far as trim parts.
I understand its supposed to have a functional purpose but I think that the weather stripping is what prevents leaks into the cabin at the window.
Is there a purpose for the drip rail that I am missing and if not how does it look without it?
Thanks all!
The first place bent the crap out of the drip rail and damaged (kinked) it pretty good. So along with removing the body molding I was wondering if the drip rail was something that others had removed in the past to provide a sleeker look and less hassle to deal with as far as trim parts.
I understand its supposed to have a functional purpose but I think that the weather stripping is what prevents leaks into the cabin at the window.
Is there a purpose for the drip rail that I am missing and if not how does it look without it?
Thanks all!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 609
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville,fl
This would be the spot to ask. I don't own a 4th gen or particularly remember their being a drip rail on them.
Older vehicles such as my 83 el camino had a true drip rail .This was as much for production assembly style as anything. Shaving a drip rail on an older vehicle would only make more water drip on you when opening a door. Like you said, weatherstrip is for the water to glass seal.
Couldn't pull up a close up enough image of 4th gen roof to see exactly what you have there.
Older vehicles such as my 83 el camino had a true drip rail .This was as much for production assembly style as anything. Shaving a drip rail on an older vehicle would only make more water drip on you when opening a door. Like you said, weatherstrip is for the water to glass seal.
Couldn't pull up a close up enough image of 4th gen roof to see exactly what you have there.
I have t-tops so I'm not sure what the drip edge on a hardtop is like, but I can tell you when I shaved the drip edge on my old civic (that was where the roof gets welded on) you didn't want to take it out in the rain, think of the drip edge like a gutter on your houses roof versus a roof edge with no gutter. I would say leave it, also removing it means the weather stripping has to handle an increase in water flow across it and as the weather stripping starts to fail heavy flows are where the leaks first show up.
Makes sense. I experienced the rain for the first time without it and the water definitely has an easier time getting through.
I can't seem to find a new set of this anywhere though. Any ideas?
I can't seem to find a new set of this anywhere though. Any ideas?
Well I found the original GM part numbers they call it Drip Molding.
10156338
10156339
Anyone heard of an aftermarket solution that is maybe adhesive application? That drip molding, if applied wrong, can cut into the paint on the roof.
10156338
10156339
Anyone heard of an aftermarket solution that is maybe adhesive application? That drip molding, if applied wrong, can cut into the paint on the roof.
Removed my drip rails a while back because they were dented. What a mistake. Car looks better without them, but water does slosh in from everywhere. Now having a hard time finding replacements. My car has a hard top. If anyone knows where I can find them, please let me know!
From oem cats web site:
10156338, 10156339, Molding
This is a molding, roof drip scalp, for Chevrolet, and Pontiac automobiles. It fits for Chevrolet Camaro, and Camaro Z28, Pontiac Firebird formula, and Firebird trans am for the U.S. from 1993 to 2002. It's a genuine General Motors part with an OEM part number 10156338 / 10156339. Please keep in mind that this molding is discontinued for the U.S. market since June 1, 2010, and is discontinued for Canada market since February 28, 2009.
From oem cats web site:
10156338, 10156339, Molding
This is a molding, roof drip scalp, for Chevrolet, and Pontiac automobiles. It fits for Chevrolet Camaro, and Camaro Z28, Pontiac Firebird formula, and Firebird trans am for the U.S. from 1993 to 2002. It's a genuine General Motors part with an OEM part number 10156338 / 10156339. Please keep in mind that this molding is discontinued for the U.S. market since June 1, 2010, and is discontinued for Canada market since February 28, 2009.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo