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Hello everyone. Just to be clear, I am currently in communication with OER/Classic Industries regarding this issue, and they have been very supportive thus far. I am awaiting delivery of replacement glass (FD6420 FD6419) and will update this post later in the week to let everyone know how things turned out. In a nutshell, the door glass (right and left) I received for my 1990 Pontiac Firebird Formula (see part numbers in thread title) had a much more pronounced curvature in the glass than the original. This caused binding which would not allow the glass to close with the door closed, in addition to creating a large gap between the outer glass run weatherstrip and the glass. The glass curve is not consistent with the run of the weatherstrip/top of door. The gap was greater at the front/rear ends, due to the extreme curvature. Just wondering if anyone has encountered this molding defect with new door glass? I had them send me the older style glass at my expense (with the extra hole for the stop at the front) and I just simply won't be using that hole. I have used 82-92 glass in all varieties of these cars..I am aware that hardware and stop designs could vary..but not the curve of the glass. I should be able to lay the same side glass on top of one another, and there should be little to no difference in the curve. See supporting pics. The first few pics with the weatherstrip gaps are the OER glass, next few pics are new glass laid over old glass (note the spaces), last few are old glass reinstalled (note: there is no gap between the glass run WS with the old glass). Based on this info and pics..would you all agree that this is just a molding defect? Has anyone else encountered this issue?
I can sympathize with u. I owned a 1972 Buick GS 2 dr ht. Back in 2011, I decided to replace all the glass except the windshield. I ordered the glass from a company in, I think, Minnesota. The glass was thinner & the curvature of the door glass was slighty off but still usable. the curve was less that the orig. Maybe u could try finding an orig piece of glass.
There is a fellow on this site in Michigan. his handle is "FIREBIRDDUDE"
Last edited by 72buickgs; Oct 30, 2023 at 09:18 AM.
I hear ya..I am going to give it one more shot with the OER glass, as I am just awaiting delivery (should be here this week). My hope is that with the earlier part numbers, they will be from a completely different production batch/sequence and that they are hopefully molded properly. Before I even install them, I am going to lay the new glass over the old to see if the tolerances/curvature are closer...as the other new glass was way off. Very frustrating experience nonetheless..as this is literally the last part of my restoration process. I tell you..I have restored 5 thirdgen F-bodies since 1994 (primarily IROCs, this is my first Pontiac variation)..and this one has been the biggest ball buster. I have had quality control issues I have never encountered before..defective new Delco fuel pump..leaky new power steering pump...Power Stop brake kit didn't fit without removing pad shims - It's a new kit, I shouldn't need to do that!!..Body/paint process was agonizing, and ran into fisheye issues about half-way through..probably leaving a few frustrating things out! Overall, I am very happy with the way the car is turning out..but this normally very simple thing of replacing door glass seems like it's just "par for the course" with this car!! Uuuugghhh!! Can't wait until it's over and I can just get in and drive it!
It's just amazing that OER wasn't able to reproduce one single part for our cars until today that fits and looks like the over 40 year old crap GM used in our cars. This is ridiculous...
Overall, I have had mostly positive results with OER. I am chalking this flub up to a production defect, and hopefully I am right. If this second batch I ordered is way off like the first, I would have to say that R&D/quality control has to step it up and review the molding specs on these. I just want to get in new glass that fits and put this behind me. I am actually expecting my replacement delivery in today or tomorrow, so I will update my post after I get a chance to check/install. As far as OER, I just recently got the 16x8 GTA wheels, and I am quite happy with them. Fit and finish were spot on. I did get their WS6 center caps too (with metal insert), and do have to admit that I had to glue the metal insert in, as it slipped out pretty easily (so the caps were easy to slide off). But they are solid after the glue. Happy with those as well.
Glass saga resolved. Thank God! Arrived today at about 3PM, was very anxious to check/install these so I did them right after I got off work. Sized them up first against the old glass, then against the 90-92 style glass. Absolutely 1000 percent molding error/defect on the 90-92 glass. Curve was nearly dead-on for the 82-89 version against my old glass. Installed, they look and work great..no more binding!! Very happy. A few pics..
Glass saga resolved. Thank God! Arrived today at about 3PM, was very anxious to check/install these so I did them right after I got off work. Sized them up first against the old glass, then against the 90-92 style glass. Absolutely 1000 percent molding error/defect on the 90-92 glass. Curve was nearly dead-on for the 82-89 version against my old glass. Installed, they look and work great..no more binding!! Very happy. A few pics..
Glad you have your issue resolved. Can you give any insight on mine? I posted in the "body" forum but not much response from anyone.
Here's the link to it. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...terchange.html
Thanks!
Yes..I would say that is very similar to what I was dealing with. You can see in some of the pictures I posted, I have the glass that came out laying under the new glass. The curvature was quite extreme and out of spec. When I received the replacements (82-89 style), prior to installing I laid the new glass over the original from the car and it was nearly a perfect match..laid right on it with nearly any gap at all..so I knew it would fit. The 90-92 style I had originally received was way off!!
I can sympathize with u. I owned a 1972 Buick GS 2 dr ht. Back in 2011, I decided to replace all the glass except the windshield. I ordered the glass from a company in, I think, Minnesota. The glass was thinner & the curvature of the door glass was slighty off but still usable. the curve was less that the orig. Maybe u could try finding an orig piece of glass.
There is a fellow on this site in Michigan. his handle is "FIREBIRDDUDE"
Like u, I too owned a 1972 Buick Gs 2dr ht. I also ordered glass from the company in Minnesota. It was thinner & curvature was less such that the quarter chrome would not fit properly
with aftermarket replacements. However, my brother gave me a pair of q-chromes from his 1971 Monte Carlo. Had them rechomed & they fit like a glove.
