Need a little help here. The installed windlace is above the surface where the back glass will sit. Seems to me that you would want both surfaces to be the same to eliminate excess sealer that would lead to the stainless to sit too high. Should I trim it level?

 

No - you shouldn't have to trim the windlace.

Can you post a good pic(s) showing the windlace removed and focus on the metal piece(s) that you have the windlace attached to?

 

Do you have any recollection or photos of what things looked like before/during the disassembly process?

 

There are unique/specific formed metal pieces that screw on to the interior roof metal stuff that the windlace attaches to.

Wondering what you have.

Also.....almost looks like someone already partially trimmed your windlace....or at least the D side as it runs down towards the base of the rear glass. I'll check some originals I have here.

 

It does look like someone trimmed it. Maybe the metal trim needs adjusted down.
Dustin

 

FWIW - pic shows a "rough" dial caliper measurement of the part of the windlace that sticks up towards the inside of the rear glass when installed. At least gives you something to "compare" to. The windlace is original to a '70 Cutlass/442, etc.

 

The excess length above the pinchweld is to account for the thickness of the sealer (urethane or butyl). The sealer needs to be about 3/16" - 1/4" thick. If the sealer is too thin, there will be a gap between the glass and the stainless.

 

Thank you for the replies.
I am already looking for windlace for the passenger side of the car. Not sure how it is so much shorter than the driver side. (49” vs 53.3”)
Looks like I need to start looking for the windlace for the rear also. I don’t know if @70Post has what I need, let me know.
I will pull it off and see if there is something I can do with the formed metal pieces so it can at least be uniform.
Thank you for the sealer specs @Loaded68W34

 

Here is a picture under the headliner without getting crazy. All the metal track is in place and nothing looks out of wack.
The struggle is real…

 

Have windlace "retainer" pieces for all three body styles, metal, but am guessing here you are looking for the vinyl pieces here that clamp onto them. The desert is not kind to those types of pieces.

 

Anybody familiar with Fusick replacement windlace?

 

The original windlace has a "flexible" steel core inside the vinyl....the metal helps the windlace "grab" onto the spikes on the metal pieces that are screwed into your roof underside. Plus, the metal core stiffens the windlace and keeps it from sagging over time as well as keeping the "U" or "V" channel of the vinyl that goes over the metal strip pieces from spreading (and coming loose).

Fusick's windlace is probably made by The Parts Place. I don't know if it has the steel core running through the WHOLE LENGTH of the windlace like the original stuff does. It would suck to spend a lot of $ on a repro part and then have it start sagging or not staying in place after awhile....not saying that would happen but w/repro stuff, there always seems to be a "suprise".

To me, the full length steel core is critical. I'm looking at pics of the repro stuff and can't tell if it has the steel core in it or not.

 

....and good luck getting anyone at a repro vendor to give you a TRULY accurate description of the part. They all seem to read from the same script..."Oh yeah, it's an exact reproduction piece....it'll have everything the original does" and "Says in our catalog that it's "correct" " and "We've never had any complaints about it", etc, etc, etc.

 

Thank you all for the feedback. @442crzy is going to sell me a complete set for my car. Hopefully moving in the correct direction. Some days make me wonder.

Again, thanks to all that provided me information in this post!!

Jim.