Rear hatch aperture finisher fitting and material

[mldwyer]

Hello, Is there a consensus of where to place the seam of the PVC finisher around the back hatch aperture? Butt, or overlap the edges? Perhaps behind one of the hinges. And, the original piece is approximately 1-3/4 inches wide while the replacement is 1-3/8 inches wide. The replacement is thinner and much stiffer material. The original piece has a flaw and has shrunk over an inch in length. The original is soft and flexible enough (more rubber like) to form the corners and lay against the interior sheet metal without any notching required. The replacement will require notching at a minimum and a very strong glue to maybe hold it in position.

Replacement vs original width


Original vs replacement contour and thickness


Any thoughts are appreciated,

Mike