VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 1951 3100 window trim

I'm usually pretty good at putting things back together, IF I TOOK IT APART! Starting with a project that someone else dismantled is a different matter.

The 3100 I'm working with had the stainless exterior trim on the door windows, which were removed. In trying to reinstall, I don't see how they were secured to the doors, other than friction. I know they are behind the window channel, but even that doesn't have an obvious attachment method. I find some "holes" that may have been for some type of clamp to secure the channel, but nothing is present, and not having removed, I have no idea how to secure.

I'm sure someone has removed these items and perhaps can clear up my dilemma.

Thanks for any help,

Yep - friction is about it. You'll wish that it fit looser when you start putting on the garnish. It's a bear. And the two ends will be flopping around like a mad snake.

Work from the outside. There are a couple of tabs on the bottom of the exterior trim that fit into slots in the door. I had to trim the tabs on my reproduction exterior moldings. Bend them to secure if you want. If they are missing, it's probably no big deal. The garnish slips over the lip in the window opening. The flat part at the top may/or may not be held to the door with a screw. One end fits over the other at the top. Start in one corner of the bottom and then massage and cuss it into place. A rubber hammer may help move it into final position. They will fit tight - no need to worry about them popping off. And on top of that, the door felt runs holds it in in place.

I used door window felt from the Truck Shop. It fit well and the felt wipes have the correct curve on the end. I understand that wipes from some suppliers are not curved.
> Truck Shop Door Window Felt Kit

The door window felt comes with retainer clips that screw to the door to hold the felt run inside the opening. Your door probably has holes in the window opening for the screws. I didn't understand their purpose when I installed the felt in my '54 3104. So I secured the felt with #6 X 1-5/8 Square Drive Trim Screws. I cut them to about 3/8" long and ground the point sharp. Drilled the door opening and sank the screw heads into the felt. No adhesive needed.

Here is what Brad Allen said about the clips on another forum ...
"The clips are a poor imitation of the original factory ones. Around the glass they locate around the window above the interior/exterior trim level. The original channels do have a similar metal strip spacer for alignment purposes. They are not necessary for the replacement and I discarded mine since they kept coming off. If you have access to a Master Parts Book they are section 16.200 they are called retainers and are mentioned for the 51-53 (my book only goes to 53) but not for the early years. Part numbers are #3699865 and #3699866 (page 712) of the 1929-1953 Master Parts Catalog."

More info than you requested, but it is all related.

- Lonnie

There's never too much info! Sounds like it's just a tedious job that requires patience and ingenuity. I think your "screw" approach is a good suggestion and how I will proceed.

Thanks

I have seen a few of these trims that were not screwed in but.... more often than not they are secured by 2 #6 countersunk clutch head screws.
You have to take the window felt channel out to get to them & they are usually buried under the goop that was used to secure the glass felt channel.

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