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Hello @all!
I‘m Wolf from Germany, so please excuse my english.
I‘m restoring a ‘72, 454 in Elkhart green and dksaddle Interieur. It‘s a dreamcar for me since I was a little kid. A few years ago, in 2016, I for the chance to buy a C3 in Phoenix AZ.
I took the chance, bought it and shipped it to germany. After a frame off restoration, and nearly nut and bolt resto, meanwhile I‘m in the way to finish the Job.
Currently, I‘m rebuilding the Interieur, here I want to reuse some of the original parts.
And here comes my question.
Yesterday, I‘ve reinstalled the moldings around the rear window. My problem is, the parts do not fit. There are but gaps between them, it seems they shrink.
The car itself was found by the preowner on a junkyard, where it baked in the sun for unknown couple of years...
Is there someone else here, who has this problems?
I‚ve uploaded some fotos, maybe it explains the issues.
Regards
Wolf
Your rear window lower trim molding is similar to mine, same color, same problem, although mine is a bit better. My original molding was broken, so I bought another original from a forum member. It's a neat-perfect piece, yet it has the same problem.
Considering the age of these cars, some of which have been inoperative for extended periods, some issues are to be expected. I plan to remove my lower molding, set it on a flat surface, see if it will flatten out. If successful, then the ends could be elevated while placing a slight weight in the middle area, not too much, don't want to break it, (this process could take a month or more??) Hopefully, a slight curve can be achieved so it'll match the curvature of the car. I thought about using a heat gun, but decided against it.
Regarding the rear overhead-to-side panel gap, you might consider removing both the overhead panels, also side panels. They possibly could've shrunk? Doubtful. Those rear overhead panels are stout. While you're in there, check for missing u-nuts also replace any missing screws with correct fasteners, The original mounting holes will be a key factor in determining the solutions.
The piece under the rear window is a bit 'short' for almost every C3 coupe that I have seen. Yours looks to have an outward bend in it, or maybe the screw holes are off location a bit, putting it in a bind.
The top and side panels usually fit together well. I suspect that the side panels might be misaligned. If you have new T-top weatherstrips and they are a bit thick or have not been properly compressed, the tops might sit a bit high. But, to answer your question, "No" this is not considered a normal fit for these parts.
Wolf
Welcome to the Forum. I have a 73 with the fiberglass hardtop that came from the factory. The inside of the hardtop has the infamous “egg crate material” covered with 37 year old vinyl. I have had good luck heating the vinyl with a professional hater gun (around 700 F), moving the gun constantly. I think a lower heat setting may help you straighten out the rear window piece. Start with the lowest heat setting and see how the plastic reacts. My car is a convertible, and I think the “B Pillars” (behind the seat covering the shoulder harness) are made out of fiberglass. I would not recommend using a heat gun if you feel the trim is fiberglass, and not plastic. Good Luck and enjoy your hobby. Your English is very good, 1000 times better than my German.
Do interieur parts shrink??
