Hey guys -

I've torn into my car in earnest to get the paint and body a bit fresher. Car runs GREAT right now, so it's time to get it looking like it performs.

Long story short, I'm looking at removing the rear hatch to repaint it. Don't know if that's a stupid idea or not . Is re-installing the hatch a bitch to get the alignment right? Right now it fits dead accurate. If it's a simple unbolt/reattach, I'm good, but if not, I might change my mind.

Next is the weatherstripping between the hatch glass and the outside. I'm considering removing it and getting it new. That'll make the paint job much better. Is that part available from Mazda? Dug through the parts microfiche and didn't find a definitive answer.

It's kind of scary seeing the FD in parts in the garage . I'm trying to get the fenders, hood, nose, headlights all aligned dead accurate to start with (the alignment has always been a bit off) and seeing the FD in parts like that is frightening. But, it'll be DAMN sharp when it's back in action.

Thanks!
Dale

 

the hatch is just like the interior panels. they'll never fit as good as when they were installed from the factory. it's like when you pull the door panel for the first time on an untouched car (any car), it just never goes back on quite the same. It doesn't fit as tightly and is more prone to rattling etc.

just leave it alone, you can get the hatch painted with it on the car. that stuff wasn't really designed to be pulled off.

 

The weather strip should still be available I got my from ray though he dug up the part for me. To align it to be dead on, just scribe some lines near the mounting area that should make it easier to align.

 

Dale,

I would leave the glass in place, but replace the weather stripping. The weather strip can be ordered through Ray (If I remember correctly, it may have been offered on one of the more recent Malloy sales threads). I paid a local glass shop to install the weather stripping, as I didn't have the tools, or confidence, to install the weather stripping.

Good luck,

Charlie

P.S. - You coming to Seven Stock with Phil???

 

Thanks guys!

Good to know you can get that weather stripping. I have a buddy in the glass business, so getting that done should be easy.

I'm still on the fence on removing the hatch. The painting will be happening at a friend's house, and it would be much easier to throw the hatch in the back of the van and take it over there for painting. The glass is definitely staying in, though.

Charlie - not making it to Sevenstock this year, trying to pay off the last big trip I made!

Thanks,
Dale

 

I just had my car painted, so I can relate to this.

To remove the hatch you have to pull down the headliner at the rear to access the hatch bolts. To pull down the headliner you need to remove the interior trim pieces, the ones that cover the speakers. You also need to fish the electrical wires out of the hatch/hinge area.

You don't have to remove the weatherstrip around the glass unless it needs replacing. Most places "rope" the trim, meaning they lift the body side of the trim and push a small rope/string in the gap to hold it off the hatch. Then they paint under it, remove the rope, and the trim settles back down. This is what I did on mine, both on the hatch glass and the windshield.

Also, the weatherstrip that seals the hatch to the body just pulls off. Mark the rubber (with tape, etc) where it meets the centerline of the hatch so you can push it back on in the same position.

 

Years and years ago, when I got my FD back in 2000, I noticed it would accumulate water INSIDE the rear glass. So I took it to a glass shop, had the glass pulled out and found out several things, one was that the hatch glass had been broken out at least once already and an aftermarket type of weatherstrip was used. The guys at the glass shop showed my this aftermarket piece (which is what they used) and a picture of a factory piece. The factory piece was more robust looking, just a little bigger and thicker.
I plan on replacing my rear glass (I fuxored the defroster grid taking off the previous owner's shitty tint job, getting the new glass tinted and then getting the factory weatherstrip and having it all put back on.

 

Dale,

I'm guessing rear hatch is similar to front wind shield..

I was always told if you remove the weather strip around the glass, the glass needs to be removed and re-set with the strip. Otherwise, it weakens the bond and could cause the glass to come off or cause a leak.

I've had my rear hatch painted.. and glass was replaced and new seal put on.

This is what I was told.

 

^ ditto. I have talked to a quite a few body and glass shops and most said that replacing the weatherstripping with a "factory" one would require replacing the glass as well to set it right. Now, maybe they just wanted to make more $$$ ... so I dunno.

 

Dale i had my hatch & windshield glass removed and resealed today. I'd say definitely do it. When i repainted my car i cut the weather stripping flap off and left the glass in when repainting it. I'll take some pics of it for ya so it will help you decide. I also have an extra set of OEM weather stripping for the front and rear windows for sale. And no you dont have to replace the hatch glass when doing this. Now the windshield may crack when taking it out. But if you get an experienced glass guy...he'll be able to do factory looking job.

 

I am doing my car right now. I removed the hatch using the bolts on the hatch side - NOT the headliner side. Painted the inside and re-installed it. Lined up perfect. Then I removed the old weatherstrip, bought a new one from Ray ( $80 ). The shop will paint the outside of the hatch and re-install the weatherstrip. Do not have to remove the glass


later

 

wouldn't it be better to give them the car with the parts off? seems like the painting would come out even and they wouldn't miss any spots.. i never got my car painted so i dont know, Why align the parts if they would be coming off again?

 

i am an auto glass installer...i can tell you that weatherstripping around the glass actually wraps around the glass. You cant just push it in. I will take some pix today of mine. I went with a little bigger universal molding around the glass. It looks better in my opinion. And to remove the glass from the hatch isnt that hard ...just get a cold knife...
http://www.pipeknife.com/glass/coldknife.asp

 

ok who is this ray? i need weatherstripping?

 

ray crowe at malloy mazda.

1.888.533.3400

 

Ray Crowe, parts manager at Malloy Mazda. Call him at 888 533 3400..... he owns an FD, so he'll know exactly what you need. He gives club members deep discounts and ships lightning fast

 

Anyone know the part number for the glass to hatch weather stripping?

 

Fd01-50-611 rr window mould $123.90
$74.32

 

Thanks