Installing A pillar chrome without damage?

I need to install the chrome strip on the A pillar of a 65 cuda. The problem is that it is curved and I'm not quite sure how to install it without damaging it. Is there any tricks that do not require smacking it with a maillot and hoping for the best? It seems like you would install the top edge first then simply snap the bottom into place, but with the curve it's hard to tell exactly how to position it before snapping the bottom on. Plus it really feels like a tight fit so a rubber maillot may end up denting it.