Window door trim FIT questions...

[2FAST4U]

Guys, while I was in vacation in Florida, I met a gentleman with a black T-Bird at a Friday night car gathering and he had some of these door top trim pieces sold by "Thunderbird Concepts" on his car. Although they were nice, it seemed to me that half of them were glued over the original window rubber moulding and the other half was glued to the door itself. Is this normal or were they installed wrong ?...Also, the trim pieces appeared very flat and were not following the car's original moulding's rounded shape...
I might order a set for my car, but I'm a little hesitant because of the above questions...Is there anyone who knows about this?
Thanks,
Claude.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTALLATION VIDEO

I PUT MINE ON WRONG!
I put mine between the black rubber and the door edge, it seemed the natural place for it and was just the right width..It looks fine with the hardtop on but with it off the door pc is lower than the hardtop protedtion trim from them and it also is a lot wider than those pcs.

[VABird05]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Haven't installed mine yet (no excuse), but now I'm waiting for warmer weather. I believe I read somewhere that it should be above 70 degrees for the glue to adhere right. The video made it look easy. If she can do it, guess I can, too.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

CLICK HERE TO VIEW INSTALLATION VIDEO
I PUT MINE ON WRONG!
I put mine between the black rubber and the door edge, it seemed the natural place for it and was just the right width..It looks fine with the hardtop on but with it off the door pc is lower than the hardtop protedtion trim from them and it also is a lot wider than those pcs.

John, that's a clever alternative! ... Would you happen to have some pictures showing how it looks installed that way ?...Thanks!
Claude.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

The video made it look easy. If she can do it, guess I can, too.

mmmm...yeah...TOO easy!...These videos always make installing look easy. I guess they don't want to discourage some potential customers from buying from them... But I'm still wondering WHERE should they be installed...UNDER the original rubber moulding (like "JAB02LHS" did)?... or ON TOP of it (like in the video)?... or in between, half of it on the rubber moulding and the other half on the door itself (like the ones I've seen in Florida) ??
It seems to me that the last method I just described above (half and half) leaves a gap under the moulding for dust to collect...I dunno......and the way John ("JAB02LHS") put them on appears to be the most logical choice for the best possible fit, even though that's not what they show in the video...One last thing...did any of you had to sand the edges to make them smooth or if they were ok from the factory?
thanks,
Claude.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I put mine on just as in the pictures on TB Concepts. Directly over the lower portion of the rubber. There are two levels to the rubber. I did not cover the rubber closest to the window. It fits on there very well and does not extend onto the paint whatsoever. I did not sand the edges but I did round the point near the door handle down a little. I am very happy with the way it looks. Not 100% satisfied with the fit on edge closest to door handle but satisfied enough to leave it alone and happy with the appearance it makes.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I put mine on just as in the pictures on TB Concepts. Directly over the lower portion of the rubber. There are two levels to the rubber. I did not cover the rubber closest to the window. It fits on there very well and does not extend onto the paint whatsoever. I did not sand the edges but I did round the point near the door handle down a little. I am very happy with the way it looks. Not 100% satisfied with the fit on edge closest to door handle but satisfied enough to leave it alone and happy with the appearance it makes.

Nick, thanks for your reply...Tell me, does the moulding have a little curve in it to follow the one in the rubber moulding it goes on to?...or is it flat?...Seems to me that if the trim piece is flat, it won't "sit" right on the rubber!...right or wrong?
Thank you,
Claude.

[rerdmann17]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I had the same questions. I emailed Aaron several times with what I thought was a perfect answer. If the width was cut to 1/2" it would fit on the rubber molding and match up with the Top molding for the hardtop. I saw the same problem because the rubber molding curves down and the chrome trim doesn't. Also because it does not curve there is a sharp edge.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

John, that's a clever alternative! ... Would you happen to have some pictures showing how it looks installed that way ?...Thanks!
Claude.

As you can see in the second pic it fits perfectly on the paint between the rubber and the angle on the door. Maybe if I had the top off when I installed them I would have realized the miss match with the trunk pcs and rethought my install.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Claude,
It is definately a flat piece. It has no curve to it. I just went out and looked at it carefully to refresh my mind. There is no gap between the rubber and the metal piece. I felt as if I could put my finger nail under it but it was actually going under the rubber. It fits perfectly onto that rubber section with no overlap onto the door. Left to right it buts up against the rear view mirror to the edge of the door. The only poor spot, as I said, is the point at the edge of the door that needs to be addressed. I filed my point down just a bit. But I would still consider it a rag or even a hand problem.
I will try to take pictures tonight when home and post.

[VABird05]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

As you can see in the second pic it fits perfectly on the paint between the rubber and the angle on the door. Maybe if I had the top off when I installed them I would have realized the miss match with the trunk pcs and rethought my install.

Now I'm totally confused, too. John, it looks like you installed it right, and in the same place as in the video. I'm anxious to see the difference in Nicky's photos.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Now I'm totally confused, too. John, it looks like you installed it right, and in the same place as in the video. I'm anxious to see the difference in Nicky's photos.

-Marilyn, I understand what John means when he says that he installed his "WRONG"...He put them ON THE DOOR'S painted surface and NOT on top of the rubber moulding where they're supposed to be, creating a misalignment with the hardtop protective strips on top of the rear fenders which isn't noticeable when the hardtop is on the car but is clearly evident without it. By the way, thank you John for posting these pictures to clarify...

Thanks,
Claude

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Claude,
It fits perfectly onto that rubber section with no overlap onto the door.
I will try to take pictures tonight when home and post.

It's strange that you say that because just by looking at them, they appear to be too wide for that first "edge" or "groove" molded into the rubber...Am I right, or is it just me?...

As for pictures, YES, they would definitely help me in making up my mind!...
Thanks,

Claude.

[Leroy]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I don't have these stick on things on my car, but I would think that the hard top protective pieces shold line up with the door pieces to look right when the hard top is off. Leroy

[rerdmann17]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Aaron, where are you? I questioned this after I received the top door trim. I sent pictures with 1/2" trim applied not 3/4". It just is to wide and does not have the proper bend to meet the rubber molding bend. Looks like a possible trim adjustment to manufacture size should be done. Hey, I still think this can be fixed. How about you?