New to me Red * 2005 50th Anniversary Edition - question

[Debi2K5]

My car is missing the plastic guard or shield that protects the paint where the hardtop contacts the body.
Can someone please tell me the name of this part and where I can order one ?
or something else that is used as a replacement??

Thank you in advance! Debi

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Welcome to TBN, that protection was supplied with the car when new. Most never used them or when used one time was taken off and discarded. There might be a source for stainless mouldings that will do the same thing.

[SugarDaddy]

Some people use 1/2" or 5/8" wide adhesive-backed open-cell foam weatherstripping, available from your local hardware store, as protection against the hardtop rubbing on the paint. Adhere the weatherstripping to the paint surface, placed so it will be under the neoprene strip of the hardtop, when the hardtop is sitting on the car body.

The OEM clear plastic strips are not available from Ford anymore.

[clenet]

Hi Debi, Welcome to TBN. When your car was new it came with a Mylar Tape Kit part # 4W6Z-76202W30-AA. I think you can still buy them from Ford. The other way to go is to buy the Stainless Polished Chrome Hardtop Accent Trim. It will save you from replacing the tape each time you remove the hard top. They are for sale on Ebay . The Ebay part number is 182280331966. The cost is $142.49. I have them on all my Thunderbirds. It seems to make having the hard top on the car less noisy.

[Debi2K5]

Hi Debi, Welcome to TBN. When your car was new it came with a Mylar Tape Kit part # 4W6Z-76202W30-AA. I think you can still buy them from Ford. The other way to go is to buy the Stainless Polished Chrome Hardtop Accent Trim. It will save you from replacing the tape each time you remove the hard top. They are for sale on Ebay . The Ebay part number is 182280331966. The cost is $142.49. I have them on all my Thunderbirds. It seems to make having the hard top on the car less noisy.

Thank you to everyone who responded SO quickly!

clenet- Is the Chrome piece easy to install? How does it adhere?
Does it stay in place if I take the hardtop off and on numerous times?

Will it also fit on our 55, 56 and 57 Thunderbirds?

[007Cruiser]

Thank you to everyone who responded SO quickly!

clenet- Is the Chrome piece easy to install? How does it adhere?
Does it stay in place if I take the hardtop off and on numerous times?

Will it also fit on our 55, 56 and 57 Thunderbirds?

Welcome to the nest! The stainless steel is easy to apply. It comes in three pieces with 3M tape on the back. Just remove the film from the sections and press it on. The strips will stay there until you remove them. It gives a nice little accent around the convertible top well when the hardtop is off. The open cell weather strip also works well but you will need to remove and replace each time change out the hardtop. These steel pieces will not fit a 55-57.

Enjoy your new Torch Red!

[FatMan]

Welcome Debi !!
The mylar tape kit is very hard to find, I saw one on eBay for $600.00 !
I'v put the Stainless Steel trim on my 05, looks good and simple to install, the 3M tape is already in place on the three peaces. there are some sharp edges from the stamping process so be careful. Before I installed mine I used very fine sandpaper (600 or finer) to round-over the edges ( don't take much ). There is a clear protective tape on the polished surface. Be sure to test fit it first ( you know measure two or three times before pulling the tape off ) when its down its down, ain't no redo's.
Don't know about the 55-57's

[DaiUyTed]

I took my car to a detailing shop that installs XPel-type clear vinyl. They cut and shaped strips to surround the rear of the cockpit. Cheap, lasting solution.

[007Cruiser]

I took my car to a detailing shop that installs XPel-type clear vinyl. They cut and shaped strips to surround the rear of the cockpit. Cheap, lasting solution.

Another excellent alternative.

[428PI]

Or, just make sure it's clean when installing the hardtop and don't worry about the paint. Put something on the paint when it's so marked up it's embarrassing. Don't make a mountain out of a mole hole.

[Quickdraw]

Here is the Xpel solution.... $39... its the last item on this page:
https://www.xpel.com/paint-protectio...erbird/Premium

It says its for convertible tops but its really for hardtops....

[Debi2K5]

Thank you to everyone who has responded. I will most likely order the "Stainless Polished Chrome Hardtop Accent Trim. It will save you from replacing the tape each time you remove the hard top. They are for sale on Ebay . The Ebay part number is 182280331966. The cost is $142.49." that clenet so kindly recommended.

[007Cruiser]

The Xpel also remains on the car when your top is off.

[Quickdraw]

The Xpel also remains on the car when your top is off.

Right, The Xpel is very similar to the original Ford supplied strips and the clear plastic strips aren't very noticeable with the top off. I have had mine on for three years now and just wipe the strips with a damp rag before putting the hardtop on each time.

[Frank Dreano]

I used the stainless steel strips with the 3M adhesive backing - be REAL careful of the long center piece as its flimsy...if you don't keep it flat when you are moving it onto the car's rear it can kink. Lay it on the rear deck and secure it with some blue painter's quick release tape in the middle and in a couple other places then working from the ends pull the blue backing off the bottom of the piece until you get to one of the painter's tape strips, remove the tape and keep on going....do the same thing from the other end...then press down all along the piece.

Very easy.