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I am going through my pieces parts for my 63swc and trying to figure out where things go. One of the things that I was looking at was my split window trim.
I placed them on the openings where I believed they went and one of the things I noticed was that the big curved piece really didn’t fit the opening well. I am guessing that the trim really gets pulled into place by the clips. The photos I have below show how out of shape it is relative to the opening....is this correct? Do the clips really tug this piece of trim into place? In other words, don’t worry about it?
I should add that when I got the car it was completely disassembled.....hence I am not sure how things fit or not and the only way I can tell is to assemble pieces and see....
You’ll have more fun with the interior trim around the rear windows. You can assemble those pieces wrong and convince yourself it’s correct.
Frank, it just didn’t seem right as that piece really has to be twisted a bunch to get it to go. I sure couldn’t get it to line up unless I had about 4 hands....
Which is why people hate messing with the stuff!
You can scroll down on Keene's web site to see their reproduction trim pieces and see how things are laid out:
I can see that this will be one of those F bomb moments in the garage....I have had three major f bomb moments on the 60....when I did the front bumpers, the hardtop and when I went through three windshields...this could very well be the next....lol
I agree, it seems twisted to me also. When my glass guy installed mine it fit the rubber and clips almost perfect. Have you checked the other side for fit? Don't forget to install the clips before the glass or you will definetly have that f-moment.
Good Luck
Gary
I agree, it seems twisted to me also. When my glass guy installed mine it fit the rubber and clips almost perfect. Have you checked the other side for fit? Don't forget to install the clips before the glass or you will definetly have that f-moment.
Good Luck
Gary
Yes, both sides have that goofy twist in them. When I look at the pieces I don’t see anything that suggests they were twisted up.
Here is the same piece Herb....an original that will go on the car to replace a kinked piece someday....not nearly as wracked up as what you have... The two pics are with the piece laying, superimposed, over the trim already on the car.
Your piece may have been on a car with crappy reproduction rubber molding that takes a crapload of finagling to get it to lay down half-way decently, even then, its hard to get it as flat as the factory fit...
I think you can make that piece work but it will be tedious and patience required...
Keene parts sells the taller clips now to get the piece to lay down on repro rubber molding BTW...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; May 10, 2018 at 10:08 AM.
Frankie just wait until your wife finds out that that little piece of stainless steel that you're holding can put one of your kids through a year of college
Last edited by 63Corvette; May 10, 2018 at 01:01 PM.
Errrr....yeah, I thought prices would drop after Keene came out with the repros...but at their price point for the new pieces the old pieces have maintained their value - but they're hard to find.
I always laugh though. People concentrate on that outside stainless rear window trim. Just price one little corner piece for the inside rear split window metal trim (if you can find one) and they aren't reproduced. Hold on to your butt when you do.
Here is the same piece Herb....an original that will go on the car to replace a kinked piece someday....not nearly as wracked up as what you have... The two pics are with the piece laying, superimposed, over the trim already on the car.
Your piece may have been on a car with crappy reproduction rubber molding that takes a crapload of finagling to get it to lay down half-way decently, even then, its hard to get it as flat as the factory fit...
I think you can make that piece work but it will be tedious and patience required...
Keene parts sells the taller clips now to get the piece to lay down on repro rubber molding BTW...
Yup, seems to not be as twisted....looks like I need to install it without the sealer and see what I get.....
Just be careful for this particular issue....the trim is VERY easy to kink at this particular spot when trying to marry it up with that lower corner piece. Be CAREFUL. This kink is why I have the replacement piece...
You can see in the above pics how even my original replacement piece will have to be jimmied down a bit to mate to that corner... I think (but no experience) it might be better to get that problem area pushed into the corner piece, lay the trim down across the car and work the straight piece down the split into its corner. But, I could be off base a bunch.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; May 10, 2018 at 10:34 AM.
Just be careful for this particular issue....the trim is VERY easy to kink at this particular spot when trying to marry it up with that lower corner piece. Be CAREFUL. This kink is why I have the replacement piece...
You can see in the above pics how even my original replacement piece will have to be jimmied down a bit to mate to that corner... I think (but no experience) it might be better to get that problem area pushed into the corner piece, lay the trim down across the car and work the straight piece down the split into its corner. But, I could be off base a bunch.
Do you still have the damaged piece? That can be fixed I believe.....
Definitely worth a trial fit. When I put mine on stuff looked wacky and "no way is that going to work". But once the glass was installed and things brought up to height stuff started laying down.
My trim was treated very badly over the years. Dents, reverse dents, heaved up sections, twists and mild kinks. They went to Paragon---and even they thought a couple pieces were beyond repair. However they cherried them out and went on with good results. I wonder if they have molds or templates they shape to?
Some things to keep in mind-----the taller Keen clips help (can be used selectively), you can backup a clip with a wedge to get a tighter hold, I've heard good results with using the Keen reproduction sets, I used the rubber from LICS with good luck as well as others. But for all I know it might be the same rubber supplied to all the other venders.
At any rate it might be worth seeking out a (trusted) mid year specializing installer to put the glass/trim in. He might also be able to look at your trim right now and give you his take on it.
Split window trim?
