Opera Window Trim

by 76 Malibu Sun Jul 16, 2023 10:16 pm

I ordered new opera window trim from Summit a while ago. I finally got around to installing and they aren't even close to fitting. The angle seems to be way off. I am not sure if there is a trick to installing them, but they certainly don’t fit like my worn originals do. I orderd OPG part G2408020 as shown here, which lists 1973-77 Malibu.

https://www.opgi.com/moldings/window-moldings/1973-77-opera-window-moldings/moldings-opera-window-1973-lemans1973-77-malmccut-small-g240820.html

Anyone else encounter this? What is the correct trim if this is not it?

by 76Chevelle2Tone Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:06 am

That listing only says it fits 1973 models exactly. these supply firms will always stretch to include models that are not a "direct " fit. Is this what you are looking for?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364310522121?hash=item54d2996909:g:NisAAOSwiYlkkGM0&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8DUYn2kQdJIhYLpQFrj7KEAa6L3a%2B1XoHC%2FCiR3bklyP0Q%2BcKiYcEGPeE1zjUBS52atNpblUHyrSHfVYX%2BtUD3dNQrIeQNfu%2BLPWwEsHabDiw7H5lqLjoahbnoQ1xPUzo7ao4au7LHgickG3WFjErZm5YQ9w86ZyZzXQhZ8zAsqagqS6GBoHwkiGos8ou6VGQKFv13TIWTvCTJo4WYk9xNawIKgFJanai72XPJpvOpaF%2FTR9DYuohZt9weTi%2BNM3IWpHI7X%2B%2FRxbpsQgaVw5B9dLCI7tPn%2BuM39ZUulqfE3u6pzKJ8%2BIKI4lCyN%2Bu8JlWA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR77P-cWsYg

by 76 Malibu Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:31 pm

76Chevelle2Tone wrote:That listing only says it fits 1973 models exactly. these supply firms will always stretch to include models that are not a "direct " fit. Is this what you are looking for?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364310522121?hash=item54d2996909:g:NisAAOSwiYlkkGM0&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8DUYn2kQdJIhYLpQFrj7KEAa6L3a%2B1XoHC%2FCiR3bklyP0Q%2BcKiYcEGPeE1zjUBS52atNpblUHyrSHfVYX%2BtUD3dNQrIeQNfu%2BLPWwEsHabDiw7H5lqLjoahbnoQ1xPUzo7ao4au7LHgickG3WFjErZm5YQ9w86ZyZzXQhZ8zAsqagqS6GBoHwkiGos8ou6VGQKFv13TIWTvCTJo4WYk9xNawIKgFJanai72XPJpvOpaF%2FTR9DYuohZt9weTi%2BNM3IWpHI7X%2B%2FRxbpsQgaVw5B9dLCI7tPn%2BuM39ZUulqfE3u6pzKJ8%2BIKI4lCyN%2Bu8JlWA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR77P-cWsYg

The listing for fitment shows 1973 Lemans, but 1973-77 Chevelle/Mallibu, which is weird since '73 Chevelles didn't have opera windows. I looked at all the other ones OPG offers and these look to be the closest to my originals, but they don't fit. I think I could bend them to make them work, but not sure if that would wreck/break them. They were super pricey so I am not inclined to ruin them.

Those eBay ones do not look like my originals at all. They look similar to the OPG ones, just formed a slightly different angle. I wish GM hadn't cheaped out and used plastic trim on these windows....

Anyone here use this trim before? Any help appreciated.

by 76Chevelle2Tone Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:53 pm

The Ebay listing is for a NOS 76 77 opera window trim part 9874872. It certainly doesn't look like a sedan quarter window. It looks like this listing of the quarter window from a 76 chevelle.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304304366537?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=304304366537&targetid=4580153136941819&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=437225723&mkgroupid=1224856224320864&rlsatarget=pla-4580153136941819&abcId=9300907&merchantid=51291&msclkid=592d5af8f6e6139fe5c13e4d5ffeba0e

As for the OPGI listing it has an advisory note small, 8" x 18" (Malibu) which generally means limited fit to particular builds or fit with modification

Update

for some reason there appear to be 2 different quarter window moldings for 76/77 AC37 which is the base model malibu coupe which I assume you have

part number 9725922/23 manual says fits both base and classic models

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275922400529?nma=true&si=xZ1sEGFuQ%252B%252FOvrEu9OYtJDLOezg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

part number 9727043/44 which appears to be only for AC37 and not AD37 (classic)

https://www.amazon.com/Opera-Window-Moldings-9727043-9727044/dp/B08BXB5M3D

there is a different part number for both base and classic coupes with vinyl top
9735924/25

by 76 Malibu Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:22 am

I found an old post here that said to warm the trim in a bucket of hot soapy water and slowly work it in. I took a chance and persuaded the trim to follow the windows shape and was able to get it to work ok. It is more pliable than expected (the original trim is very fragile and brittle). I started at the lower rear corner and worked the bottom edge to the front corner. Then I slowly worked each outer edge. I also had to trim the length by about 3/4" to 1" on each arm. Both the front and rear edge have to be forced to fit as the angles are wrong, but the plastic can be forced to follow the window shape. Once the stainless corner moldings are installed, it holds them in place fine. It looks much better than the old trim, but I am not impressed by the poor fitment, especially for the high price.

