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rear window molding clips

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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 07:52 PM
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From: clinton township michigan
Default rear window molding clips

Hey guys and girls:
Had my 1980 painted and removed the rear molding from around the glass>> Broke some clips taking it off and got the replacement parts
now and am trying to install the clips.Question? Does the window have to be removed to install these bad boys???
Thanks for any advise!!
Jim
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 09:00 PM
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Hi Guys,

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I'm going to post some pics of where these clips mount (when you have removed the trim around the rear window of an '80)

Here's some views of what Jim's talking about. He's got new replacement clips from Wilcox (via Corvette America).

The "Hello Yellow" repaint is just stunning...check the first pic out...but I digress.

Here ya' go:

The 2nd pic is one of those replacement clips that he muscled in with a lot of effort. The "nose" of these clips slide into a hole in the body when you exert a lot pressure. They're plastic and I broke one already trying to jam it in. The holes for these clips are down below the glass level in the "gutter".

You can see these holes in the 3rd pic. The 4th pic is a closeup.

Short of removing the glass by a glass company, has anybody got an approach/trick/s to installing replacement clips WITH the glass in place.

"We're all ears" as Ross Perot says

Appreciate any and all feedback on this.

Regards,

Jim
In God We Trust!



Jim
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 09:19 PM
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I've done this job without removing the glass but it is a real pain. You can use dull side cutters or small needle nose pliers to push the pins inward.. (you grab them by the side) But if you squash the pin the slightest it will make it very hard to get in the hole. The other fear would be scratching the paint and/or scratching the glass.

The clips were designed to be installed with the rear glass out of the car and it is not hard to remove this glass but not something I would relish doing with new paint either.
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 09:54 PM
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Thanks Wilcox. So, it's one of muscle/finesse and cross your fingers you don't scratch paint and or glass.

Think we'll try that needle nose approach and see if we'll get lucky.

Any others out here who can share their experience doing this?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 08:25 AM
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I have the same situation with my 80 except that I don't have new paint, or any for that matter. I called a glass company to get my front window out, and because I broke some of the clips on the rear as you did, I asked them about getting the rear window out. I could see that getting new clips in was going to be a PITA with it in there. They said they could do it, but if it breaks a replacement window is $1,400! Granted, it's unlikely that they will break it because it's not as fragile as the front window, but that's a lot of $$ if something bad happens.

I'd take my chances with the glass in....... Paint can be fixed relatively inexpensively compared to that window. Keep us posted on what works well getting those in!

Greg
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 05:39 PM
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SUCCESS! I'll let the OP post up exactly how he managed to get those clips in but they are all in and none got broken...without removing the glass.

I took some pics of the finished effort. I know he spent a good hour and a half getting them in. Was a real pain in the a**!!

Here ya go:

Jim
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 08:49 PM
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Default rear molding clips

Well I took a look at the problem and figured it was space issue and i decided to cut as close to the glass as possible and remove all the old butyl caulk . each clip was a little different and I had to trim some of the plastic that goes into the hole away.. No trouble with paint and all went well. thanks to my Great nieghbor Jim Karam Rush65 for allways getting dirty and helping with projects..

Thanks for the help
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Old Jul 27, 2012 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 6T5RUSH
Thanks Wilcox. So, it's one of muscle/finesse and cross your fingers you don't scratch paint and or glass.

Think we'll try that needle nose approach and see if we'll get lucky.

Any others out here who can share their experience doing this?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
No problem.. and yes without the glass out it is a capital PITA..
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