1968 Weatherstrip

[franklinair]

Who makes/sells the best quality Roof Side Rail Weatherstrip?
I'm not completely happy with the ones I installed on my Highland Green CS due to a slight gap along the top of the door windows. (The windows are properly adjusted for the upper travel.)

Neil

 

[Mosesatm]

I've heard good things about Steele, but I don't have any personal experience with their products.
http://www.steelerubber.com/hardtop-roof-rail-weatherstrip-20-2808-68

 

[robert campbell]

Dad,
Great topic. I am sorry that I cannot help and would love to see some weigh in. I replaced mine back in 1989 and they were inferior to the originals that unfortunately were worn out. The material was not as dense and did not hold its shape.

I have put a narrow foam or some double back tape between the chrome molding and the roof to "shim" it down in some strategic areas to tighten the fit of the weather strip.

Son

 

[Ruppstang]

The best I have found was the Daniel Carpenter USA made. Rob is right the newer stuff is thinner and less dense. I had to use some adhesive in places the make it stay in place.
Marty

 

[franklinair]

I've 'shimmed' the roof rail strip as Rob did, and it DID help. I just don't want to do the job twice when I start assembling my "Black Beauty" project CS.
Thanks guys. This site is GREAT.

Neil

 

[robert campbell]

We bought Val's Fastback from a great friend and notable body and paint guy in our area. He owned Val's car and during that time he "put her on its roof". Ouch!

He cut the roof off and did a beautiful job, but Rob has some "strategic" (read a bit thicker than he would like) foam in a couple places to keep the air out and fit the side window weather strip.

Rob

 

[dalorzo_f]

Think I used the Carpenter on 3 '68 coupes and they seemed OK. Recall no significant fitment issues on any of them.

Just a semi-related note on Steele fabrication/fit, I have compared the Steele convertible top wetherstripping to OEM and Drake, its not a lot different to SD. Both differ from OEM in some noticeable ways, dimensionally. Hard to judge material density based on 50 year old rubber. Some of the mold marks are absolutely identical, and don't match OEM so I am not sure if Steele is selling to Drake or the other way around, as from memory the two parts were not much differnt..