Bigmotoxer

Is there a special tool to removing those clips on the windshield and/or rain-drip trims, I need to take mine off but don't wanna break anything, these things are RIDICULOUSLY expensive to replace.
Thanks

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Do a search under member 64mgb name. I believe he was doing this awhile back. I'm not sure if he got a answer though. Are you taking them off to paint them?

Rotarywall

iTrader: (1)

Maybe wasn't the best thing to do but as for the rain drip I just pulled mine off of my 84. I grabbed the top and pulled down they didn't look like they broke and I didn't see anything drop down to the groung or go flying. I didn't try to put them back on as I was cutting the car into pieces. I still have to take apart my 85 If you don't get an answer after I take them off I will try to put them back on and let you know. As for the windshield clips I think I always break mine.

Edward

kenn_chan

pull them off as rotary well suggested. there are little plastic shims, that hold on the gutter trim, and its reuseable. to pull of the a pillar molding, you will have no choice but to replace the clips, (6total, 3/side) there is no way to get them off as they tuck up under both sides of the a pillar trim.

kenn

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Blackdragon sells the plastic tool to pop the fr moldings. DON'T LOSE THE RUBBER BITS UNDERNEATH! They are no longer available. The "clip kits" are on ebay regularly for $10. I powdercoated my moldings. Looks amazing and is a really nuke-proof finish. $$ tho. My glass shop popped all mine for free...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

adamcheese

yea i tried getitng mine off ages ago and spit the windscreen, if your bit tentitive get and windscreen guy to do it, take him 5 minutes $10 bucks

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

be VERY careful. what you are about to do is an EXTREMELY risky process and it requires MUCH patience. i personally have not had any luck removing the "gutters" mounted above the doors on any parts car. do your research before you undertake this and listen to the guys above that had posted. you will have to be VERY careful as to avoid breaking the clips or marring the moldings.

Bigmotoxer

Ok thanks guys. Yes Doc I'm taking them off to be painted and want the car to be painted while they're removed. I am not needing to do it right away just though I'd inquire about it now because it looks...um...hard.

Bigmotoxer

I seen the clips for sale in blackdragon. i think I'll order a set for when the time comes I'll have 'em.

Rogue_Wulff

Order the complete set. Even if you only wind up needing to replace a couple of the clips.
I'll be doing the same, very soon. Part of the trim was missing when I bought my car. I assume they took them off to paint the car, and didn't bother to replace the clips that were missing/broke.
Having a glass shop remove the trim is solid advice. They have lots of experience in doing this, so it's worth the $5-15 many of them will ask for.

stilettoman

iTrader: (1)

I started rebuilding wrecked RX-7s back in about 1983, and I have removed a lot of the windshield trims. I was usually able to get most of the plastic pieces off intact, but always broke one or two. In those days, when the 1st gen RX-7s were very common, the glass shops and body shops always had the clips in stock, and I think they were mostly aftermarket pieces. It does take some care, and I made my own tool for doing it. It is a bit like flying an airplane - if you know how, it is easy, and if you don't it is impossible.

The rain gutter trim is very tight, and removing it without deforming it also takes some care. If you are not used to working with sheet metal, you may not succeed. I only removed those a few times, as when I built convertible conversions or once replaced a roof panel.

If you are going to all the trouble to remove the trim, you might consider polishing it. It is all stainless steel, and once polished, will not require any further attention. The rain gutter trim can be reinstalled with judicious use of a rubber hammer. To go along with the polished look, I used early GLC door handles, which are the same as the RX-7, but chrome plated.

Rogue_Wulff

Polishing the trim works on dark colors, such as black/dark gray/darker reds.
Bright colors tend to look better with black trim.
I'm going back with black, as it will better fit with my color scheme. If you look close, in the pic of the driver side, you can see the chipped trim.

7aull

iTrader: (2)

I was freaked by the rain gutter removal and install too, especially after dropping $60 for a new set! My glass guy popped the olded faded ones off by peeling them vertically from the underside, up - if that makes sense. Didn't mare them in the least. Of course he made it look easy. NOTE the retainer clips underneath went flying EVERwhere!! To install the new, he just laid them in place with the top edge set in place and with the heel of his hand just popped them over the lip of the gutter! (after placing the clips on the gutter lip first) - again I KNOW he made it look easy
Again let me plug powdercoating. Virtually chip-proof; looks OEM; will not fade...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Bigmotoxer

Thanks guys that's good feedback. Dang what person sat down and engineered such a pain in the ***. Yeah I'll probably have the shop do the windshield and I'll go ahead and order the clips...I have a friend in S. Florida that powder-coats for a living...haven't talked to him in about a year...maybe I need to call him

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

I believe trochoid does powder coating also. I have painted the trim on the car twice so far. It is a tedious task.
1st I would mask off evryone on the car, that is what took the longest amount of time.
2nd I would take the surface back down to the stainless finish.
3rd I would clean, prep, then primer
4th i would shoot it with the Ol rattle can Trim paint that is available at the Auto parts stores.
It is amazing of the difference this will make in the appearance of the car.

But I'm with everyone else on this. If you can take it to a windshield guy and have them remove them it will make it so much easier to paint off the car. And as 7aull has stated powdercoating if the ultimate for those pieces.

Bigmotoxer

thanks