77 280z Front Window Trim Installation

[Brubaker]

I installed the weatherstrip around my new windshield. The weatherstrip was from Black Dragon and not perfect. The top left quarter had a squiggle in the rubber. The trim I got from Courtesy Nissan. My window was a hack job by the po using silicone caulk. Besides looking like crap it leaks.

Installing the trim pieces was not to bad. I started with the left then right then top. I put the trim in the outside lip and using my thumb rolled the inside lip over the trim piece. The corners were tough but I heated them with a hair dryer and it went in ok. I did not use any sealant for the weatherstripping or trim. The left and right pieces overlapped in the center by 5/8 of an inch. I debated cutting this off but decided to just overlap them thinking I may bend the trim. I put the finishing small trim pieces in, again with no sealant.

I could not get the lower corners to push tight up against the trip. Here are some pics.

The second two are the lower corners. Some questions. Is there a solution for the corners? Is installing this without any sealant ok? Would a window installer really have done this for $50 total?

Thanks.

[Captain Obvious]

I'm missing that chrome trim strip completely. Car came to me that way. Can you put it in after the window has been installed, or does it have to go in before you place the window into the frame? (I, thankfully, know nothing about glass.)

Also, if you don't mind... What did you pay for the entire chrome trim? I don't particularly love the strip, but it looks goofy without it. I would have preferred a window seal that had no groove for the strip at all.

[SteveJ]

I have seen the chrome trim from time to time on eBay. I can't remember what I paid for my set, though. It's on the shelf of parts waiting for the day...

By the way, Black Dragon Auto has the front & back chrome.

Edited January 9, 2012 by SteveJ

[Brubaker]

Black Dragon was actually more than Courtesy. I paid $85. I have seen them on ebay for as low as $40 after I already bought it. I have read people advise doing the trim before you put in the window as it is easier. Since your window is in, I certainly would leave it in and work with it. Working the rubber lip over the trim was not hard but it takes time and will result in thumb blisters. I tried the green tool that you see in the pic, but I couldn't get it to work for me. I only used the hair dryer on the corner trim pieces. I am hoping the gap I am asking about goes away once installed but I doubt it. I guess I will be left with blending in a bead of black silicone to seal it in the corners. The next thing is the rope trick after I get the original out and clean out the caulk.

[Captain Obvious]

Thanks for the info guys.

Brubaker, sorry I couldn't help you with your trim question though.

[Kuro]

I have yet to tackle this job but it looks like the chrome trim has more of a bend around the corners then it needs. Do you see what I mean our am I seeing it wrong?

[Brubaker]

I saw that and don't know about trying to bend them out. I was afraid I would make it worse. It makes me wonder what has changed as these were genuine Nissan trim pieces. Is the windshield different or the weatherstrip? It only set me back an hour putting the pieces in but my thumbs are still sore. I may try bending them before I finalize or get an installer to put the windshield in.

[Kuro]

Let us know what happened, I'm curious..

[Brubaker]

I wedged playing cards under the inside corner of the seal and kept adding cards until it lifted the rubber over the chrome and now looks right. But that creates a separation against the glass that will need to be filled. I imagine if I fill it with black silicone, I'll be able to see it from the inside of the car. I wondering if the problem is the Black Dragon aftermarket seal. Has anyone used the aftermarket windshield weatherstripping from Black Dragon and had a similar problem? I think if I attempt to bend the chrome, I may regret it.

[Kuro]

Yeah I agree. Bending it might dent it...i would be hesitant too

[Casey_z]

Pictures of glass installed by a mobile install company.

They left the corner pieces until after the glass was in place.

Used Black Dragon Kit and works great. No sealant and no leaks.

Casey

[Brubaker]

Just curious, are you talking about the corner piece that overlaps the long trim pieces? or the lower trim that starts at the top of the windshield corner and bends around the lower corners and meets in the lower middle on the bottom? I was thinking of removing the left and right long trim pieces installing the windshield and than putting in the trim hoping that once the weatherstrip and windshield is installed the gap I am getting with the trim would go away. What did they charge to install the front and rear glass?