Anyone ever had luck with quarter window molding covers.

[justabigkid]

Hello, I was just wondering if anyone has ever purchased the quarter window molding kits as frequently seen on ebay? If you are unfamiliar with them they are basically a molded piece of plastic that glues over your existing crappy quarter window molding.
Thanks in advance, Chris

 

[25thmustang]

DMAN has them I believe, expect a post from him soon!

 

[ebk06]

I have them but dont really like them. I think I may pull them off and restore the stock one. I believe theres a post on here on how to restore the old one to look new again. Personally I'd recommend doing that. Takes more time but its cheaper and the end product looks better IMO.

 

[rigamaroles]

Yeah, DMAN has them, and they look good on his car, but I've seen pics of others and it looked like crap. Doesnt say much, I know.

 

[NKau]

It's really not that hard to just remove the windows and correctly refurbish the mouldings. If yours are really bad, I'd suggest removing some from a junkyard car, or pick some up at a car show/swap meet to restore. They are simply held in by studs that can be accessed by removing the rear interior side panels. The weather sealer goo can also be a pain; be careful when pushing the windows out. Just take your time.

 

[pack018]

how do u restore them?

 

[DMAN302]

If yours are shot..really shot, then the covers are excellent alternative. I do use them and love them, but they take some time to fit correctly to ensure they are flush and go completely un noticed....not being noticed means they serve their purpose .
Anyhow like I said I have em and they worked well, but if yours are decent look at the Dougans racing site, they do restorations with windows you provide.

 

[NKau]

how do u restore them?

So long as the rubber isn't too corroded/pitted, just simply sand it smooth, apply a flexible primer, sand, then paint. You'll have a couple hours in removing/reinstalling the windows, and another few hours in sanding, and maybe $25 in materials to do this. I did my window trim, door mouldings and mirrors at the same time so they'd all match.

 

[Bottomlesspit]

You say if it isn't too corroded and pitted. Mine are fairly pitted, small chunks missing. In this case would I just be better off trying the covers? I'm thinking trying to fill the chunks and scratches would probably not hold up. I am just now starting to come up with a game plan to at least make the outside of this old stang look a little better. I am not going to sink a lot of money in this one...just have to keep it on the road for a few years more. All the mouldings are shot...windows, doors...all of it.
The front bumper cover looks like it was dragged down the freeway for 100 miles too. I promised my wife I wouldn't start throwing money into another mustang, but I can't resist trying to help the poor thing at least a little. I'm pretty good at refinishing things, but haven't had to work much on the exterior of these beasts.
I'm thinking about trying to paint the interior parts too. Is there a good paint that works on the plastic parts...one that won't chip off?
Sorry about all the questions...I'm just trying to get some ideas.
Ken

 

[Boss 351]

Redo the stock ones. It took me a weekend to do. I took off my rear int. plastic panels, then the 10 or so nuts holding the 1/4 windows, also was careful since the window is also held in place by urethane (or whatever it's called).

Once the windows off, I taped the glass and started to sand the rubber. It was BADLY pitted and not enough material to sand down to make it smooth. I went and got some flexible build primer, add a coat and sand a little. I did around 40 coats. Then my final coat was a semi-gloss black (try and find flexible paint, like trim paint). For added detail, also remove the trim around the roofline (on top of windows) and paint those and don't forget the mirrors, and trim around the door (also paint the black window frame. I added a new weatherstripping kit at the same time... It's night and day, I tell you and it's well worth the effort. To me adding the covers is a sort of patch.

My coupe before

and after

 

[DmnStr8]

if yours are decent look at the Dougans racing site, they do restorations with windows you provide.

At $400 a pair, I think most of us would be better off doing it ourselves.

Dugan Racing

 

[NKau]

I went and got some flexible build primer, add a coat and sand a little. I did around 40 coats. Then my final coat was a semi-gloss black (try and find flexible paint, like trim paint).

Bingo. With the flexible primer, you can actually fill in some pretty pitted stuff. Just takes time and patience. For the actual paint, I went with a semi-gloss bumper trim paint. Turned out great. I'll try to get some pics up later.

You don't have to spend much money to do this. If your mouldings, trim, or mirrors are just too nasty, that stuff is all cheaper than cheap at the junkyard.......just find something better than what you have and work with that. It's also nice to figure out how stuff comes off on a car you don't care about

 

[DRock9]

DOH!

I just tried this while the windows were ON the car the other day...I gave up because I deemed it too hard. I wish I would have known how to get them off of my car that would have made it so much easier.

 

[Aryan15]

The plastic covers I have don't fit right on the forward part by the door. The passenger side half broke off on the freeway. Im going for new windows instead.

 

[Bottomlesspit]

Well OK then...looks like I have a (another ) project lined up to do when I get some free time. Thanks for posting the pictures...they do look great. I'm sure I can do the work myself...I have tackled worse items and did a good job. You should see the 92 Baja boat I refinished...took about a year, but it came out great.
Thanks for the motivation to do the trim on the stang!
Ken

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

They look like chit! I have looked at many cars at shows with them on, and it is the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. Just pull them out, tape up the glass, sand them down, prime, and repeat about 10-20 times, or as many times until they are smooth, paint them with a flat black, and a low luster clear, and they look brand new. I did this for a friend, and they look PERFECTO!!!!

 

[Bottomlesspit]

I have added this to my gigantic growing list of things to bring this poor car back to life. The existing trim is bad enough, but it's what's under the trim that worries me. The kid that had this thing obviously used a can of spray paint to paint the car, or used the $50 Maco special. The paint is chipping, oversprayed, etc...not an even surface to have the nice mouldings sitting on.
Question: what paint did you guys use on the mirrors and door metal? Same stuff as the plastic trim?
Those pictures do look nice, and I agree about the covers..I have never liked using covers to hide things...just doesn't feel right.
You should hear me when my wife is watching one of her house decorating shows and they come out with those slip covers for the chairs...I go nuts!
Thanks for the advice.
Ken

 

[DMAN302]

They look like chit! I have looked at many cars at shows with them on, and it is the most pathetic thing I have ever seen. Just pull them out, tape up the glass, sand them down, prime, and repeat about 10-20 times, or as many times until they are smooth, paint them with a flat black, and a low luster clear, and they look brand new. I did this for a friend, and they look PERFECTO!!!!

Well I have to disagree with them looking bad, infact from every show I've attened...including the cruise nights, no one has ever noticed them. Not noticing is the ideal response you want with them, only comments are on the positive side regarding my trim condition of the vehicle. As for appearance.....

 

[25thmustang]

Yeah Dmans look good but I am sure a lot of time went into getting them perfect. I have a friend who lost one on the highway not too long ago. I redid mine, used flexible primer and paint, and sure enough they are all cracked. I heard of a guy who redoes them for $200, and I have another set, so I think I will do that!

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Well I have to disagree with them looking bad, infact from every show I've attened...including the cruise nights, no one has ever noticed them. Not noticing is the ideal response you want with them, only comments are on the positive side regarding my trim condition of the vehicle. As for appearance.....

Those looked better than the ones I have looked at, but they still stick out like a sore thumb. I would just fill them with build primer and paint them.