OK, figured I’d take a lot of pics and add another writeup to the TTnet database for removing trim pieces. This will cover windshield side trim, T-top trim and the short roof trim behind the T-tops. Yes, my Z is dirty. I’m in the process of thoroughly cleaning it, so please no comments on that. To start with I’ll go over the windshield trim. The pics are a mix of left and right side. You can see how mine is worn out and the chrome is showing through at the top of them:
 First, you need to slide the trim upwards a bit. At this point, a small rubber bumper will come into contact with the inside of the fender as seen in the next pic. I have used a screwdriver to “help” the rubber piece fit under the fender in the shot, it is ready to keep sliding upwards:
 You need to slide the trim up about an inch or so:
 On the passenger side, the clip came off pretty much OK, but on the driver’s side the clip broke a bit more as can be seen. The clip did not want to come off the stop on the driver’s side, so I used a screwdriver to “push” it rearward, in the process it broke a bit. Should still be enough intact to hold the trim on however. The clip is the white piece under the trim in the pic above. Shown below is another view of the clip with the trim off the car:
 Same clip shown from underneath so you can see how it fits onto its retaining “peg” in the car:
 Here is a view looking forward of the “peg” on the car that the clip mounts to:
 Yet another view of the “peg”, it’s near the bottom of the pic and blurry. Pic is also to show the white/yellow nylon “track” the clips that retain the trim fit into:
 I used two different methods to remove the trim strips. On the passenger side, which I did first, I ended up just sliding the outer “C” shaped trim part (the part you can see on the outside of the car) all the way off leaving the other part of the trim still on the car. Then I removed the clips from the car. On the driver’s side, this didn’t work and I had to pry the clips off. Just FYI. I’ll show you the clips now so you can better visualize how I am prying them off in the following pics; there are 4 of these clips on each trim strip. The pic with writing is in reference to the driver’s side trim clips.
 

Here is a view of the plastic track the clips fit into:
 OK, now that you have an idea of what the clips look like and how they mount into the tracks on the car I’ll describe how to remove them. Remember that the first clip at the top of the trim is different than the lower four. You need to slide the trim strip upwards and pop the first clip off the peg it fits on before anything else. Next, you can carefully pull the trim strip away from the windshield and towards the center of the car so you can see the other clips. Circled below is what you will see when looking for a clip. Next is a closer pic:

 You need to push a standard screwdriver from the windshield side outwards onto the clip. Then twist the screwdriver and pry up. The clips will pop out of the plastic channels they fit into. Push outwards (away from the car) as you pry. They take a bit of effort to get to pop off.

 Bottom clip:
 Shown below is the trim strip upside down. #1 is the different, top clip. #’s 2-5 are the clips you have to pop out of the channels. 
Cross section of the trim:
 OK, that’s about it for the windshield trims. Next I’ll cover the T-top trims. There were easier to remove than the windshield trim. Well, they required less force, but required drilling. I’ll borrow some of PLEAZURE in CA (SD)’s pics (hope you don’t mind). First remove one screw from either end of the tops and the screw in the handle (red circles). Pry off the lock button with a standard screwdriver, it is only a press fit, no fasteners or anything. Now just lift and rotate the whole interior T-top panel to remove it without having to do anything about the locking lever.


 Remove the screws that are visible that hold the trim on at each end (green circles). Drill out each of the three plastic “nubs” to get to the hidden screws. I drilled with a small bit first, then a ¼” bit. Hole is plenty big to get to the screw. (red circles):
 Close up views of each of the red circle locations. Circle 1:
 Circle 2:
 Circle 3 shows the last screw. I was able to get to it by just drilling down between the vertical sides of the T-top lock mechanism:
 Now here’s a useful tip: Pull down on the trim gently as you remove the screws so you know when they are fully free. DO NOT flip the T-top over at this point! I left it hanging over the fender of a car so I could see the screws from underneath. I cut some small pieces of fuel line (vacuum line or anything else will work…. Even small pieces of plastic with a hole punched in them) and turned the screws with a screwdriver to draw the sections onto the screws. Now you can flip the top over without fear of the screws getting loose inside the T-top:

 OK, on to the short trim pieces that fit behind the T-tops. These “should” just slide a bit and pop off. I say should because one of mine didn’t want to. Each trim piece uses two of the clips that were found at the top of the windshield trim. The fit onto “pegs” just like I showed before. The passenger side slides FORWARD. Move it ½-1” forward and it should pop off.

 Here is a pic of the trim and clips flipped over so you can see how they mount:
 Slide the driver’s side trim BACKWARDS to remove it. Mine stuck and didn’t want to move far enough to pop off. I used a screwdriver to push the clip backwards, which broke a bit in the process. I think it will still work OK though. I’ve shown that trim flipped over also:


 Well, there you go. Hope this’ll help someone out some. I’d say it is definitely worthwhile, and probably quicker, to remove the trim if you are going to paint it with truck bedliner as I am going to do. You should get better results, and you can clean out all the crap that is under the trim, as well as clean and wax right up to the edge of the trim, which is tough to do with the trim in place.
Mike ------------------------------------------------------

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