What makes a 72 pillar post weatherstrip different than a 73? I'd like to but latex (which they sell for 73, but not for 72). What's the difference?

 

The 68-72 a-pillar weatherstrip had the extension on the bottom of the weatherstrip, so the WS extended into the door jam. On 73-82 weatherstrip, the extension was eliminated. All the extension seemed to do, was direct any water further forward in the door jam. A lot of owners have saved some money, by using the later WS on 68-72's.

The first picture is the earlier rubber, with the extension, the second picture is the 73-82 piece.

 

Some may use the weatherstrip with the extension on 72's, but they did not come from the factory with the extension.

 

So the WS they sell for 73-82 (without the extension) is actually more correct for a 72? Was the extension just 68 through 71?

 

SERIOUSLY...that is news to me. Does not make sense that they would not be installed. BUT...it would not surprise me either. Something I need to look into.

DUB

 

I have had several unrestored 72's with documentation to the original owners, none had the extension. Also the NCRS technincal information and judging manual states that the 1972 does not have the extension. Don't ask me why they show the weatherstrip with extension as being correct for 72'. It's one of life's unexplained mysteries!

 

my 72 had all original weather striping on it when I purchased it and it did not have the extensions. When I ordered the kit from Wilcox it came with the extension.

 

Hi,
I believe the thinking is still that 72 model year cars DIDN'T have the 'extension' when they left St.Louis.
Regards,
Alan

Sometimes referred to as the 'gutter'.

 

When the lower extension was eliminated, has been an open question for many years. There's been a difference of opinion on whether 72's used the extensions for as long as I can remember.

I always sold the A-pillar WS with the extension, as 68-71, as did some other vendors. More recently, most vendors, and the makers of the weatherstrips, have been marketing it as 68-72. I've been told that possibly only early 72's, maybe the first couple months of production, got the extensions? I don't really know, and I've never found a definitive answer.

The Corvette parts book isn't much help, because the GM part number is the same for the both weatherstrips. It appears that when GM eliminated the extension, they didn't change the part number. All Corvette parts books list the same part number for the A-pillar WS (3966565 LH - 3966566 RH), even though it is well known that there were 2 distinct versions used. I have numerous Corvette Parts Books from 69 through 83, and they all list the same part numbers, with no notes about the extensions? The only variation listed in the parts book, is the first design A-pillar WS, with 2 slots instead of 3, that was used on 68's and some early 69's.

I know that all 71 and earlier cars, got the WS with extensions, and no 73 or later ones did, but 72's seem to be a question mark. I don't have an open 72 Assembly Manual, but I'd be curious which version of the weatherstrip, was shown in the 72 AIM.

None of this matters to the OP, because his question was how was the A-pillar weatherstrip listed for the 72's, was different than the one sold for 73's. The reason of course is because most vendors list the A-pillar weatherstrip with the extension, as a 72 part, and the part marketed for 73's, does not have the extension.

 

I agree....ANOTHER UNEXPLAINED MYSTERY on a Corvette. Maybe GM was seeing if going without it and possibly changing the hinge post area where the previous years could have the extension mounted to it...could do the same thing and NOT have to have the extension on the weatherstrip. Save some $$$.

DUB

 

So that's how that goes in....I believe that my 72 has the original WS too, but the extensions are not on there; will have to see if my body man put the ones on with extensions....that next time I see my car.....Thanks for the pic!