USAFVeteran

Does anybody in this country make a removable rear window weather strip that fits? I have ordered 3 now, and they all are about the same.


I ordered almost all of the rubber from Steele Rubber, and it's really nice, but, they don't make the rear window rubber.


It would appear those that are made are made from 2 pieces of straight rubber, and molded corners at the bottom. When you make a Z shaped piece, it will not go around the top of the rear window, it is curved, not straight.


Anybody have a solution? And, yes, I could "V" cut the rubber and make it fit, but I'd rather not. Oh well, what do you guys have?


Thanks

0Willcox Corvette

The one we carry is CRC brand and I've never had any issue with it not fitting. Not sure where you other rubbers came from but I installed on in my own car about a year ago without issue. https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...ow-coupe-68-72

Willcox

USAFVeteran

Thanks Willcox, they sent the one I got today. It's the top corners. Am I missing something? They won't lay on the window, or fit in the opening properly.

Alan 71

Hi,
Typically the rear window seal was held in place with several very small screws in each upper corner.
These screws helped secure the seal tightly into the corners.
Are you using them?
Regards,
Alan

You can see countersunk flat 3 screw heads in this picture.

CanadaGrant

Hi Alan, Can you tell me what product you used to glue the window weatherstripping down?

Alan 71

Hi CG,
I used regular black weatherstrip adhesive on the rear window seal.
I used tape to hold it in place while the adhesive dried, and did one side and then the other.
The screws really help because they help to keep the corners in the proper position.
Regards,
Alan

Here's the screw locations in the fiberglass frame in my 71.

USAFVeteran

Alan, you always provide great solutions for everybody here, I've lurked for a while and saw you provide good information, thank you very much.


I'm not even getting that far with my replacement on the weather strip. I do have the screws, they came out of the original rubber.


And in the picture you provided, it appears that those top corners where the screws are have a bit of a curve to them, mine are completely straight, no curve at all. And, now I find out the bottom part is about an inch too long.


Is that rubber in the pic one you took off to replace?

Alan 71

Hi V,
The seal in the picture is the original which I reused.
It definitely has formed round upper corners.
The trick and reason for the screws was to hold the corners tight in position while the adhesive set.
I used lots of painters tape too.
You have to be careful while you're 'seating' the seal in order to prevent stretching it as you apply it. If you stretch it becomes too long to fit in the opening.
Regards,
Alan

USAFVeteran

Yes sir, it's already a bit too long across the bottom as it is. I'm just disappointed in a lot of the parts I've used on this project. It started out to be a motor rebuild, and snowballed like a big dog. But, it's all stuff that needed to be done any way.


I'll try again, with, hopefully a bit more patience this time. I have some painters tape that won't damage the finish on the car. I really dislike inferior parts.


Thanks again Alan!!

Alan 71

Hi V,
The parts situation is difficult for at least 2 reasons:
Even old GM service parts may be different than the part being replaced.
The service part only needed to be a functional replacement not necessarily be identical to the original part. It's for this reason that some restorers use as few replacement parts as possible and spend their time restoring the parts they have.
The quality of contemporary reproduction parts is often disappointing and on occasion simply not usable. This seems to be especially true for interior 'soft' parts and parts being reproduced for the wiper door and headlight systems.
Many folks working on old Corvettes are fighting the parts situation at every turn.
Having Fun?
Regards,
Alan

USAFVeteran

Alan, actually I am having fun.
It's hard to recondition rubber parts, as you know all to well. I have previously done the whole interior, starting with cleaning back to bare fiberglass floor, then DymaMat Xtreme, and on to the original jute and carpet. The carpet came from a GM authorized supplier, and it worked almost perfect. Very little trouble at all, just the pieces over the wheel arches had to "massaged" a bit.
All the other weather strip is from Steele Rubber and it fits as good as factory, or so it seems. They don't make the rear window rubber, now I'm wondering why haha.


It's pretty hot and muggy in Tucson, in the garage today, so I'm kinda slow leaking work today, enjoying that I have the time to do it at my pace now. I'll get it, and it will be on the ground very soon, getting the FAST fuel injection tuned. Speaking of, I can't believe how responsive that motor is without being tuned. I have a little initial tuning right now, but can't finish until we take it out. My son works at a hot rod/race car/collector car garage and he's really wanting to help set this up. He's not had a car so far, that has used it. This way he'll be able to tell customers first hand about it, and not hearsay.

0Willcox Corvette

Thanks Alan... I've had a long three days this week but you're always spot on..

Willcox