I just followed this procedure on my Formula and it works very well. Thanks much for posting this information. However I had an idea when ready to put the new dew wipes into place. Just to make it a bit easier, I used metal tape like is used on heater vents in your home or shop environment. It is very, very thin, but it is metal with self adhesive material on the back. I cut two small squares to cover the alignment hole and the other hard to get in place screw hole slot, with the metal tape, then carefully threaded the screws thru that tape. Since it is metal (as opposed to masking or painters tape, it holds the screws right there. Then when inserting the dew wipes, you can see the holes and align the screw easily into the hole and then turn it into place with a phillips screw driver. I did this on both sides and it worked like a charm. I just happened to have that metal tape laying around, but if you need some - just about any hardware store, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. will carry it.
How do you get that last screw out? How do you slide the window sideways?
Remove the upper limit stops and the rear vertical track, roll the window up as far as it goes, and carefully slide the glass towards the rear of the door. This will expose the 2 middle screws under the glass. You may need a helper to lift up on the glass a bit. Get a screwdriver that has a very small diameter shaft, this will make it easier to get under the glass and get on the screw. I bought a long screwdriver and ground the end smaller to fit.
Remove the upper limit stops and the rear vertical track, roll the window up as far as it goes, and carefully slide the glass towards the rear of the door. This will expose the 2 middle screws under the glass. You may need a helper to lift up on the glass a bit. Get a screwdriver that has a very small diameter shaft, this will make it easier to get under the glass and get on the screw. I bought a long screwdriver and ground the end smaller to fit.
Got it! Thanks! Now how do I get the felt windows guides out and the new ones in?
With the dew wipe out, slide the window forward back into place and roll it down all the way. Be careful doing this and go slowly to make sure the window doesn't catch on anything because the track is out. Hold the guide by the felt end and remove the bolt. You will need to apply some pressure against the glass to get the room to sneak the guide out. It takes a little wiggling to get it out but it will come out. I did this on a door just the other day, it took a little bit but I got them out.
With the dew wipe out, slide the window forward back into place and roll it down all the way. Be careful doing this and go slowly to make sure the window doesn't catch on anything because the track is out. Hold the guide by the felt end and remove the bolt. You will need to apply some pressure against the glass to get the room to sneak the guide out. It takes a little wiggling to get it out but it will come out. I did this on a door just the other day, it took a little bit but I got them out.
With all the pressure I can possibly put on it, there is just not enough clearance.
I just did this dew wipe replacement for the second time, and here are my comments. First, I replaced my Fiero Store set of dew wipes because they looked terrible, and the felt was already worn out after just a couple years of use.
Here is a picture showing the door, since I think the picture links for the original post are broken:
The red circles are the bolts for the guide track. The yellow circle is the upper window stop. There's one more window stop on the aft side of the door, it looks the same as the one shown.
Pics from the original article are gone but I fond a hard copy I had so I scanned it in, pasted it all together and made it into a new doc.
thanks jon
------------------ I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun! 3800 SC swap to come!
Get an air-wedge like auto locksmiths use, couple nylon door wedges, and the smallest-head 90 degree ratcheting Apex-bit driver you can find (used to be a Husky 1/4 and 5/16 dogbone, discontinued. Now Autozone sells it as just the 1/4 apex side.)
Grind a #2 phillips apex bit to very low profile.
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Tools referenced above as "Dew wipes aren't that bad"
1/4" & 5/16" 15 deg reversible ratcheting dogbone (Home depot) - Husky pro - 66604 (haven't been able to find on for a couple years)
1/4" 15 deg reversible ratcheting driver (Autozone or AdvanceAuto?) Toolworks - '1/4" bit reverse gear' '1/4 bits ratchet' chrome body, yellow handle with black overmold
Air wedge (Menards) - Win-bag 300lb.
Nylon door wedges (Most truckstops) - Automotive lock bypass kit. It's usually in a large clear flat clamshell type package, red & clear bag to store parts. It's also got a bunch of wires, slimjims, jigglers, strap tool... Chainsaw wedges (to hold saw kerf in wood open) work just as well. Usually bright orange and softish plastic
For the really bad screws that are camming out, pump the door open enough to get finger between the ratchet head & window, let air back out so . It'll hurt, but it gets them to break free without messing up stuff. Also a dab of 'valve grinding compound' on the bit goes a long way.
-- Then you'll just need to tell that useless cut-apex-welded-to-a-stick 'dew wipe tool' that somebody sells where it can go... sideways, until they have to find a doctor to remove it.
