I'm going to be replacing pillar weatherstripping on my 1981 and was wondering if anybody has some tips/tricks/pics for me?

It seems like when ever I get done with a project, I think how I could've of done it better if I would have done X.... I'm hoping I can get somebody elses afterthought to make my project better. Thanks in advance!

 

ANybody?

 

Something I learned while shopping for weatherstrip (info applies to my 70, but I'm not sure about your 81) ... the pillar pieces are sold 2 ways; one way is just long enough to go on the pillar itself, while the other 8" longer and a few $ more version extends down further.

I had removed my weatherstrip a few weeks ago, but had not looked at the old pieces carefully. I did that yesterday and noticed a butt joint on my old pieces. Mine are original, so they were glued together at the factory.

One other thing ... a heat gun works great for removal of the old stuff. You still need to clean up the surfaces before installing the new ones ... I used mineral spirits in a spray bottle (spray on a paper towel, and be careful not to get overspray on your finish paint). I'm going to be repainting anyway, so it didn't matter in my case, but the mineral spirits will discolor your finish paint.

Be careful ... and good luck.

 

I think the first thing one needs to condsider is the material of the weatherstrip itself. As far as I'm concerned, all of the aftermarket stuff is inferior to GM OEM which is no longer available. The GM gasket material was a rubber-covered foam material and really supple/soft. I bought some aftermarket gasketing material ifrom a couple sources and some were quite hard. Steel Rubber Products, for example was formed really well and looked good, but much less supple than the original. What happens when you use hard weatherstripping is the doors and glass don't fit well leaving gaps and wind noise, not to mention water leaks. One will spend a lot of time trying to adjust the doors and glass to fit around compromised weatherstrip. I sent that stuff back.

I ordered a set from Ecklers (made by Corvette America, I believe) and that was closer to original, but not quite there. The molded ends weren't as soft, and the rubber coating was thinner, almost easy to peel off. This was the best I could find.

I just had this discussion yesterday with a Corvette aftermarket supplier who indicated they were unhappy with aftermarket weatherstripping they were seeing. They worked with a local plastics company to develop their own solution which they said was very close to OEM. I haven't seen it. I told them if it truely WAS almost exactly like GM weatherstripping, they would have a ready market.

One thing I read a while ago when I was researching this topic was that GM (and presumabely other mfgrs) used a freon spray process to make the spongy foam material soft/supple as it was. The process was discontinued for two reasons: 1) GM received a lot of complaints over the years about the durability of the weatherstrip (we all know what a coat hanger to unlock a door can do to a door gasket), 2) New environmental regulations about using freon for foam and plastics production meant it was a good time to re-evaluate the gasketing material/process. Most manufacturers went to a hollow gasket material, but this doesn't hold it's shape as well over time and isn't as supple/pliable. But sealing around doors was changed to optimize new weatherstripping and reduce wind noise too.

I don't know who makes weatherstripping that is almost indistinguishable to original 70's-80's GM foam weatherstrip, but if anybody does, I'd like to know. I'll be the first in line to buy it.

Ok, off that topic on to the next: get some 3M non-hardening caulk/seam sealer from your local paint and body supplier. Use it on/under and around the weatherstrip and the surrounding trim to prevent water leaks. Pay close attention when you remove the weatherstripping how it was caulked so you can seal it up as well as possible. Good luck

 

I'm second in line.

I think if you check in the ZIP website they have a link for replacement weatherstipping. If i remember right it was a pretty good overview with pictures. Wasn't that hard to replace what I did. Most difficult task was removing the old glue from the stripping I pealed off the door.
good luck,
chhuck