Your best friend in this situation would be a copy of a trim manual. There are some manuals at this link that might help you at least get an idea of how many clips there are and where they are located:

1954 Lincoln manuals

I was able to get the front fender trim piece off by sliding a slim fork type pryer behind it, next to the clip and it popped right off, one at a time. Didn't break the clip or damage the trim or car. I'll be able to reuse the clips, so far. Being a clean rustfree car makes disassembly so easy.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

I don’t know anything about a Lincoln but I would start in the trunk looking at where the side trim is. My  56 has a nut on every spring clip that is slid onto the outside trim. Mine were all 3/8” and I used a spin tight to get the nuts off. As the trim went forward I removed the rear upholstery to see the nuts. On the doors the same thing. The spring clips are different widths depending on the trim. Once the nuts are off and the trim is of the car you can twist the spring clip and remove it. They also slide in the trim so you can position them to go into the hole on the body.

As a note there should be some pliable putty over the nuts so they don’t leak water in rain or washing the car. Good luck.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

So where are these clips? How do I access them?

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri

ALL my 56 Ford side stainless was held on by a nut behind the panels or upholstery front fenders included. During painting the fenders were removed and the trim removed then put back on before the fender was attached. There were “twist” lip clamps with a spring on all but the ends of the rear sides and doors; each had a nut. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I believe you will find spring clips that snap into the channel of the stainless lip.  Takes a thin tool with a hook to remove them.  Joe-JDC

JDC

I know this isn't about y block engines but don't know where else I can get answers for thus 54 capri.
I'm trying to get the stainless strips off the car. I see a nut inside the fender that holds the front strip on, but don't know where the remaining ones are located. And I figured that there would be a fastener every foot or18 inches. After I took the front fastener off, I gently pulled the strip away but it didn't come out very far so it must be attached somehow.
Plus, what's the best way to prep the old paint before getting it painted? There are a few places where the paint is gone and slight surface rust is starting. I want to cover that with something so the rust will be treated. I'm trying to keep the paint bill down by prepping as much as I can but don't want to do something that will cause the painters issues.

Brad
Sierra Vista Arizona
1954 Lincoln Capri