Removing trim at rear corners of fenders

[carmangary]

Does anyone know how to remove the nuts on those small chrome pieces at the back of the fenders where it lines up with the rear of the hood? I can get a little socket on that nut but can't grip it enough to turn it with my fingers and then the socket usually falls down into the door opening and its hard to get out! I don't want to remoe the fender just to take off or install the little chrome piece.

 

[mguerci]

When I did it I just used a wrench. You might want to try it with the door all of the way open and go in from the outside. I don't remember what I did, as it was years ago.

 

[carmangary]

I don't think it is possible to get a wrench in there. 🙂 Maybe a really crooked one. I'll have to study it a bit.

The reason I ask is because my car doesn't have those pieces anymore and I need to replace them. There are plenty at the junkyards but I can't get them off! I tried a couple but the little tangs that the nut goes on broke off of both. On one my socket fell down in the crevice and I ended up taking the door off to get my socket back. LOL.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Its been a really long time since I replaced mine but if I remember correclty, they aren't nuts that you put a socket on. They are just a press fit type of deal that you have to pry off.

 

[88hurstolds]

Some have threaded nuts and some have the press on style washer with the teeth that grab.
I've seen both styles, believe it or not the two slightly vary in shape.
One that uses the press on washer is a little fatter and more rounded on the top and the one that uses a nut is flatter and has a straigher edges.
There could have been a mold change at some point due to a broken mold or a vendor change.
I know my old 86 Salon and my brothers 87 Salon have them missing and a friend of mine with an 88 Supreme is missing his as well and this could be due to that press on washer corroding and crumbling away.
The fenders from my 84 Calais and an 84 Diesel I use to own had the nut style so the change over could have been in 85 or 86 :?:

As for removing them the easiest way is to remove the fender, or, I haven't tried this, possibly remove the hood to get better access at the cowl area.
I tried removing them from my 84 Calais and it was hopeless without damaging anything or taking something apart.