Getting ready to install the repo hockey sticks on my 68 Cougar. Is it best to to install the hockey stick stainless steel brackets to the car first, then attach the hockey sticks to the brackets or attach the hockey sticks to the brackets then attach to the car as an assembly?
Brackets to trim and then install as a unit
I always epoxy the hockey sticks to the stainless. Then the weatherstrip is attached to the stainless after the epoxy is cured.
Then install them as a unit after the rear windows are in and adjusted properly. This means the roof rail weatherstrip is in, the door windows are in and properly gapped.
I am sure that the epoxy will work well enough. The originals had a stud that was peened down like a rivet. It got work hardened and then broke off. The reproductions come with 3M VHB two sided tape. This stuff is used in place of welds on new cars. It actually forms a tighter bond the longer it is in place. The thinking was that a slightly flexible bond might be better where we knew the action of the window would be flexing the part. We know it broke the studs. I suspect the very large glue surface area associated with epoxy would be many times stronger than the studs.
I tried the 3M tape but it came loose after a couple years on my green GT-E. I since have rebuilt those with Henkel Hysol 6C-ALUM Epoxy and have not had any further issues in the past 15 years.
Thanks guys! Just wanted to make sure it was positioned correctly on the bracket. Any secrets to make sure it gets attached correctly?