I'm looking for some help with my 56 Olds rear window stainless (upper trim)

The car was originally restored back in the early 90's. At that time the window and surround gasket were both replaced. More recently, I have noticed that the upper stainless trim doesn't appear to be seating properly. I have easily lifted it out (friction fit), and tried to properly re-seat it without luck. I have been told there are clips, possibly 9 of them needed to properly attach the upper stainless.

It was mentioned to me that similar cars have an upper stainless edge consisting of 2 pieces, while mine is one long piece along the entire upper edge.

If there are indeed clips that are required, can they be added without removing the rear glass and gasket?

Thanks very much for any info you can supply.

fusick now has the upper clips but I am unsure the situation with the lower ones.Also got the upper clips from florida based fasteners plus on ebay,and there are others.Cheaper for shipping and handling.As for the rubber question,I don't know and the only way to find out would be to try unless someone else has experience-they fit into a slot in the rubber as you might be aware.

Thanks Pete ... I have ordered the set of 9 clips. I am hoping that the clips can be installed without removing the window / rubber combo. Btw, any idea on whether the upper stainless is one or two piece? Thanks .... Chet

Puzzled..don't you have the pieces that came off the car? Well anyways,unless my memory is flawed,the upper is one piece and the lower is two with a joiner piece in the middle and candy cane shapes on the sides.
Wondering if you read any of my window replacement post.Working on that today and there is a whole lot more to the story...just wondering if I should bother or if anyone reads these things.There are a lot more things that can slow you down once you get into a project like that...believe me.Window alignment...arrrrgh!

Hi Pete, I had just discovered this forum less than 1 week ago. I did not know about your window replacement post. I will look into that. I really appreciate your contribution.

Today I received the set of 9 clips .. still not sure how they attach ... seems like the candy cane end gets inserted into the pinch-weld and the other end under the rubber.

A nearby shop had done the restoration for me in the early 1990's, and yes the car is complete. At the time of the restoration, the trim clips were apparently n/a. But we had recently had found the trim not attaching as well as it should ... we then found there were no clips to properly hold the stainless in place.

The shop looked over another 56 Olds, only to find it had a two-piece upper stainless. That was why I asked ... thinking that mine was incorect.

Let me know if you find anything more on this Pete ... thanks again, Chet

I'll have acloser look at mine,which also has the trim off,but I know exactly what you mean about the troubles there,the trim tends to get spread a bit when it is removed and just doesn't fit like it should.Haven't tried the new clips yet,my restoration is going slow,and I focus on different parts when finances permit.I'll get back to you,but the candy canes(curved pieces)have a pivoting threaded rod in the back accessable from the inside below the rubber I believe.Also,my post about the window removal is mostly on the main forum of all makes forum under 'technical" where all can see.

The upper stainless is indeed one piece and the lower is two pieces.One can only guess that the two pieces for the upper on your example must be from another model and adapted.I'll keep my eyes open if I spot this but have no first-hand knowledge. Anyone else?

Hi Pete, here's an update. We pulled away the rear window outer top and side stainless and also the inside moldings .... then pulled out the top portion of the window gasket.

We found the remnant of one clip that was rusted away, and some marks where a total of 8 clips were originally installed for the upper stainless.

From the inside 8 new clips were installed, tapped into place with a small balpine hammer. It appears that at least the super 88 holiday coupe was equipped with 8 of them and not 9. Then all was reassembled.

I'm still having a problem seating the upper stainless in place on the left side ... it appears it is due to the window gasket not being seated as well as it could be. Need to spend some more time making adjustments ....

Have some questions about the jetaway hydra-matic transmission appearing not to downshift, tried this at 35 mph. I will post as a new topic.

Chet

This is exactly the reason I haven't finished the detail on my rear window as the rubber that I bought new some time ago from a guy at a swap meet representing a company that I doubt exists now....anyways it didn't ever fit right and it is possibly my fault but I've had that backglass in and out so many times trying to get the rubber evened out so as to sit right in the corners.Long and the short of it,a new rubber is the only answer from a reputable maker like steele or metro.I was doing the job myself but wish I had an extra set of hands-the rubber likes to slip off the glass or just plain go south.
I'm from the belief that things that don't fit right just might have something wrong with them as everything else on the Olds fits much like a glove.I've had much the same luck but a little better with the windshield as well.Thanks for the reply,keep in touch. Oh yeah,might have a link to jetaway diagnosis chart so go ahead and post when ready. pete