Window door trim FIT questions...

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

The following two posts have five pictures of the window trim on my car. I like it. It isn't perfect but I like the way it looks. I could find a lot of places on my car where the fit isn't perfect. It was a very simple installation.

Picture 1 - Drivers side. Fits flat on the lower section of the window seal. Upper section can be seen clearly against the window. The fit is good and no gap underneath.

Picture 2 - Drivers side above handle. Again notice the upper seal against window. The point at the bottom of the trim is sharp and I rounded it with a file. Very soft metal.

Picture 3 - A full view of the driver's side. It buts against the rear view mirror and ends at the end of the door. Again note the fit on the window seal and the rounded point. That spot where the point is has a poor fit and there is a gap underneath.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Picture 4 - The edge of the trim and how it fits against 99% of the seal. No gap.

Picture 5 - The only week spot. This is the edge on the passenger side. Note the size of the gap between the end of the trim and the door. That can do damage. Especially if you don't take off the point. I would think I could apply adhesive and clamp it down until the adhesive dried. The material will bend easily with a little pressure but the 3M tape provided does not hold it down.

Hope this helps

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Thanks a lot Nick for these detailed pictures! I think that overall, they fit pretty good...The only thing is that you're definitely going to have to do something about the one on the passenger's door because it's an "accident waiting to happen" ! Sooner or later, someone will get caught in it, ruining the moulding and possibly damaging the car or worse, injuring themself...
If I were you, I'd do either one of these two alternatives: 1˚ Call Thunderbird Concepts and explain the problem (including the pictures you just showed here!) and ask for a replacement part or, 2˚ remove the moulding with some fishing line and replace the adhesive strip (3M stuff) which is usually sold at most body shop supply stores...
Again thanks,
Claude.

[VABird05]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Those are great pictures, Nicky, and clearly show the proper installation. Thanks so much. You should send them to Aaron. There are some more pics on his site, but not as good as yours:
http://www.thunderbirdconcepts.com/topdoortrim.htm

I can't believe I've had this trim for over a year and never installed it. Guess I wasn't certain exactly where it went. I surely would have done it wrong, too, if not for this discussion. Thanks for bringing it up again, Claude.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I just placed my order!

Claude.

[Leroy]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Nick, Do you have the hard top Stainless Steel protective strips too? Do they line up with the window door trim Stainless Steel pieces at the door jam on each side? Like to see a picture of how they look with the hard top off. Leroy

[snowbird]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I just placed my order!

Claude.

So we will get to see the end results in Ottawa next month claude ?
MartinB.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

I just placed my order!

Claude.

Way to go Claude!! Glad I could help you make up your mind.

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Nick, Do you have the hard top Stainless Steel protective strips too? Do they line up with the window door trim Stainless Steel pieces at the door jam on each side? Like to see a picture of how they look with the hard top off. Leroy

No I don't Leroy. I have the clear mylar strips. If I remember right, Lee (02Leebird) has them. But he went from a Torch Red to a White and I do not remember which one he put them on.
I'm pretty sure what I am going to say is correct. The window trim has no flexibility, if you put it on where it needs to be. The new style stainless protective strips are thin and do not run up to the inside edge of the back panel. So if you put the window strips on first you can make the protective strips line up with the window strips. The new protective strips are thin. They are not the same width as the window treatment.

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

So we will get to see the end results in Ottawa next month claude ?
MartinB.

--> Martin, if I go, YES you'll se the end result! ...that's IF I receive them in time!
--> Nick, your posts and pictures definitely helped in making up my mind, I appreciate...THANKS! Also, I DO have the hardtop stainless steel protective strips ans I'll post pictures to show how everything lines up...
Claude. :sun:

[VABird05]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Claude, I have the protective strips, too, but my HT is on. From what I can tell, it looks like the bottom edge of both pieces should align.
You might want to ask the Bling King. I believe John has both.

[02LeeBird]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Hi guys, just got back from a trip and I am just catching up on the site...I put the deck strips on my red bird myself and they covered a lot of the rub marks from the hard top. I had QAA put them on the WW bird last spring and they did a great job of covering the few rub marks the WW had. I would recommend them to anyone.
As for the window trim, I have mixed feelings. I purchased them as soon as they where offered. I found two problems with them. The very sharp points which I sanded down a bit and the adhesive tape. I cleaned the rubber on both windows and installed the trim. I pressed each one and held the press for a good 30 seconds. It looked good. But when I came out the next morning the drivers side, near the door handle, had not held. A good 5 or 6 inches had pulled up. I tried several times to hold the trim down, even used another glue with a clamp. Well it finally held but the clamp left a small dent. So I am either going to have to take them both off or order a new set. After what I went through with the first set I will probably just trash them and not replace them....

[Leroy]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

If you got them from TBC just send them back under the 100%, no hassle, money back guarentee. Leroy

[02LeeBird]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

It's been about a year since I purchased them Leroy and I don't think they would take them back now.....

[2FAST4U]

Re: Window door trim FIT questions...

Got my trim pieces today and proceeded to install them this evening...I found out that for a perfect fit, the end near the rear view mirror (front of the car) has to be narrowed a bit so the trim piece lines up correctly with the outer edge of the original rubber moulding. I then stuck them on and like Lee said, it seems as if the adhesive does not stick enough......so I wedged a little block of wood between the mirror and the trim piece putting some pressure on it hoping it will help stick properly. At the other end (near the door handle), I used another thin piece of wood, and tightened a small clamp very, very lightly, just enough to put a little pressure, squeezing it down. I'll see tomorrow if everything sticks ok...Looks great though!

Claude.