I posted this in the C1 - C2 section as well. I am hoping for an answer to this dilemna.
I had a leaking windshield on my 1965 Coupe. After removing the 37 year old rubber, caulking etc., I found two holes in the metal framing, at the bottom of the framing. I patched these areas and ground the entire area smooth, primed the entire perimeter frame and installed new clips, screws, and windshield rubber.
Now to my problem: The moulding snapped into all of the new clips just fine, but at each junction in the moulding they seem to pop back out. The header moulding at each corner moulding piece, and the left and right at the bottom center, not at the upper corner mouldings. When I push on the moulding, I can hear it snap into the clip, but it pops up a few seconds after this is done.
How do I fix this problem ?
Please help!

 

I'd love to help you, BlueShark29, but midyears aren't my area of expertise. Let's see if we can wake up one of the midyear guys by bringing this to the top. Jer? You out there??

 

Thanks Mac, for the reply. I hope to find a solution to this problem soon. I have had only one response in the C1/C2 section to cut relief slits in the part that snaps into the clips and bend the moulding slightly, as it has too much tension. I had thought of this before asking for help on the corvetteforum, but I figured that the plant workers had this problem solved, there must be another way. I am also asuming that all of that caulking that I cleaned out of the perimeter helped to glue/hold the moulding in place.

 

I believe that Mac is asking Jerry Clark in Florida for help, but I'll try anyway.

The windshield moulding wasn't intended to be retained by the bedding compound. Usually the factory clips have a death grip on the stainless.

I'm guessing that your problem is caused by reproduction parts that differ slightly from assembly line pieces. No offense intended, but it is also possible that you distorted the stainless somewhat while removing it. That happens to most of us every now and then.

What brand parts did you use for the new clips and weatherstripping? Did you save your old clips and weatherstrip for comparison?

 

Thanks for the reply JerryB,
I usually order all of the critical and/or correct type of parts from Long Island Corvette Supply. I found them to have the best quality/fit/and very close to the orignal parts that I have taken off. The windshield rubber and trim clips and screws were all ordered from them. I did compare the old to the new and could not find any real differences. Although most of the original clips were in decent condition (four were rusted too much to reuse) I decided to put all the new ones in as the new screws had the tips coated with an epoxy type material and I figured this was to help seal the holes and wanted this to be a one time operation. (Just trying to do it right the first time).
I tried to be careful while removing the trim and not bend it, but there is always that possibility that it could have gotten a little distorted from removal or when I was scraping and cleaning all of the old caulking off of them. There seemed to be a lot of caulking around the perimeter, in the moulding and the old clips were full of it. I had to clean a couple of the clips quite a bit to compare the old to the new. The caulking seemed to be of the texture of the old type of rope caulking used years ago. Maybe this was from the age or what, I do not know.
After cleaning the moulding, I checked to make sure the rolled end that snaps into the clips was in good shape so it would snap into the new clips properly, as well.
I guess I may have to remove the moulding and try to retorque it at the ends in order for it to lay down properly.
Thanks again for your comments.

 

I agree with your assessment of LICS. Their stuff generally fits and works.

I've gotten two types of '64-7 windshield moulding clips from reproduction suppliers. One design looks like the original clip in that it has only one "catch" barb to snag the stainless lip. The other design has three barbs that allow you to catch the stainless at different distances from the body surface. This second type was still sold by GM a year ago.

The rubber windshield weatherstrip that I've been getting (from LICS usually) is slightly thicker in cross-section from an original assembly line weatherstrip. You can't tell unless you cut it and compare. I've been able to use this thicker weatherstrip okay with the three barb clips. Sometimes with the single barb design I can't get the stainless to stay in position.

To me, the bedding used on the assembly line looks like a cream colored goo that has gotten hard over time. I don't think they could have gotten it in place around the glass if it was that hard in the beginning.

I'm sorry I can't recommend a specific fix. I know you're in the middle of a difficult repair and you don't want to remove the glass again.

 

BlueShark29,

When you get done with this repair, I would very much like to pick your brain on the way you did everything. I will be replacing my windshield rubber in the near future and would like all the tips and advice you could give me.

Thanks

 

Dear,
BlueShark29, I have been there done that. I would agree that there is a good chance your problem is in your clip. The OEM clip stands alone, it works the best. The after market clips are diff. in size, the barb grip is not correct and the steel does not have the proper temper. You will find this out after you install the glass and go to snap your SST trim in and one breaks or maybe two etc. Look on the back of your clip, if it says Taiwan and I,m serious, LOSE IT. If you can not find the OEM clips, Try Pacific Corvette in Puyallup Wa. They have a web site. I do belive G.M. still makes the clip. Good Luck

 

BlueShark29- Here is the link to Pacific Corvette
http://www.pacvette.com/home