Windshield / Rear glass trim clips.

[tinpusher]

Howdy,

Getting closer to completion and about to call the glass guy to replace my truck glass and do my TA at the same time. I will be using the original trim and need a recommendation on plastic or metal clips. I know the plastic get brittle over the years, but the car is garaged. I have read the metal scratch the paint (fresh) and could cause a rust issue down the line…
Any recommendations on clip brands / distributor?

[Wallington]

Original is metal and will last, paint is poor quality and thin if it scratches off down to metal simply installing a clip which can be done carefully. If trim is original it suits metal clips best. The reproduction trim, which I haven't used, can use both but some of the horrible curves need the plastic clips. So a handful of both can be of use, or at least a few plastic thrown in if there's a problem area, but that's generally only for the repro trim. I've bought more metal clips for spares, blackened and plated, but haven't reinstalled since. Even GM replaced some of their original metal range with the nylon alternative in later years, probably cost less.

[sreta]

My car came from factory with metal clips on the rear and plastic clips on the front windshield. Some of the metal clips are still like new, some are totally rusted. I broke a couple of plastic clips, the rest is still good.

[roadking77]

The clips make very little contact with the paint, there should not be an issue with damage. The metal ones are much better than the plastic. The repro clips I have found are mostly all junk! I think I finally ended up with ones I bought from firebird central that were ok. I went through a dozen before I found some that would lock the trim into place. Another thing to keep in mind is the elevation of the glass relevant to the body.

[Gene-73]

When I installed my trim with new metal clips they were really tight and also worried about the paint getting scratched, so I used an erasure shield between the clip and the paint. An erasure shield is basically a very thin piece of metal.

[tinpusher]

Thanks for the tips, tricks and input….. finally getting close to completion.

[Wallington]

Get some of the anti rattle clips too, of your original plastic insert strip is gone. Can be used over clips or next to, keeping a gap between paint and trim.

[tinpusher]

Wallington,

Do you have a pic or a name of a distributor that sells them? I googled it but didn’t find anything for a second gen.

[Wallington]

Ok after 20min I haven't found a single one. Every time I search ebay for Firebird parts they pop-up and I've done posts before with them, pre-crash probably although search on here never works. I think the seller was Grandpa's Swapmeet or similar, sold all sorts of clips and screws. They are bright blue.

Think it was this guy, ads don't come up, there were many. Possibly just ended and hasn't relisted, been on there for years though including only a week back.

https://www.ebay.com/str/bilcam2010

Anti rattle clip windscreen trim 2 by Ben, on Flickr

Anti rattle clip windscreen trim 1 by Ben, on Flickr

They are a variation of the original black insert strip used by GM.

NOS GM 9738211 9738210 rear window trims 75-81 with plastic inserts (2) by Ben, on Flickr

And a very expensive version with poor photo. The GM strip is often 1/2 to 3/4 the length of trim, easy to cut to smaller sections if you had any on a piece.

https://fbodywarehouse.com/store/1970-1981-camaro-trans-am-frotn-window-trim-gasket-sliders-new.html

[tinpusher]

Very interesting, I don’t recall ever seeing those before.

[Wallington]

There were a few guys in the previous thread that were going to get some, or already had. I wonder if they ever did.