VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 51 Stainless Door trim issues

I have a 2 door 51 sedan Deluxe and the trim (approx. 1" wide) that goes around the door has tabs that were bent over in opposite directions when I removed it. I am re-installing now but I cannot seem to bend these tabs over in the opposite directions the way that they were - does anyone know how I can get a tool to do this? Or, is there another way that it gets done? The trim that goes along the rear side glass snaps in very easily.

Can you post some pictures of the piece you're talking about? If you mean the stainless trim, mine has no tabs on it to bend over. Or I may be confused...

Yes pictures would be helpful as I'm not following your discription either.

Course after polishing some 30 different pieces of stainless for my 51 and now mounting them I have post dramatic stainless syndrome

I hope I did this right, but the links are below showing the clips on the trim and how they look on the inside of the door.

https://photos.shutterfly.com/full/91099758394

https://photos.shutterfly.com/full/91099758111

https://photos.shutterfly.com/full/91099758098

Can't see it. It's asking me to sign in. You likely have to set that album to "public"

Try this one.....?

https://pix.sfly.com/n9dq5Y

think the problem lies in using the old clips they look bent from prying them off

The way I did is replacing the clips period. National Chevy has them. You have to file out the inside of the holes to flat in the middle section. They send a diagram.
Use a large needle nose and slip one side of the new clip in and then squeeze the other leg of the clip in the other hole. You may have to poke that leg down through the hole with a very small screw driver. Put all your clips on the door first. Then put alittle greese on the top edge of them. Then start with the end of the long run and clip in the top of the door edge first and then roll the window edge down over one but one till you get to the curved edge, this becomes harder FYI.
Remove your old clips first if you can without damage to the trim by twisting them off with a wide plilliar. If they don't come off easy break off those same little legs that go through the holes and just move them to the side of the new clips and leave them on. They won't show. I put a little clean silicone on the ones I left on so the won't rattle as the will be free floating.
Don't use a rubber mallet or anything like that or they will dent. Just clip what you can and keep working on any that don't clip all the way. Maybe heat? Mine were horizontal on a work bench so I had tons of leverage.
Clean and straighten the underside of the trim were the clip will go will make it easier.
I also put several layers of tape parallel above and below the trim first. Still scratched one door where putting on the new clips.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! I get so much help from people like you on this website that it has become an invaluable resource for me. I just contacted National Chevy and they are sending me a pic of the clips to be sure they are correct. Hopefully my next reply will be the successful installation!

ran across this picture of the clips in question