When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Let me start of with yes, I searched. Everything I found was 50/50 answers. So essentially I am doing a full 99 conversion. I welded up the R1 spoiler holes and did my damndest to try and rattle can it to look good. I followed body shop procedures and Duplicolor perfect match directions perfectly but it just didn’t end up being good enough for me. I knew in the back of my mind it wasn’t going to be good, but I had to atleast try. So now I’m looking at painting my hatch.
I tried the self painting deal to try and avoid removing the glass. As it is now almost 30 years old, can we even buy new hatch glass? If so, where? I know I can get my hands on weatherstripping, but that leads me into my question.
In a perfect world, yes, removing the glass is the best way hands down. However in the real world, parts not easy to get and the cost of such, is it worth it to try and pull the glass? Rip out the old weatherstripping and shove new weatherstripping in? I know that’s not the correct way, but let’s be real. The only time the car will ever get wet anymore is when I wash it. I figure this would be the safest way. However, I want it to look perfect when I’m done. Can this be achieved without removing glass? Cost is no concern (pro glass removal and install) but what happens if the glass breaks?
I know this has been asked before, but mostly 10+ years ago where parts were easier to get. Any opinions on what I should do?
if your weather-strip isn't too cooked you can run a piece of string (or wire or something) between it and the body, this lets you mask it off (the line will be under the w/s)
i couldn't find any pics, although i'm not sure what you'd search for either.
in a perfect world, if the glass had never been out, i think you can just change the molding
the molding kind of clips into the glass, so if the glue isn't factory, like it won't work
From what I understand the rear hatch seal and glass is no big deal. It's basically bolted in, not bonded in like the front windshield. You may want to find a local company that does glass/windshields on cars and bring the car to get their opinion.
To answer one of your initial questions, if the glass breaks, you will be in some trouble. Like many older cars, rear hatch glass is NLA from factory and there are not really any aftermarket replacements except for maybe some non-glass options. In the past, we have brought in a full hatch from a JDM car just to replace the rear glass.
At our shop, we usually leave it to our professional glass guys. Mostly because we don't want the liability. If you want it to be perfect (different that "look perfect"), the glass will have to come out.
Good luck!
Oh, I forgot! The rear hatch glass is NLA but the trim is still available from Mazda when I ordered it last (which was yesterday).
To answer one of your initial questions, if the glass breaks, you will be in some trouble. Like many older cars, rear hatch glass is NLA from factory and there are not really any aftermarket replacements except for maybe some non-glass options. In the past, we have brought in a full hatch from a JDM car just to replace the rear glass.
At our shop, we usually leave it to our professional glass guys. Mostly because we don't want the liability. If you want it to be perfect (different that "look perfect"), the glass will have to come out.
Good luck!
Oh, I forgot! The rear hatch glass is NLA but the trim is still available from Mazda when I ordered it last (which was yesterday).
Would you happen to have any rear hatches with glass laying around somewhere? Preferably without rear windshield wiper?
To answer one of your initial questions, if the glass breaks, you will be in some trouble. Like many older cars, rear hatch glass is NLA from factory and there are not really any aftermarket replacements except for maybe some non-glass options. In the past, we have brought in a full hatch from a JDM car just to replace the rear glass.
At our shop, we usually leave it to our professional glass guys. Mostly because we don't want the liability. If you want it to be perfect (different that "look perfect"), the glass will have to come out.
Good luck!
Oh, I forgot! The rear hatch glass is NLA but the trim is still available from Mazda when I ordered it last (which was yesterday).
Are you removing the glass or just stuffing the new one in?
Would you happen to have any rear hatches with glass laying around somewhere? Preferably without rear windshield wiper?
I *might* have one? I have to look and then I have to make sure it's not for a car that we have waiting.
The parts importers, at least the ones down here in SoCal, are starting to bring more over because they do sell... not sure how much they are going for though.
Last edited by KoalaFD; Oct 21, 2021 at 01:16 AM.
Reason: forgot quote
Are you removing the glass or just stuffing the new one in?
Depends on the situation.
For our current project FD, we were planning on putting a spoiler on the hatch so to preserve the OEM-no-holes-drilled spoiler-less hatch for one of our other builds, we got a JDM one to replace it. We did remove the lining and the glass from this replacement hatch so that we could completely refinish it - it was originally blue and didn't match the silver car it was going onto. After it was painted, we put the glass back on. It was encouraging to know that we had a replacement just in case the most horrible thing happened.
I had a friend asking about this glass a couple years back. If we were just replacing the glass, I'd have it removed and transplanted on there.
Depends on the situation.
For our current project FD, we were planning on putting a spoiler on the hatch so to preserve the OEM-no-holes-drilled spoiler-less hatch for one of our other builds, we got a JDM one to replace it. We did remove the lining and the glass from this replacement hatch so that we could completely refinish it - it was originally blue and didn't match the silver car it was going onto. After it was painted, we put the glass back on. It was encouraging to know that we had a replacement just in case the most horrible thing happened.
I had a friend asking about this glass a couple years back. If we were just replacing the glass, I'd have it removed and transplanted on there.
So let’s say your me. You’ve done this before and I have not. I’m basically repainting a black hatch black. Would you just pull the weatherstripping and then stuff a new one in?
I *might* have one? I have to look and then I have to make sure it's not for a car that we have waiting.
The parts importers, at least the ones down here in SoCal, are starting to bring more over because they do sell... not sure how much they are going for though.
You sir just let me know so i don't have to drill holes in my hatch
So let’s say your me. You’ve done this before and I have not. I’m basically repainting a black hatch black. Would you just pull the weatherstripping and then stuff a new one in?
Just pull it and paint it. If for some reason the a new OEM seal won't go back in, any good body shop has lots of types of Moldings available that will look the same but may attach slightly differently.
So let’s say your me. You’ve done this before and I have not. I’m basically repainting a black hatch black. Would you just pull the weatherstripping and then stuff a new one in?
If we were painting your car here and from the limited knowledge I have about you from your post, I would pull the glass. This is because you said that you would want it to look perfect and the only way that we give it the 100% effort is to remove the glass and paint everything. After paint, I would put new OEM molding in.
