Replace window belt weather stripping?

[Pono]

Aloha Ranger Station,

Would like to replace my belt weather stripping in my 89 Ranger. Has anyone had experience with this procedure. Any tips would sure be appreciated before I dig into the project.
Thank you,
John

 

[Terrys87]

I did it about 6 months ago on my 88 Ranger. I had the window down, and removed the inside one first, mostly just pulled it up. To get to the exterior one, I was kind of able to my finger to pull the clip toward inside of the truck and lift it out. One I think I used a small flat blade screwdriver to pry the tab out. New ones just basically slide right back into place. Not a bad job at all.

 

[Brain75]

My 90 (also 2nd gen like the 89), I got from LMC but also found them cheaper on amazon after. You have to remodel the clips on the side that attaches to the interior door panel. Factory the clips clip into slots on the outside, and are stapled to the inside - the kit comes with 4 screw and you have to attach it yourself to the door card. it comes with identical clips style for both inner and outer just like your picture.

 

[Brain75]

installation tips... well I took old rotted ones off to paint, then 2 months later put the new ones on.
I would put painters blue tape all across the painted exterior edge so you don't accidentaly scratch anything with the clips, and using a plastic hard spatula/paint scraper can finagle the clips around to get them lined up correctly. You do everything with the windows as far down as possible.

 

[Terrys87]

@Brain75 I used door panels from a 91 model truck. There is a slight difference between the 88-89 model. I did not have the screws with my kit but thanks for mentioning them. I will need to look and see what I may have missed. I completely forgot my original panels are different from his.

@Pono 89 and up they changed somethings on these trucks from the 88 and older.

 

[Brain75]

I resisted saying this cause I am not 100% sure of how the 1st gen works (just didn't bother to look at em in the junkyard and I don't own a 1st gen)... but I think those are really the 1st gen style (clips into both inside and outside) and rather than make a true 2nd gen they just tossed in 4 screws and left it to you to modify em to work with 2nd gen.

1st gen (83-88) interior panels only come up 80% of the way up the door and there is bare metal the last 3 inches to the glass just like the outside - so I bet inside and outside belt striping clips in both sides. 2nd gen (89-92) the interior door panel comes up 100% of the way to the door - hence the difference.

When I received em, I went back online (found the amazon ones) and hunted and hunted and hunted and did not find any true 2nd gen style (staples and no clips on half). I don't think any repro mfg ever bothered to make the different style, just toss 4 screws in and say "you can make it work".
You have to cut the clips off the inside ones to get em to sit flat.
I also pitched their round head screws and got some pan head (shorter overall head height), then ran a piece of tape over the whole strip to cover the sharp screw heads so the tinting wouldn't get scratched.

 

[SenorNoob]

That sounds about right. And yeah it does just clip into the inside on the 1st gens.

 

[Pono]

I just placed an order for the belt line molding kit from the company below. He called the manufacture and apparently they are for the 2nd gen. I will receive the kit next week and report back. Amazon or E-Bay would not ship to Hawaii.
Thank you for the info above!
Pono

https://muscleroad.com/products/1983-1992-ford-ranger-xlt-beltline-molding-kit

 

[SenorNoob]

How can it say 83-92 if 89-92 is different from earlier trucks?