John B
Joined:
Dec 2015
New Jersey
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The rear window seal on my 88 TC is in dire need of replacement. I've call multiple shops/mobile services and no one will do just a window reseal. Does anyone know of a mobile service in the Rockaway, NJ area that would do just the rear window seal? Has to be a mobile service as the car is currently on jack stands. I even welcome links to universal window seals that would work and tackle it myself if needed. Thanks everyone
88 Turbo Coupe: Front mount intercooler, MGW short throw shifter, full coilover conversion, tubular control arms front and rear, svo front brakes, vacuum assist brake swap, manual steering swap, GT35R turbo with external gate, pimpx ecu, 60lb injectors, 3 core aluminum radiator, Boport 1.5 cam, gutted upper, corbeau fixed back seats, and the list goes on.
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BJL
Joined:
Apr 2001
Williamstown, New Jersey
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John, are you talking about the rubber trim around the window?
Does your rear window leak?
I deal with a few glass installers with my work. i can ask them about the trim. i found a new trim another member wasnt using for his 87. i got lucky finding it, i think most came with the rear glass.
Brian Larkin
88TC 330,000 miles
Slightly Modified
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John B
Joined:
Dec 2015
New Jersey
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Hey Brian! Yeah, it's the rubber trim (outer piece) that is dry rotted and crumbling. I don't believe it is leaking yet but at this point, seems to be a matter of time.
88 Turbo Coupe: Front mount intercooler, MGW short throw shifter, full coilover conversion, tubular control arms front and rear, svo front brakes, vacuum assist brake swap, manual steering swap, GT35R turbo with external gate, pimpx ecu, 60lb injectors, 3 core aluminum radiator, Boport 1.5 cam, gutted upper, corbeau fixed back seats, and the list goes on.
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If my understanding is correct, the actual seal is part of the glass or at least it came with it. This was different between the 87s and 88s. The outer moulding or trim would then "clip" into a groove in the rubber seal. Neither of those parts are available new anymore, the seal or the trim.
I seem to remember seeing a place that had an NOS trim piece but I don't remember where and I can't find it now. You might be able to find a good used one from someone parting a car but you'll have to be extremely careful removing and installing it because since it's 35 year old rubber/plastic, they're typically brittle.
The other option would be to find all the metal off an 87. You can have the glass removed, clean off the old rubber seal, install posts to clip the trim to and then have the glass glued in. This is what I did on my 88 but I prefer the look of the metal trim over the rubber.
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John B
Joined:
Dec 2015
New Jersey
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Thank you for the reply; what kind of "posts" did you install? Asking because I'm weighing all options right now. I can't believe no one has explored an universal option at this point.
88 Turbo Coupe: Front mount intercooler, MGW short throw shifter, full coilover conversion, tubular control arms front and rear, svo front brakes, vacuum assist brake swap, manual steering swap, GT35R turbo with external gate, pimpx ecu, 60lb injectors, 3 core aluminum radiator, Boport 1.5 cam, gutted upper, corbeau fixed back seats, and the list goes on.
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John B
Joined:
Dec 2015
New Jersey
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Also, is the rear glass different on the 83-86 versus the 87-88? Looking at pictures of the two and can't really tell
88 Turbo Coupe: Front mount intercooler, MGW short throw shifter, full coilover conversion, tubular control arms front and rear, svo front brakes, vacuum assist brake swap, manual steering swap, GT35R turbo with external gate, pimpx ecu, 60lb injectors, 3 core aluminum radiator, Boport 1.5 cam, gutted upper, corbeau fixed back seats, and the list goes on.
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(09-12-2024, 03:26 PM)John B Wrote: Thank you for the reply; what kind of "posts" did you install? Asking because I'm weighing all options right now. I can't believe no one has explored an universal option at this point.
So on the 87s they have a metal trim piece that covers the seal and fills in the gap between the glass and body. There are clips that hold that metal trim on and while we're talking about the clips....they aren't available anymore either. The Thunderbirds used a different clip than the other cars and with the limited production of Tbirds and for basically 1 year, no one makes replacements. So when removing the window trim it's worth the effort to be careful and save any of those clips that are still good.
The clips attach to a small post that's welded to the body, these are available. You can get weld on, rivet on or screw in posts.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123112037737
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Window-Tri...313?_ul=IL
The clip then attaches to this post and the trim to the clip. I've also see people just rivet the clip directly to the body and it works without issue.
These aren't the correct clips for our cars but I was able to use them when adding 87 trim to my 88.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040C...UTF8&psc=1
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