Here is the repro trim (bottom) verses the OEM (top). Note the significant difference in the angle.

Here is the new trim installed.

As for the two trim part numbers. One is for the small opera windows like my car has, the other is for the large triangle windows, which was only offered on base model Malibus in 1976.

by 76Chevelle2Tone Tue Jul 18, 2023 11:53 am

That is weird that Chevy would go to the trouble of two completely different quarter windows. As for trimming the length yes quite a few parts now are not direct fit. I never realized that the base model had larger size windows which would seem better for visibility than the smaller ones. There is nothing in the manual about this except for the notice that some base models have the same quarter window as the classics others have a base specific quarter ie the more triangular one. i thought you had the base model as your avatar Malibu has the single round headlights. How many non Classic variations are there?

by Mcarlo77 Tue Jul 18, 2023 12:00 pm

OPGI's description of their small window repro trims fitting Malibu/Monte Carlo/ Lemans/Cutlass is totally wrong. Monte Carlo and Chevelle/Malibu are unique from each with the different shapes/angles than those of Cutlass (which shares the molding with Century). Don't recall for certain if Lemans Sport crosses over to Cutlass; although, I believe it does. Grand Prix is different than all the others.

by 76Chevelle2Tone Tue Jul 18, 2023 12:12 pm

MCarlo. I'm not surprised in the least. So many of the parts descriptions from OPG and similar suppliers are wrong in whole or in part. Also they almost always include more models than really work without modification, if at all. I have spent untold hours trying to sort through all this mass of info and misinfo.

by 76 Malibu Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:48 pm

OPG actually has numerous opera window trims for Colonnade cars. They list the following:

1)1973-77 Cutlass
2)1973-77 Monte Carlo
3)1973-77 Grand Prix
4)1973-77 Lemans/Malibu/Monte Carlo (the ones I bought)

See them here on this page:

https://www.opgi.com/Search/opera%20window.html

I looked at them all and the one I bought did appear to be the closet to stock, as the MC/Cutlass/Grand Prix opera windows are more upright. Plus they are listed for 1973-77 Chevelle.

In any respect, clearly the ones I bought are not for a Monte Carlo. I think that is a screwed up in the listing. Anyone know if Lemans and Chevelle windows are the same? Maybe there is a slight difference between them, and these repops can work for either car? I don't know. In any case, they will work for a G3 Chevelle, but need to be "persauded" into place. As you can see from my pics, they look good once installed. Overall I am satisfied, just disappointed in the poor fitment.

76Chevelle2Tone wrote:That is weird that Chevy would go to the trouble of two completely different quarter windows. As for trimming the length yes quite a few parts now are not direct fit. I never realized that the base model had larger size windows which would seem better for visibility than the smaller ones. There is nothing in the manual about this except for the notice that some base models have the same quarter window as the classics others have a base specific quarter ie the more triangular one. i thought you had the base model as your avatar Malibu has the single round headlights. How many non Classic variations are there?

Originally the Chevelles in 1973 had the big windows. In 74 the opera windows were optional with vinyl tops (to hide the patch panels added to make the smaller windows), until they became regular quarter panel stampings. Since opera windows and Landau tops were trendy, the upscale cars got these, while the lower end models got the big windows. Olds even had two different roof lines, Cutlass Supreme vs Cutlass S.

As for my car, it is a Malibu Classic with the Landau package. When my dad repainted the cars decades ago, he had the vinyl top removed. I later converted it to the round lights and the base grille because I never cared for the stacked rectangular lights.

by 76Chevelle2Tone Tue Jul 18, 2023 9:26 pm

OK your car is in disguise. I'll try to remember as I thought you had the base model which is quite rare these days. I think most have made the one way trip to the crusher which frustrates my search for the base door panels. On the East Coast the Chevy intermediates were not that evident IME. The popular Chevys were the Nova , Monte Carlo and Caprice/Impalas. So I don't remember seeing many of these Malibu variants, certainly not any base models. Most people here got the Olds Cutlass which were everywhere followed by Pontiacs with Buicks for the MDs.

by Mcarlo77 Wed Jul 19, 2023 1:06 am

I just checked my interchange part numbers that I documented out at the JY's over the years. The Chevelle/Malibu and Lemans Sport plastic interior small qtr window trim pcs are the same. That would seem to confirm what I thought I already knew and that is the outer trims are the same.

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