OK I just got my new header front weatherstrip in from Wilcox, I did a search to look up the best way to tackle this job. I found some good advice but i got a few questions. I read some guys talkin about the clips? Where are these clips? do you reuse your old one?( I didnt get new ones with the WS.) Also I seen some used the weatherstripping adhesive some didnt. Is it a good idea not too? or should I? Final this is my 1st time doing this job and i am kinda worried about messing it up so any advice welcome ...THANKS

 

Sorry double post

 

I'm not sure about the "clips" either, just save all the h/w when you remove the screws from the side of A-pillar.

The hardest part (well tedious) is getting all the old WS and adhesive out of the tracks. I went through nearly 2qts of WS solvent on the job.

I used WS adhesive wherever it had been used OEM. For the front pillars & header I first laid the WS along the header, installed it into the A-pillars and then installed it along the header, starting in the center and working toward the A-pillars.

I used popcycle sticks from a craft store to press the WS neatly into the channels w/o tearing it.

I suggest that once you have all the old WS and adhesive removed you "test fit" the new WS before beginning the installation. At this point you can make the call to use adhasive or not.

 

I used adhesive on mine. The way I see it, if they used adhesive at the factory, they must have had good reason for it. I also reused my clips, they were not in bad shape. They are just little plastic pins that go through precut holes in the weatherstrip to help anchor it. The hardest part was removing the adhesive and weatherstrip pieces from the channels, I spent a lot of time scraping it out of the channels with a screwdriver. I did test fits of all of it and put the roof on and tightened it down to make sure everything fit well. The next day I removed the roof panel and carefully removed the new weatherstrip from the channels, put adhesive into the channels where the factory did and reinstalled the weatherstrips. This is around the halo and windshield. I have yet to do the hatch weatherstrip.

 

Aay yes; you can get spare "pins" at an AC Delco outlet.

The hatch WS is easiest, IMO, as there is no adhesive involved only grease. There I proped up the either side of the hatch as I removed the old WS and laid the new into position. A little solvent works to remove the OEM grease and some new lithium grease preps it for the new WS.

 

I just finished mine - first time. Turned out OK. The plastic pins are called "Weather strip retiner pins" - I found the longer, larger ones at a local auto parts store. The short thinner ones, I got at the GM dealership. See my post from a few days ago about cleaniong out the tracks. I only used a few ounces of the 3M Adhesive Cleaner (available at the local auto parts). Just brush some on a small section and go do something else while it works. Do it a few times and most of it will lift off easily with a little persuasion from a plastic paint scraper. I was more inclined to take more time to get the stuff off rather than "using a bigger hammer". Patience pays when doing the removal. I had no scrapes or gouges in my tracks when done.

The new one, I dry fitted and once I was happy with the fit, I marked the WS and the frame with a chaulk alignment line across the WS and frame at several places.

I used WS Black Adhesive all the way around it. When I removed the original WS, it was glued all the way. So I figured that the factory had a good reason for it.

I left the corners in place and pulled the center (top) out of the track. (I made an adhesive spreader from one of those 3M black rubber bondo spreaders. Just cut off a piece a half inch wide that will fit in the track.) Then I laid in a narrow bead of the Black adhesive in the track and on the opposite side WS. Spread the two beads out into a thin film covering the whole track and WS piece. Let that dry to tacky. Then I laid another narrow bead in the track toward the front. Aligning my chalk marks (first at the center of the top) I slipped the front edge of the WS into the track and using a 2 inch plastic paint scraper (dulled) I carefully pressed the other edge (back) of the WS forward and down until it slipped into the track. I used my several alignment chalk lines as i went along to make sure I wasn't stretching the stuff out or compressing it along the way. I only did short sections at a time. ie: from the center toward the corner to about 2 inches from the corner. Then I did the rest through the corner and down a few inches on the side.

Biggest thing is have all you planning done before you squeeze the tube of black adhesive!

You'll find you'll want to install the front edge of the top part into it's track first then the back part. On the side tracks installing the part into the bottom track first works best - You'll see what I mean when you dry fit.

Good luck.

 

The Adhesive Cleaner do you just brush it on the WS? or do you pull it up and brush the underside? Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question just want to fully understand before i start this job!

 

I had the 3M Spray adhesive remover. I bent the weatherstrip back and sprayed it direct onto the old adhesive. It disolves the stuff pretty good. Old strips tear apart some as you peel them out. Still have to do your share of scraping to get all remnants out of the channels. I had a 45 deg. bent blade narrow putty knife, inch wide or so.

 

See my post at http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2023336

I was able to remove the rubber from the tracks pretty effortlessly. In a few spots, some rubber was left attached but for the most part the WS came right out. See the post on how I got the leftover rubber and glue off. Those plastic putty knives come in handy here and elsewhere.

i used the liquid 3M Adhesive remover - not the spray.

 

wow THAT is one heck of a job I got all the old WS out clean really good, test fitted and left it in for the night with the top in! But my question is the retainer pin (clips) seem to be to short. WHY???

 

On mine, the 2 pins on each side were short and the two at the top corners werre longer and had a thicker shank. The short replacements i got at the dealership and the longer thicker ones at a local auto parts. I thought the small ones were pretty small for the job too but apparently not.

 

so its not uncommon for the old ones to not be long enough?

 

When I did it on my 86, I didnt' use any adhesive, just the 3M bedding and glazing compound on the corners. I don't think it hurts anything to use adhesive, but certainly not necessary.

 

The new weatherstrip might be a tad bit thicker so the pins might seem shorter. New pins should have enough "bite" to work though.