C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Windshield trim gap?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 23, 2010 | 02:28 PM
  #1  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default Windshield trim gap?

I have a gap on the windshield trim (outer) at the top, on the passenger side, about 1/2"
Is there supposed to be any gap, if not, how do I go about fixing it?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2010 | 02:35 PM
  #2  
BBCorv70's Avatar
BBCorv70
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Default

Originally Posted by moonsteel
I have a gap on the windshield trim (outer) at the top, on the passenger side, about 1/2"
Is there supposed to be any gap, if not, how do I go about fixing it?
Doesn't sound normal. Can you post a photo of the problem?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2010 | 03:58 PM
  #3  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi ms,
I agree with bb that some pictures would help.
The trim was tight against the glass originally.
The new glass needs to be the proper thickness (SOME replacement glass is thinner), the glass needs to be spaced away from the windshield frame the proper amount, and the trim and clips must be in good shape so the trim goes on properly.
As you can see a LOT of things need to be done properly to get a nice tight fit.
Pictures?
Regards,
Alan

Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:29 AM
  #4  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:31 AM
  #5  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

It's a sunny day, any other pics you think would be helpful??
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:37 AM
  #6  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

How much room do you have on the driver side? If you remove the side trim and then the top trim you may be able to move the molding over enough to hide this.

Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jul 24, 2010 at 10:41 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:55 AM
  #7  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

I'll have a look.
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 12:30 PM
  #8  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi m,
It looks to me like the rear tabs on the long thin piece of SS trim aren't slid down into the trim clips properly, which has put a severe bend in the long piece of trim.
The ends of the long piece needs to be able to slide UNDER the SS trim on the a-pillar
Compare it's shape to the same piece in my picture.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 05:40 PM
  #9  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default


[IMG=http://a.imageshack.us/img135/2509/img0516y.jpg][/IMG]


Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 05:51 PM
  #10  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

the molding is just not centered on the frame, needs to be moved to the pass side.
Repair could get involved, maybe find a better one, good project if you don't drive in the winter.
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 06:23 PM
  #11  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi,
I agree that the ss strip needs to be slid to the right side but the tabs on the back of the piece are in FRONT of the clips not IN the clips. That's caused the gap between the large SS header trim and the long SS trim. It only needs to go back about 1/8", but that will allow it to fit normally.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 07:15 PM
  #12  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

Alan, Noonie and Moon...

I copied his top picture and blew it up.. if you do this and look real close there is only about 1/8" of the molding under the driver side. I don't think he's going to have room to slide it over. It does look like the molding is not on the header clips, but it also appears as if someone may have cut the passenger side of the molding off. No telling for sure as both you know.

The upper windshield molding has tabs on it to retain in the clip and I wonder if these tabs are not bent. Either way, the top molding should butt up pretty close to the upper top molding and you should not have that huge gap in there.

My advice would be to remove the pillar side moldings, and the header and see what's going on. To slide the upper molding over you need to remove the side pillars anyway and once you have them off the upper can be pulled off and repositioned easily if needed.

The uppers can be found used in decent condition
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2010 | 07:24 PM
  #13  
noonie's Avatar
noonie
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Default

To me, it looks like it's held on with double sided tape.
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2010 | 10:17 AM
  #14  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

I popped the top trim piece off and moved it over towards the passenger side.
It's not a perfect fit, but it's much better than it was before.

Do I bend the tabs to get it to fit closer to the t-top moldings?
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2010 | 11:33 AM
  #15  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi MS,
As I posted, you need to make sure the tabs are going IN the clips not IN FRONT of them.
If the tabs are in front of the clips it causes the gap between the front of the header ss trim and the back of the long thin ss trim piece.
It's very hard to see were the tabs are going if there is a lot of gunk and sealer around the clips.
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 10:31 AM
  #16  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

I did make sure they were in the clips.
Can the clips be moved backwards at all?
If not, do I just fill that gap with RTV, or is there are more elegant solution?
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 04:36 PM
  #17  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi MS,
There should be very little gap. Maybe 1/64".
St. Louis used a silver colored 'caulk' in the gap. It went on quite soft, almost like a thick liquid and set up quite hard.
I used Squibbles 3d fabric paint from the craft's store. It comes in a small soft plastic bottle with a fine tipped nozzle that lets you squeeze it out in a fine bead. I put a bead in place and then smoothed it with my finger like you do with bathtub caulk. I used Iridescent Silver.
Regards,
Alan

Reply
Old Jul 27, 2010 | 10:08 AM
  #18  
moonsteel's Avatar
moonsteel
Thread Starter
Holley HP EFI w/TPI
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Kanata ON
Default

Thanks for the tip, I'll look at what's available and fill in the gap.
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2010 | 08:40 PM
  #19  
Timsride's Avatar
Timsride
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 860
Likes: 0
From: Stratford Ontario
Default

Nice job I really like how that finishes it off. I looked at the pic before I read Your reply and thought You had somehow set Yours beyond perfect.


Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi MS,
There should be very little gap. Maybe 1/64".
St. Louis used a silver colored 'caulk' in the gap. It went on quite soft, almost like a thick liquid and set up quite hard.
I used Squibbles 3d fabric paint from the craft's store. It comes in a small soft plastic bottle with a fine tipped nozzle that lets you squeeze it out in a fine bead. I put a bead in place and then smoothed it with my finger like you do with bathtub caulk. I used Iridescent Silver.
Regards,
Alan

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Windshield trim gap?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:01 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE