Quality Weatherstripping Knowledge Needed
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 172
Likes: 16
Quality Weatherstripping Knowledge Needed
All, I need to replace the majority of my weatherstripping. My problem is making sure I spend the money on quality. I dont want to be replacing it in 3 years. So what is better/best - EPDm or Latex? I have looked around and found both are expensive and a full kit seems to run 700+. I don't seem to see Latex for the back window hatch which makes me think if I'm buying EPDm for the hatch why not for all.
I keep thinking latex because it was factory and shouldnt cause adjustment issues you seem to get with cheap sponge weatherstrip. Is EPDM consider quality, cheap, or an improvement to Latex?
Corvette Rubber Co. couldn't do a worse job of selling why but their product other. Aboalutely no content as to why theirs is best to buy. Corvette Central I didn't think is that much better. ZIP, which I associate with economy products, do a good job.
I called Corvette Mike in CA and they quoted $1,150, cant justify on $1,500 barn find.
I need to resolve so i can be ready for spring! All knowledge drips on this post is greatly appreciated.
I keep thinking latex because it was factory and shouldnt cause adjustment issues you seem to get with cheap sponge weatherstrip. Is EPDM consider quality, cheap, or an improvement to Latex?
Corvette Rubber Co. couldn't do a worse job of selling why but their product other. Aboalutely no content as to why theirs is best to buy. Corvette Central I didn't think is that much better. ZIP, which I associate with economy products, do a good job.
I called Corvette Mike in CA and they quoted $1,150, cant justify on $1,500 barn find.
I need to resolve so i can be ready for spring! All knowledge drips on this post is greatly appreciated.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 401
Likes: 161
From: Ellicott City MD
By far Corvette Rubber is the best quality at a fair price. Others are made in India or China, this is made in the USA. https://corvette-rubber.com/collecti...84-1996?page=1. They are also known as: https://www.mmri-crc.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 767
From: Sligo PA
I'm in the minority here. But so far I've had good luck with the cheap ebay kit for $100. its not foam at all. Every piece is solid rubber. I know that a lot of people have ordered the cheap kits and had fitment issues. But think about it this way. If you get a complete ebay kit for $100. Lets say out of that kit everything works fine except one or two pieces. Then you can just order those pieces from someone else and save a lot of money. But being the ebay sets are rubber and not foam I can't see how it wouldn't hold up over time. Best part is if everything went wrong and every piece of the ebay kit was of spec you get your money back.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 172
Likes: 16
By far Corvette Rubber is the best quality at a fair price. Others are made in India or China, this is made in the USA. https://corvette-rubber.com/collecti...84-1996?page=1. They are also known as: https://www.mmri-crc.com/
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Connecticut
Not worth it. Please don't go cheap you will end up replacing every piece. Last owner did this one mine and ended up cracking the hard top and having never-ending leaks. Doors require lots of force to close. I've had to buy every new piece from corvette rubber and the quality is night and day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 767
From: Sligo PA
Not worth it. Please don't go cheap you will end up replacing every piece. Last owner did this one mine and ended up cracking the hard top and having never-ending leaks. Doors require lots of force to close. I've had to buy every new piece from corvette rubber and the quality is night and day.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,388
Likes: 2,749
You need to do a post about how it worked for you and what did. maybe you have one already?
my daughter cannot afford the crc stuff. how did you make the cheap stuff work? do you have to slam doors?
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 383
Likes: 124
From: St. Petersburg, FL
I'm in the minority here. But so far I've had good luck with the cheap ebay kit for $100. its not foam at all. Every piece is solid rubber. I know that a lot of people have ordered the cheap kits and had fitment issues. But think about it this way. If you get a complete ebay kit for $100. Lets say out of that kit everything works fine except one or two pieces. Then you can just order those pieces from someone else and save a lot of money. But being the ebay sets are rubber and not foam I can't see how it wouldn't hold up over time. Best part is if everything went wrong and every piece of the ebay kit was of spec you get your money back.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 441
From: Albuquerque NM
My only experience is with the rear hatch glass halo sections.
I have had three sets of strip. Two cheap ebay, one corvette rubber. One cheap ebay set fit, but split at the corner seam just from sitting and age.
One ebay set simply did not fit at all. I had to snip out a section to get it to fit. Essentially a worthless waste of money.
The corvette rubber set went right in, fit perfect, and has been good to go for about 2 years daily use now.
I have had three sets of strip. Two cheap ebay, one corvette rubber. One cheap ebay set fit, but split at the corner seam just from sitting and age.
One ebay set simply did not fit at all. I had to snip out a section to get it to fit. Essentially a worthless waste of money.
The corvette rubber set went right in, fit perfect, and has been good to go for about 2 years daily use now.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 57
Likes: 3
From: Connecticut
The cheap stuff will make you have to slam doors which can chip your paint and breaks stuff. It cracked the fiberglass top on mine when the old owner did it (1000 dollar top). The cheap stuff leaks constantly and will break over a relatively short amount of time. Also good luck closing the doors with the windows rolled all the way up, or even rolling them up all the way while closed. Not worth it. The back hatch also requires slamming to close, and those are fragile pieces of enormous glass
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 172
Likes: 16
By far Corvette Rubber is the best quality at a fair price. Others are made in India or China, this is made in the USA. https://corvette-rubber.com/collecti...84-1996?page=1. They are also known as: https://www.mmri-crc.com/
THANKS FOR ALL INPUT.
I think k of how much I got in it and and probably wont make much on the car vs buyi g one in much better condition. The difference is much of the car will be new.