Roof rail seal questions

[DrCharles]

For many years I've been slowly working on my '72 Dart Swinger (hardtop). I now have doors with weatherstrip in place, windows that go up and down, and (I think) have located the roof rail seals in the boxes and bags of parts. Also a pair of long trim pieces that conform to the roof shape. Not sure what goes where or how it's mounted...

The body has several small openings along the rail that look like they should accept either a screw or some type of clip (there's a round hole with an elongated small slot). Without an assembled car to study, it's a bit difficult to know what kind of fasteners I need.

Can anyone give me some hints?
thanks
Charles

 

[retroron]

Small screws hold the trim in place. Several MOPAR parts suppliers sell the screws

 

[Murray]

A weatherstrip goes on first. Between the body and the roof rail w/s moulding is a flat, 1" wide strip of foam sealer. This seals the area between the moulding and the body. It comes in a long roll and should be glued to the body covering those screw holes from the lower vent window to the other end into the body. Then screw the moulding into place loosely and install the weatherstrip into the moulding. I say screw it in loosely because the holes in the body and/or the moulding are elongated to allow adjustment of the weatherstrip to fit the glass. Have fun.

 

[DrCharles]

Thanks!

Is there anything special about the screws? I assume they're just sheet metal screws then - look like a short #8, probably truss head because it's mounting a thin piece of sheet metal trim.

When you say "install the weatherstrip into the moulding", how is that accomplished exactly? 3M weatherstrip adhesive, or does it snap in, or are there again some kind of clip? (I'm not near the car and parts at the moment so I can't just go look)

Edited to add: The screws do look like ordinary #8 truss head:
Mopar A B C Body GTX Charger Roadrunner Coronet Roof Rail Mount 20pc Screw Kit | eBay

 

[Murray]

It usually clips in pretty good by itself. Only use trim adhesive if you have too. If you glue it in you loose the ability to loosen the screws to adjust it. Using screws with a too large of head on them will somewhat distort the rubber seal and cause fitment issues. You are safer with correct screws.

 

[DrCharles]

I ordered the foam tape that goes between the roof and the spent some time today cleaning the 1972 adhesive and foam remains from the moldings. What on earth dissolves it? Acetone helped a little and even MEK didn't do much. Heat just made a gummy mess. I ended up scraping off as much as I could, and carefully wire-wheeling off most of the rest.

From the mess it appears that the tape was adhered to the molding, not to the roof. Or is it double-sided-sticky tape? Will find out when it arrives I guess. Does it matter which side it's stuck to?

 

[Murray]

You can probably do it either way.