Cant rail chrome retaining clips

[paulsco]

Hi All,

I am trimming the cant rails on my FHC. I have covered them with vinyl and used bonnet chrome's as the chrome beading.
My question is about the retaining clips that are pop riveted to the back of the rail, presumably in an attempt to hold on the chrome.
I have only one clip at the front; should there be more?

When trial fitting the cant rail, the clip is visible above the chrome; is this normal?

I could leave the clip off as the chrome seems quite tight, but I would like to check what others have done.

Thanks,
Paul

[abowie]

Can't answer your question but I just had to buy a pair of new bare steel cantrails as the ones in my current resto were rusted to bits. They cost me UKP225 EACH!!!!! I was quoted about UKP700 locally to make a pair.

[Geoff Allam]

On my 1964 fhc the chrome is held on by friction fit and no clips are visible. I have never had the cantrails off so I can’t say definitely but my GUESS would be that your clip is somehow involved in holding the cantrail in position. Sorry I can’t be of more help.

[Polse7317]

Hi Paul above : what i had and what i have : the same "clip"



*



May be you have not that sort of cantrail ?

[ysmalkie]

Paul,

I think there were at least 2 on each of them, so total 8.
You should have the holes from these clip's rivets visible.

Tadek

[paulsco]

Thank you all for your input.

That’s a bit steep Andrew, considering that they are a relitivly simple shape.

Yves, that is exactly what I have and the clip does show; perhaps the bonnet chromes are slightly smaller section than the originals.
On the plus side, I had thought the clips were spring steel, but it appears that they are just mild steel, so I have tapped them more closely to the chrome with a mallet and they look much better.

I have attached a picture from Angus's site which shows that the clip can be seen.




Thanks Angus, hope its ok to use your photo.

Regards,

Paul

[ysmalkie]

Paul they are both exactly the same diameter and shape - i check both original cantrail and bonnet pieces.

Tadek

[Polse7317]

No the cantrails one are a little bit smaller.

[ysmalkie]

Then it must depend on the car, as the ones I measured were almost identical (within 0.1mm)

Tadek