I need to buy some new outer door window seals for my '79 ...(the rubber/metal seal that actually fits to the door and seals up against the window)
... i was looking at ecklers, and they sell them, but i was concerned as they were described as a "functional replacement" ...and i was getting an image of something that 'does the job' but doesnt look anything like the original

Has anyone here bought one of these from ecklers and can let me know if they are like the originals?? ... or is there anywhere else that can supply an 'original' item?

thanks

 

IMO, find another vendor. I used to buy everything from Ecklers but more recently I find the items they sell to generally be of very low quality. Further, I've found false advertising in their catalogs. Try Corvette Central or some of the others and I think you'll be better off.

 

Willcox has 2 listings. Reproduction is 67 bucks.
Door Felts. Coupe Outer Reproduction 69-82

"replacement with rubber wipe" is 17.48 a side
Door Felt. Coupe Outer LH Replacement 69-82

Based on what you've said, it sounds like you would want the first one.
Good Luck!

 

Thanks guys, i'll take a look at those suppliers

 

Wilcox, ZIP and Paragon are all good sources of resto parts.

 

I bought the door/window seals from Ecklers and ended up throwing them away, they were so oversized I could barely shut the door. I replaced them with ones from Corvette Central, a much better fit!

 

This is a perfect example of the garbage Ecklers sells.

 

Thanks for your help everyone.

Looks like both Zip & Wilcox supply a reproduction item that is the same as the original, so i'll go with one of those.

It looks like quite a straight forward job to replace them... but from past experience, these are the jobs that always take hours to do properly! ...so i want to make sure that i start off with the right part at least!

Cheers

 

We stand by the correct reproductions as being the best you can get, but we do also sell the cheaper ones that do not fit as well.

Here they are...
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=133

 

The thing on the functional replacement is, they are just bare rubber. When you go to roll your window up, it is damn near impossible because of the drag the rubber has on the window. Buy the good stuff with the fuzz on the rubber and you will be fine. Ask me how I know this one.

Here is the link to Zip's repros.

 

I have a set I got from Ecklers a couple yrs ago, they actually look better than my originals. Of course the originals are 26 yrs old.

 

You bring up a very good point. I have restored several Vettes from different stages over the past 20 years and most of my parts came from Ecklers. However, the stuff I've gotten from them in the past year or so is mostly unusable. I continue to bring this up so that some of the members here don't go through what I did.

 

Understand, I have seen that a lot in here in the last year or so. However, I bought about $5k worth of stuff from them last year and absolutely no problems except the boot for my PS rebuild kit was a POS

 

One of the several problems I had with them was my order for an evaporator core for my '76. I ordered it I think in January of last year and they said I'd have it in a few days. I should point out here that this part was advertised as a new Delco part. In any event, a week or so went by so I called and they said it was now on backorder but they expected shipment within a week. A couple of more weeks went by during which time I heard nothing. I called again and got the same type of story. During that time I did some research and found that this evaporator was discontinued by Delco some time previously. In knowing this I asked the salesperson about it and she said hold on and I'll check with the vendor. A couple of minutes later she came back on and informed me that these evaporators, although advertised in their catalog as Delco, were actually remanufactured units, (what ever that means), that they had been on backorder for over a year, and they had no idea of when they would receive any units from them. This among the low quality of parts has made me stay away from them.

 

Yep, thats the biggest change I have seen with them, their customer support sux. But I have been up there and I think its really who you get, some of the ladies up there really do their job well, othere are there to collect a check. Evidenced by the fact that they should have been able to tell you on the first phone call that the part had been on BO for a year
Typical for florida, no work ethic

 

We're getting off subject here, but the hell of it is is that I really miss the place. We used to go up every year in Oct for their annual show where they had vendors on site and classes for many different topics, and you were allowed to tour the shops. I really used to look forward to the trip. Now I just don't know what has happened to them. I guess they still have the shows but I no longer have interest in going.

 

I need to replace my outer window seals also. My chrome metal pieces are in great shape, only the seals are cracked and worn. Does anybody know if you can just by the replacement felts only from any of the vendors and re-use the original chrome pieces ?

 

We now have these on the forum special section at the link below. 60.40 a pair and we have over twenty sets in stock!


http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24549

Willcox Inc.

 

I too bought them from Ecklers.
i can barely get the T-tops on! And I've been pizzing around adjusting my windows all summer! I thought it was my installation. How the hell can they sell crxp like that! I'm gonna re-order tonight and get the good stuff (but not from Ecklers! )

 

I'm guessing you know how I do. You installed it and the fugger stopped going up all the way! Fortunately they came with the car so i didn't pay for em. Weird thing is the drivers side was already installed and it works pretty good i guess... Looks like I'll be orderin new ones from willcox anyways. along with my new seat covers and carpet