quarter window craziness on a 73 se

[AmadeusCharger500]

I'm working my way all around this car and finally getting to the roof area. The area around the quarter window is just a mess with filler. Is any of this from the factory?

[AmadeusCharger500]

It looks like this had a vinyl top on it.

[AmadeusCharger500]

The molding around the window area does not appear to be easily removed. Does anyone know what this material is and how to restore in a way that looks good?

[AmadeusCharger500]

Guess it just takes some guts.

[AmadeusCharger500]

This was definitely necessary.

[AmadeusCharger500]

Anyone know if these are obtainable as reproduction or used?

[JB400]

Looks like you have quite a project.  I'm sure you can get used one's.

[AmadeusCharger500]

yes it is...So far the floor, both quarters, K-frame, leaf spring mounts, back trunk panel, both doors rot at bottom all have new metal....and now roof rot is being addressed. Its pretty much a swamp creature.

Not found any of those filler structures on ebay. Not sure how to find them. Anyone know a key word search that could be helpful?

[lisiecki1]

Just curious, what's wrong with the ones you're removing?

[AmadeusCharger500]

Well I gotta admit I messed them up pretty good trying to find the edges of them. I think I sanded off about an 1/8 inch of the fiberglass thinking it was part of the filler around the whole piece. You do bring up a good point. I might end up reusing them.

If anyone has a story on how these were installed at the factory I'd love to know, since the amount of filler around them seemed excessive as I was taking it off. I wasnt sure if someone had done some repair work around them as well as the factory bondo.

[Indygenerallee]

I would put regular 1/4 glass in it and get rid of those opera windows. You can get the the full quarter windows that you could roll down or just stationary. looks better IMO.

[AmadeusCharger500]

that thought did cross my mind

[lisiecki1]

I always wanted to do the standard quarter windows with the opera windows.  I thought it'd be kinda cool to have the opera's with roll-down glass.

If you decide to ditch that stuff, look me up.

[AmadeusCharger500]

Hey thats a great idea...have you seen that done before?

[lisiecki1]

No.  That's kinda what's drawing me to it.  Just something a little different.

[ACUDANUT]

 The problem is when the Factory messed up a good thing.  The 71-72's were perfect from the get go. 

[Dino]

Well I gotta admit I messed them up pretty good trying to find the edges of them. I think I sanded off about an 1/8 inch of the fiberglass thinking it was part of the filler around the whole piece. You do bring up a good point. I might end up reusing them.

If anyone has a story on how these were installed at the factory I'd love to know, since the amount of filler around them seemed excessive as I was taking it off. I wasnt sure if someone had done some repair work around them as well as the factory bondo.

Doesn't matter that you took off too much.  When you're ready to reinstall just stick it back in with fiberglass and fill the seams with more of it.  Then finish off with filler and primer and you're all set.

[Nacho-RT74]

Vinyl goes over the body filler plug, THEN the louvers go over the vinyl, so you don't have to worry about the sanded up body filer plug. Just refill it again like factory did.

Then clean up the paint over the louvers to get back the vinyl pattern, and match with top.

That's if you are gona add the vinyl top like SEs were originally.

[Nacho-RT74]

but if you wanna replace them, just used... they are not being reproed, and honestly don't think ever will.

[Nacho-RT74]

The problem is when the Factory messed up a good thing.  The 71-72's were perfect from the get go. 

[AmadeusCharger500]

Ah yes Nacho, you make another good point. I was not planning on putting the vinyl top back on. I didn't realize the vinyl went overlapping this filler part.

Explain furthur please about cleaning up paint over the louvers to get the vinyl pattern. I'm really not sure how to do the louvers.

[Indygenerallee]

I have see louvers on 73-74's that they smoothed and filled in where they did not have to have a vinyl top on the car and it actually looked good that way but in the end that is alot of filler that can crack out in the future around the main plug and then the smaller louver section.

[bordin34]

This is the best picture I have of my old 74 with the vinyl top ad filler removed.