Well, I tried my hand at replacing my main door weatherstripping this week.  Took my time and got all the old adhesive off, dry fitted the new stuff and then opened the new adhesive. Black car, black adhesive, this cant be too bad.....right.  In spite of taking my time and my best effort it looks like a half trained monkey put this stuff on.  This weekend Ill be removing the just installed weatherstripping and starting all over.  Any tips or secrets to doing this right would be appreciated.

Now I'm glad I'm having the body shop do it for me while it's in for paint! I feel your pain!

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"Down on the Boardwalk...

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Mask off all surrounding areas with painter's tape.  This eliminates the messy goop that is squeezed out. Then apply a little bit -- a little goes a long way! Anyway you do it, it's messy.  Keep those fingers clean. And count your blessings the car wasn't WHITE! 

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Consider the fact that it was messy when it was originally done, also.
You can use some of those cheapo 1" wide foam brushes, if ya want...just buy a bag with lots of them, since the weatherstrip adhesive sets up pretty quick.

The real trick is to apply the adhesive and spread it out, then let it sit for a few minutes to get really tacky. Then it won't run all over the place, or squeeze out as much. Put it on BOTH the weatherstrip and the doors, and use the brush to brush it around where ya want it to go.
hth


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Well, Thanks to the advise above as well as from a friend who has done this many times Ive learned a few things about this unsavory task. (1) When it comes to weatherstrip adhesive less can be more as in better bond and not nearly the squeeze out problem.  (2)Yes, weatherstrip can be removed CAREFULLY and reinstalled but the second attempt at removing may not turn out as well as the first.  (3)I may have to go into rehab for adhesive remover addiction...that stuff is some powerful stuff   I think Ive got this thing down now and will complete the job when my new weathestrips arrive from RIKS Corvette Parts  the first of the week.  

Yeah Joel nailed it..I do the stringy test..put it on both sides wait about 5 minutes or so and stick on just a little bit of rubber..then pull it off..if you get little stringys then you wait a little longer..and the big stringys then its just right..

Rich

Oh I will go for that adhesive remover..makes ya smile every time.yostusota2011-03-26 15:15:27

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Hey Rich, be careful letting us know you have experience with putting on weatherstripping. Remember there is a car only a few miles from you that still needs every piece of weatherstrip put on! You could get volunteered to help!
Chip, Dont forget to put on some pics of your work in progress. Are the weather strips coming this week replacing some that you werent happy with or just some that you didnt have?
Rodney



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Another quick little tip I learned...use some painters tape to hold weatherstrip in place at the difficult places until adfhesive sets up. I had to stetch my weatherstrip slightly to reach both ends of the fastening points and that tends to pull the weatherstrip away from the proper position.

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DanT

Rodney I am still waiting for the call to put the motor and trans in! Weather stripping is definitely a patience game..and like Joel said it wasn't put on all that neat from the get go.

Rich

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Rich, wish I had an engine to put in!
Rodney


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Rod, I had some new weatherstrip on hand from the previous owner but the drivers side didnt make it through the second "uninstall" so Im ordering a new set from RIKS.  I think they have the latex stripping which is more flexible and more like the original.  Ill be ordering it tomorrow morning and usually get my orders the following day from them.  I highly recommend them to anyone needing parts, AND they are a forum supporting vendor.

When I did mine I found a fully trained monkey to help.........oh wait, no that was my son.
 I was going to mention what Dan offered. Putting masking tape every 12" or so does really help. I did have to go back later and put a little more adhesive in places where it was too thin. But I feel better too thin than too much. "T"


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Click on images for Before and After pics!

Well guys, you've just talked me out of my next project--new weatherstrip for the t-tops.  Maybe I'll just drive on dry days!!!

Jim, I am sure it is a project that you can do, just trying to get as much information from those that have done it so it is a job we can address without encountering the problems others have. Thats what this site is all about, getting the help and knowledge so we can do these things. And let me just say its the best site around to gain the information needed! So go ahead and tackle that job! the help is here for you.
Rodney


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I use a acid brush,one made for solder flux, do a couple inches at a time, you will learn to be patient after you get over being mad   lol

Jim

I have a 82 so the t-top weatherstripping could be different but mind did not take adhesive.  It is push in with those plastic pins.  The 69 and up use the plastic pins if the catalog pictures are to be believed  I just not seen any pictures of 68 weatherstripping for the T-tops. 

I'm thinking yours may not use adhesive either.  Anyway if it is plastic pins and not adhesive it is an easy job.  Done it twice.  One my car and helped a guy do his.  Both were later models than yours.

The set I got work great.  I had my car out in a hard SoCal rain.  That is different that most of you get but it was coming down good.  Had to go to church and it is my daily driver.  Which means I would rather drive it than the Toyota or Cadillac.  I was really surprised that no rain came in from under the T-tops.  Fastest I got was 50mph which is ok but not the 75mph I do no the freeways and it may be different at that speed.  I got my weatherstripping from Mid America Motorworks.