Holy crap!
Install my own weatherstripping?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Install my own weatherstripping?
I've ordered a complete set of weatherstripping for my 79 Corvette. I asked my husband to get a price for installation from the Chev dealer and he looked at me like I'm crazy. He figures there's no sense in paying someone for something we can do ourselves and said "What happens when you paint it, are you going to have them remove and re-install the weatherstripping for you then too?". Good point, but its costing me $1300 for the weatherstripping and I figure if I screw it up its tough luck but if the dealer screws it up I can say "Make it right". I can see that most of the installation is probably pretty straightforward but I'm concerned about the t-roof weatherstripping in particular. I thought I read somewhere that the t-roofs need adjusting after the weatherstripping is changed and if that's the case I wonder if its a good idea to do it ourselves - I want to minimize the possibility of leaks. As it is now water is coming in at the top of the door windows and at midway up the doors at the front and rear of the doors and its making me crazy.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
In my opinion replacing the weatherstripping is not a hard job. In my case I replaced all my weatherstripping after I repainted the car. The door seals if you test fit them and mark reference points they will go on straight. My late model 77 T-top seals were very easy because the seals have like teflon pins that keep them aligned when going back together. The rest of the seals are pretty cut to exact lengths,
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I didn't want to buy reproduction weatherstripping and that's what GM charged for it. Some people on this forum said the reproduction stuff didn't fit as well as the OEM pieces. I was prepared to go as high as $2000, if it'd have been more than that I'd have gone with the reproduction stuff.
Last edited by Priya; Jul 5, 2010 at 07:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
On the advice of the body/mechanical shop where my husband works I've been buying all GM parts for my Corvette where available. Given that they're usually triple the price of aftermarket I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep doing that.
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
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the weather stripping is a pretty simple and straight forward job get yourself a tube of 3m weather strip adhesive and have at it as per the t-top there simple to adjust if need be. the lock down are a simple rubber tipped bolt and the tongues into the slots are shimmed remove and or add as need. would strongly suggest have your car painted before starting all this as per after they are glued on specilly in the t-tops which are glued and lil weather strip plugs they might get torn or damaged on re-removal then your bust. note places where the chrome is placed on the t-tops as factory stuffed them with dum-dum and if planning on that removal purchase new chrome for the small front trim as that is pinched onto the glass or carefully mask it off.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Hope all goes well with the weatherstripping but just remember the guy who gets stuck doing it probably wasn't born in the same decade as your car so you might be taking it back a few times. As for leaks I only drive mine on nice days but it would be interesting to hear the results of your endeavor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
the weather stripping is a pretty simple and straight forward job get yourself a tube of 3m weather strip adhesive and have at it as per the t-top there simple to adjust if need be. the lock down are a simple rubber tipped bolt and the tongues into the slots are shimmed remove and or add as need. would strongly suggest have your car painted before starting all this as per after they are glued on specilly in the t-tops which are glued and lil weather strip plugs they might get torn or damaged on re-removal then your bust. note places where the chrome is placed on the t-tops as factory stuffed them with dum-dum and if planning on that removal purchase new chrome for the small front trim as that is pinched onto the glass or carefully mask it off.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Sounds like you are realizing what has been going on for past few decades. Aftermarket parts can just as good or better than OEM parts unless you are looking for NCRS judging. I wouldn't walk into GM stealership on a bet.
Hope all goes well with the weatherstripping but just remember the guy who gets stuck doing it probably wasn't born in the same decade as your car so you might be taking it back a few times. As for leaks I only drive mine on nice days but it would be interesting to hear the results of your endeavor
Hope all goes well with the weatherstripping but just remember the guy who gets stuck doing it probably wasn't born in the same decade as your car so you might be taking it back a few times. As for leaks I only drive mine on nice days but it would be interesting to hear the results of your endeavor
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
ok sorry i was going off my my 77 tops wish are colored to the car i also have a set of solar tops that i never use lol cuz i think they look funny on my car but thats another story lol. dum-dum is just small strips of butal tape but if yours are glass not to worry about all that. and the tops will be fine to do the stripping since they can be removed for painting and the top area masked off. and if thats all that is leaking go ahead and go for that i would hold off on the doors unless they got issues too. but good to get that fixxed as it can lead to bigger problems down the road like windsheild frame rot out. just replaced a buddy's top windsheild frame and corners due to leaky tops.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
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well the tops will be easy to adjust to where they look flush with the rest of the car most likely they will sit a lil high but the weather strippng will compress over time. the shims if any will already be under the tongues. i am in the process of repainting my 77 now and got all the fun weather stripping to do yet lol. but it actually in my opion goes on fast then it comes off lol. didnt you say you hubby was a bodyman/mech or works in a shop he should have no trouble doing this.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 42
From: Austin Texas
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
ok sorry i was going off my my 77 tops wish are colored to the car i also have a set of solar tops that i never use lol cuz i think they look funny on my car but thats another story lol. dum-dum is just small strips of butal tape but if yours are glass not to worry about all that. and the tops will be fine to do the stripping since they can be removed for painting and the top area masked off. and if thats all that is leaking go ahead and go for that i would hold off on the doors unless they got issues too. but good to get that fixxed as it can lead to bigger problems down the road like windsheild frame rot out. just replaced a buddy's top windsheild frame and corners due to leaky tops.
well the tops will be easy to adjust to where they look flush with the rest of the car most likely they will sit a lil high but the weather strippng will compress over time. the shims if any will already be under the tongues. i am in the process of repainting my 77 now and got all the fun weather stripping to do yet lol. but it actually in my opion goes on fast then it comes off lol. didnt you say you hubby was a bodyman/mech or works in a shop he should have no trouble doing this.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
well all that i can say now is its up to you making the choice lol. your hubby being a mech. shouldnt have no issues weather stripping is not that much of a hard deal. so you can eother have someone install it or tackle ityourselves just always remember one door or top at a time as to have one for reference and it will be done in no time. also with no plans to repaint till further years go ahead and get it all done but keep in mind it could be a bear to get off later. good luck and have fun. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Well, I got my weatherstripping in. It was a little less than the $1300 they'd quoted my husband - $1184.71. He ordered it through his shop so I think for a regular customer the price would have been closer to $1800. The Chev dealer quoted him $225 to install not including clips, screws, glue etc. and that doesn't sound too bad to me. My husband and I wouldn't be able to get around to installing it for another 3 weeks or so and there's no way I want to leave it out in the rain leaking any longer than I have to so its going into the dealer tomorrow to get installed. Here's to crossing my fingers and hoping for an end to the leaks - wish me luck.