I got diverted from my priority projects a couple of weeks back when my son slammed the driver's side door and the rattling and crashing pissed me off too badly to leave it lower on the list any longer. I pulled the inner door cover off and removed the window. There was only one of the guides that were bad and I had a replacement in my parts boxes. I did find a large number of bad seals and the anti rattle pads were down to bare metal. A couple of quick calls and $250 later, I have a pile of new parts to install.

First annoyance - I've read a number of times with the anti rattle pads that they have the "correct" metric bolts. I assumed that since mine looked original, that they would be correct and I didn't order new ones. Naturally, they didn't fit. Turns out that the "correct" metric bolts are for the GM replacement part, not the original ones. Those are SAE. Quick trip to the hardware store fixed that one.

Next comes the real annoyance and the reason for this post. The outer door seals were completely worn out. There was almost no trace of the rubber left. I bought a replacement set from one of my favorite vendors as it isn't a part where close will be close enough. There are a bunch of clips that will fit into existing holes and two screw holes for good measure. I have a convertible so I know that coupe ones won't fit either. Parts came in last week and the new ones don't fit properly At least one of the push in "pins" will have to be moved outwards and the set only came with one set of screw holes drilled. For good measure, the seals only have rubber bonded to the metal backing. The originals obviously have some kind of felt like backing material along with the rubber.

A forum search led me to quite a number of discussions and gripes similar to mine. What I find most concerning is that there doesn't seem to be a consensus on which seller has a good quality replacement. Willcox has one but they call it a outer "felt":

http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=15423

Question: is there a better replacement out there or should I just modify the one that I have? The clips can certainly be relocated but that will be a pain. Drilling the second hole is no big deal, especially since I have the old one to use as a guide.

 

Unless you can find an NOS set, you will have to deal with what you have. Most, if not all of the aftermarket ones, are pretty much all the same.

 

The part you posted is the conv set and the same set I would install in my shop. I've not hand any issues with them but I have had major issues with the cheaper replacement felts.

It's just my opinion but the current reproduction felts that are "Correct" or the one you posted the link for are the best fitting alternative and again something I wouldn't have issues with using in my shop. The cheap repro.. well there is a note on our site to discourage people from buying it. I will not install the cheap set.

The door window adjustment pads when new were SAE threaded and not metric. GM changed this to metric around 1984 or so.

Willcox

 

Hi CA,
My understanding is that there are 2 outer seals available.
One is quite 'generic', and the other a much more accurate reproduction.
Corvette Central is the manufacturer of the more accurate reproduction. 283062
Isn't it a surprise that you got a part that doesn't fit!!!!!! NEVER heard of THAT before!
Regards,
Alan

 

Willcox,

No offence intended and the part that I bought wasn't from you. Do I have a cheap one or a good reproduction? No idea. I included your link because it showed the part and because you called it a "felt" which is different than those on other vendor sites. If you think your part is pretty good, I'll order a pair and see if that solves the problem.

 

Boy isn't that the truth. I go out of my way trying to pick trim parts that fit well because I hate fiddling with parts like this.

 

Corvette Clinic (retail Corvette parts store) in San Jose has some real nice felts. Tossed the ones I bought from Wilcox in the garbage. Corvette Clinic also sells nice anti rattle pads. Also tossed the Wilcox anti rattle pads in the garbage. I've spents several thousand $$ at Wilcox. Hit or miss but most of their felts and other similar trim type pieces are poor quality.

 

I knew you didn't get it from me.... I was only commenting on the link from our site you posted. The link you posted was for the good sets we carry. The number you posted is the same thing I put on my 70 conv. so yeah.. I like it. I didn't have any problems putting them on. Do I think you have the cheap set? I'm not sure, most the cheap ones have a rubber wipe with no whisker felt texture to them. The good sets have the felt texture.

The other huge difference is the width of the wipe portion. The cheap sets have a wider wipe and on a power window car they will drag the glass so much that it interferes with the glass going up and down.

Willcox

 

Just to close this thread out, I got the new part from Willcox today. Totally different construction from the one I had earlier, which I returned. It looks very much like the original. Can't wait to get it in.