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After installing aftermarket window felt I thought I would share my opinion. The aftermarket felt kit ordered through Macs or Eklers or Dearborn...all the same. The brand is Dale's Manufacturing Inc. I called them for help with install as there were no instructions.They were friendly and helpful. Installing the outer pieces is pretty self evident in that you snap them into place then either screw or rivet the last hole on either end of the piece. The inner felts come with loose staples only and not pre- drilled. I pried my old staples off with small screwdriver and some side cutters. Then pried the felt (metal) piece off. I taped the new felt tight to the door cap then drilled holes with 1/16th drill bit. installed the new staples and pinched tight with regular pliers. Not too hard but after doing this I think I could have gotten away with a roll of felt material made for this. I could have used lacquer thinner to loosen the glue then just pulled the old material leaving the metal backing in place. It's stainless and has a bead that shows on the top of the door cap that didn't look bad. it was not rusty or corroded. The new felt trim don't look bad. the chrome trim is easily twice the thickness of the original so it will look a little different. The fuzzy part is molded in a "c" channel not just a piece of felt so that is a bit more modern looking.After installing these wider pieces I wonder if the lock grommet would have room to fit. I ordered this separate so it's not included with the felt kit. the lock grommet supplied by Eklers is too large for the hole.Although it may get past the felt trim. Looks my originals had no grommet. I would have to break the plastic tabs on the grommet to get it to go or drill the door cap. Not happening. The whole grommet is plastic don't waste your money on these.
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Here are some pic of the new installed felt next to the old piece.
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firs pic I am holding the piece that goes to the outer door. You can see it has barbed clips already in place to match up with the holes in the door. Also note the new inner door pieces are longer and will cover the section where the vent window goes. There was no felt piece there on the originals. Not sure how that will fit.
Last edited by g-man (January 28, 2016 10:08 am)
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I also replaced the inner and outer window felt on my 61. After some research, I ended up buying some window felt in bulk pieces. I think they were around 80" long. They come with a stainless backing, they look original without clips or tabs or holes. You simply cut them to the length you need and apply with narrow two way auto body molding tape. The tape is extremely strong, I am not worried in anyway about that felt letting go. It was easy to do and was the least expensive way to go.
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I got my fuzzies from these guys.
The ones that go to the body had the little clips, snapped in like factory. The ones that went to the garnish... staples. Love to see that staple gun. I glued them on with 3M weatherstrip adhesive.
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