I'm thinking about buying these but before i drop close to $200 I'd like to get some input. Any experiences?

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/in...ROD&ProdID=569

 

I bought 'em. Don't like 'em. Wouldn't recommend 'em! Try and find a good used set.

 

$200 for 2 pieces of plastic???? They are making like $150 profit! NO WAY that plastic cost them near $200 to make.

 

I simply searched the yards until I found two that were in good shape. The cost was nowhere near $200.

JamesC

 

rip off paid $15! check w/ tpi hearse

 

even through Classic Industries it is $130 for the pair. Ya, I would say Hawks is ripping you off big time

 

thats crazy. maybe, maybe if it was GM. maybe. highly unlikely, but maybe.

aftermarket, no way...

 

I found a pair in good shape at my local junkyard. Paid $10, cleaned them up and put a coat of SEM flexible coating type paint, they look like new. I removed the weather stripping, and will reattach it later when I put it in the car.

 

My trouble is that they always seem to be warped, and the weatherstripping that is attached to them always seems to come off and bend, and then I can never restore that.

 

im pretty sure classic industries sells the inner pieces for aroun 45? I paid $90 for inner and outter, but the outter dont fit very well....will never buy from classic again

 

Back to the original question. I installed a set from Hawks on a T/A, and they looked and fit great. My only complaint was that the studs for holding the door panels weren't long enough, and took some effort to get the retaining rings (new, included with door tops) on. However, I had new door panels at the time as well, so they might have been thicker than original panels. It sounds like there are cheaper options, I just don't have experience with them.

 

These tops have studs to fit through the door panel like the oem's? The ones I purchased had some kind of nails glued on the inside that pierced the door panel.

 

FWIW, I just installed both inner and outer on both doors, purchased
from 1aAuto from a recommendation here on the boards..

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/Weatherstri...SS00097/305147

is the interior pair, but you can get singles, outers, inners, or all as you need.

Quality and my experience with them was great.

mike

 

Yep, moulded studs. A little tough to get the metal clip on (this is one of the only pictures I have, and it's not on all the way) but once it was on, you could push it down and squeeze with a pair of pliers to help tighten the "jaws", and it worked fine.

 

Odd. The OE on my 85 IROC is a self-threading type of nut. Never seen anything like the retaineer in the pic.

JamesC

 

Yep, the OE was a nut as well, but they included these retainers (pain in the rear to get on at times).

 

I assume removing them would be unpleasant too.

JamesC

 

They are down to $169 but no way would I pay it at this point. Thgere are too many good ones at the junkyard. I guess I will bring a few home and store them for the future.