Upper Windshield "Reveal Molding": Generic Stuff?

[cn90]

I will report back later, but at $10 for 5 feet it is fine with me.

[erikv11]

Agreed and look forward to your report great!

But don't lie to yourself the adhesive is not free, that's why the actual cost is more like $20 on the DIY end. And for $30 they may install it for you, then the quality of adhesive/sealant (and expertise on install) would likely be higher. I'd ask them how much to install it, too.

[cn90]

Went to local auto glass place and bought a 5-ft roll of molding, $2/ft x 5 ft = $10.

- I initially trimmed it to a "T" but later decided to shortened the stem of the "T", see blue arrow.
Wear gloves when using utility knife.

- I have some "Butyl Rope" laying around, this stuff is used to attach windshield glass in antique cars. I made a thin roll, about 2-mm in diameter and run the length of the molding, where it meets the glass.

- Then Black RTV to the rest of molding.

- Even if you buy the Volvo reveal molding, you will have problem because the plastic channel (where the factory molding clips in) that sits between the glass and sunroof is brittle and crumples. So I removed some of the plastic channel stuff, it fell apart anyway.

- Do a dry fit first to be sure you like the orientation. The molding can be fit either way (depends on what you get at your local glass store).

- Don't cut the molding until you are absolutely sure where to cut.
It is about 50 inches or so. Make sure you tuck both ends under the other trim (that runs down the sides of the glass).

- Just wipe it clean at the end.

- Let it sit for 24h to cure the RTV before driving.

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Molding3.JPG (110.54 KiB) Viewed 1429 times

[erikv11]

You are so fast! Couple questions about the butyl rope:
- Where can you get it? What is its purpose, is this to help seal out water, or more for the orientation of the molding or something?
- I don't understand where it goes. Like at the bottom of the center groove? Or in the front groove closer to the glass? I think there are three grooves/channels, correct?

[cn90]

Butyl Rope (google it) is some sort of petroleum product used to seal door vapor barrier, old windshield glass in the 1970s etc.
You can peel it off very easily but it is sticky like chewing gum.
Virtually all auto glass store sells it for $10 per 15-foot roll.
You can even use Butyl Rope to seal your house duct work (where electrical cables exit the house) etc.

The plastic channel (red) is basically useless, crumpling apart, so I removed it.
Then apply a bead of butyl rope (blue dots) lengthwise along the trim.
Maybe a bit of black RTV, then press it down.
Very simple.

Here is a sketch:

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