bendavis2

I've seen the two or three posts here on how to delete the side strips, door strips, rub strips, or door guards from the doors. While all of them debate the finer points of getting rid of the glue residue once the strips are off, I haven't heard of how to deal with the bolts/rivets that hold the strips on.

I've got a 1983 944. I've peeled back the rubber out of the metal side strip and there appear to be three small rivets holding the side strip to the door. I tried running fishing line behind the strip and it gets hung up on the rivet. There isn't any nut that I can remove, and I'm just about to kind of tear the thing off and deal with the sheet-metal repair to whatever is left.

Any advice on dealing with those rivets, or will they just pop right out? Or will they tear the crap out of my doors?

(I'm going to strip off the paint and do a total repaint of the whole car in the next few weeks, so some minor paint and body damage is acceptable.)

Ben
1983 Porsche 9944
PDX

J Berk

It sounds like you have aftermarket rub strips. The only OEM ones that I've seen used glue!

KlineS147

The Factory ones do have rivits inside the doors. They are plastic, mine just ripped out, but since they are plastic they would drill out very easy, but the heads just popped off mine.

jcslocum

If it's a metal rivet, just grab a drill and drill the head off then remove the innoer piece when inside the door.

laptop_geek

They are in the end of the doors. on the front.

KlineS147

First of all, you said they are metal strips? Those def aren't factory. And are the rivits on the face of the door? If so your best best is drilling them. But those aren't factory. The factory ones were glued on the face of the door, and there was a plastic rivits on the latch side of the door, on the edge

bendavis2

I think they might be after market, as the track that holds the rubber strip is metal and the rivets are aluminum. I'm going to drill them out as recommended. (great idea...thanks.) Sure saves me from having to body work big ugly tattered holes from me losing my patience! ;-)

Thanks again for the great recommendations.

I'll have to add some pics and add it to my "complete diy 944 body overhaul and paint" blog.