Namely, this guy ... right hand (passenger) side, looking down:



Not big enough to use as a jeebus bar for us old geezers, though it was handy to undo the goop holding in the retainer (the door weatherstrip is removed in that pic.)

Is it supposed to be a dripguard or something? (This car also had the dripguard at the top, for whatever that's worth.)

The dang thing is in the way of my new (Mustang) T-top weatherstrip, so unless I need it, I'll drill out its rivets and punt it.

-- A

That's supposed to catch the window when you're rolling it up and make sure it goes back into its track, for example if you're driving and it's windy and the window might might miss the track otherwise....

quote Originally posted by css9450: That's supposed to catch the window when you're rolling it up and make sure it goes back into its track, for example if you're driving and it's windy and the window might might miss the track otherwise....

Seriously? Yet another Fiero weirdness for having pillarless windows, I guess.

-- A

quote Originally posted by css9450: That's supposed to catch the window when you're rolling it up and make sure it goes back into its track, for example if you're driving and it's windy and the window might might miss the track otherwise....

I thought that too, except for if it were true, you would not be able to open the door.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: I thought that too, except for if it were true, you would not be able to open the door.

It's also *above* the glass, even with the window all the way up.

I suppose it could be there to keep the *weatherstripping* from deforming at high speeds and window closure or the like.

-- A

It also serves as a giveaway that the Dino you see in traffic isn't the real deal.

quote Originally posted by Gall757: I thought that too, except for if it were true, you would not be able to open the door.

Hmmm... I've had other cars which had that little tab but they were full-frame doors, so the tab came with the door when it was opened.

I'll have to look closer at my Fiero.

It is part of the Light-speed drive......."Shhhhhhhhh!"

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: It is part of the Light-speed drive......."Shhhhhhhhh!"

Why does that remind me of Kang and Kodos?



-- A

[This message has been edited by dremu (edited 07-11-2020).]

The tab is called an ' anti-blowout clip' and has been on many GM cars over the years.

It is not unusual, nor is it Fiero specific.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: The tab is called an ' anti-blowout clip' and has been on many GM cars over the years. It is not unusual, nor is it Fiero specific.

"the retainer that keeps the top of the door glass from "blowing out" away from the roof rail weatherstrip when the windows are rolled up."

And there we have it. Thanks!

-- A

Hmmmm.................must not be very important.

No such "tabs" on my T-Top Formula, and I've never blown out a window.

I was driving somewhere (Can't reNember where) and had an extremely strong crosswind......The window was just barely out of it's groove in the roof seal(And the passenger side was a couple of inches down)....The window actually did "Blow out"...Scared the heck out of me 'cause I thought that it would be permanent damage...Luckily the window just went back where it was supposed to be.

And I am sure that the Simpsons aliens had some influence on my alien drawings....Here is my best cartoon so far;

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 07-11-2020).]

I've experienced "blow out" of a '75 Datsun 280Z window. I accelerated to... umm... triple digit speeds... on a... umm... closed course. Actually, I had a paid professional driver do that... on a closed course... in Mexico....

Anyway, accelerated to high speeds with the window down and didn't like air buffet at triple digit speeds and tried to roll the window up. 280Z's have framed door windows. The air movement pulled the window out of its track and it wouldn't go into the groove at the top of the frame. It was fine when I slowed down.

Research Report:

I had a chance to look at my car. The window glass is not in the same position when the door is closed as it is when open. When open, the top edge of the glass is tipped to a lower position, but as the door is closing, the glass hits the weatherstrip before the door is latched, which forces the glass more upright. So when the door is closed, the glass edge is actually behind that little tab, and it would prevent the glass from bending out at the top any further. As you open the door, the glass drops down about 1/2" to clear the tab as the door is opening. Kudos to the GM body engineer who figured this out.....

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 08-06-2020).]