Vertical Quarter Window Chrome, where to buy ? my quarter window chrome is very rusty, so i would buy repro parts OPGI, The Parts Place or Oldbuickparts have them, but at different price. Is there a difference in quality too, or can i take the cheapest ? Or there are other reasons to prefer a shop ?
I tried new quarter chromes from three different sources and discovered that these new pieces do NOT fit the curvature of the quarter glass. the arc was too long and would bind to the glass. I returned each set to the seller. I ended up having a set of original quarter chromes from a '72 Monte Carlo rechromed and the look like new and fit like a glove.. The new pieces are not as heavy a gauge as originals.
Thank you Gerry, i think i should have a closer look at my old pieces. How about the weatherstripping, there is one with steel and one without, better to buy the one with steel insert ?
As stated stay far away from the reproduction pieces, Steele Rubber has the seals with the metal insert I believe, not positive tho
Mine also came from Steele Rubber. Now, if u are talking about the window sweeps, I purchased mine from ss396.com
I am stumped why you guys got ones that did not work? Maybe they are from different source? I had pro glass company put mine on for me.
I think like many repro parts available now, there are various qualities. There are definitely show quality, triple plated, correctly curved, repro sash channels now (75.-100. pr). There are crappy repro ones (35.-65. pr), too. Same with window cranks, door jamb vents, window fuzzies, outside door handles, trunk mats, etc. Some stuff is still just plain crap. It seems like the repro places try to make it cheap, then peeps complain and they make it better. Some people are more budget conscious, and happy with the lower priced stuff. It seems there are new repros all the time, like the 2 piece front disc rotors available now. Bare in mind a lot of "NOS" stuff you buy now were rejects from the assembly line or the manufacturer. I've seen "NOS" chrome things that look like they have been under the ocean for 10 years!
Some of the repro chrome sash channels are also longer than the originals and the bottom catches on the rubber u-jamb molding lip. Some others I installed were a nightmare to get on over the edge of the glass (Parts Place).....even distorted the metal channel some while tapping them on (and using all the usual precautions - towel/piece of wood along chrome channel and not hitting the channel directly). Another repro set I "experienced" had some little "spikes" sticking out into the channel that goes over the glass edge...some leftover stuff from when they were cut and formed but those got returned since the chrome on them also had a bunch of bad spots in it (Inline Tube's version). I did put a repro on a customers Olds recently and it went on very smoothly....he got it from a Camaro-related place (or at least the label indicated the vendor had something to do relating to Camaros). I think he still has the other side in it's bag and will try to check the label next time I'm over at his place. It won't be in the next couple days but maybe later this week. This particular repro channel was also the correct length so no "u-jamb" molding interference problem. You definitely want the rubber inserts that have the steel reinforcement in them.
Thank you for all the information, i have cleaned my old chrome parts and think they are still usable for the rubber with steel insert i have found a shop here in Germany, so i can send back easy if it won't fit
When I reinstalled my quarter chromes, I used silicone instead of epoxy. That way I can remove the chromes much more easily; not so with epoxy.
