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Morning all Bought a set of A pillar weatherstrips for the 70 convertible. Old ones are big time aged out. The new ones have some considerable differences in size /shape. (Pics below) As usual my lack of experience leaves me with questions lol.
The new ones appear shorter (although the directions show how to stretch them into length you need) The top end appears smaller, and the bottom end which clips in inside the door jamb is smaller and shaped different.
First thing that came to mind is that the old one is just really distorted and blown up and squashed from it's age, or the old one is incorrect and put in there by previous owner. Or both. I did a quick trial fit and it does fit , just shaped differently.
ANy knowledge would be appreciated
Thanks as always Length Top end Door jamb end
Did you buy the new weather stripping from Steele Rubber or Soffseal? If so, I wouldn't worry about the differences. I've only heard good things about them and the weather stripping I bought from Steele Rubber for my 71 98 was top notch.
FWIW, you might have to get the windows re-aligned when you install new weather stripping. I paid a glass & window shop to do this in my 71 98.
Did you buy the new weather stripping from Steele Rubber or Soffseal? If so, I wouldn't worry about the differences. I've only heard good things about them and the weather stripping I bought from Steele Rubber for my 71 98 was top notch.
FWIW, you might have to get the windows re-aligned when you install new weather stripping. I paid a glass & window shop to do this in my 71 98.
I did not. But I do have a Steele catalog . They we're double the price of the ones that I got from Fusick, which came through from a company called Metro.
Does the new strip fit good WITH or WITHOUT stretching. Sounds kind of bogus on the "you can stretch them to fit" part.
I installed some on a '70 convert (don't recall which brand...supplied by customer but I will check) and I don't recall them having to be stretched much at all.
Maybe Metro is making those "universal" so they can sell the same pieces for some application w/a slightly shorter windshield.....who knows??
Does the new strip fit good WITH or WITHOUT stretching. Sounds kind of bogus on the "you can stretch them to fit" part.
I installed some on a '70 convert (don't recall which brand...supplied by customer but I will check) and I don't recall them having to be stretched much at all.
Maybe Metro is making those "universal" so they can sell the same pieces for some application w/a slightly shorter windshield.....who knows??
Minmal "stretching" to make it reach. I have zero experience with weatherstripping so I'm not sure what my tolerance should be for anything less than exact duplicate to the original. However you may be right on the universal application idea. I don't have the box in front of me but if I recall it had a label that said something to the effect of "all GM A bodies.
Either way I'm not that crazy about them. That bottom end that goes in the door jam is MUCH larger and flatter on the old one and has 2 holes punched in it for the plastic pins that secure it. It appears I have to punch the holes in the new ones.
Anyone know if the Steel or Soffseal units are a better replica to originals? The steel catalog has a picture but it's not clear.
I just checked out the Steel version on their website. The part they show for the 70 Olds shows it also has compatibility with about 12 different GM A's. Soffseal... Not sure what's going on there . There's about three parts listed in total for the 70 Olds
Surely someone on this site has a set of convertible Apillar reproduction w/strips they haven't installed yet that they could take an exact length measurement on.....out of curiosity to see how they compare.
In my 3rd picture marked "door jamb end" is the old one only larger and flatter because it's been squashed for 52 years? The differences in size here are concerning.
Surely someone on this site has a set of convertible Apillar reproduction w/strips they haven't installed yet that they could take an exact length measurement on.....out of curiosity to see how they compare.
This is the Inline Tube A-pillar seal part# INL12953; think it's made by Metro. It measures 22" long (unstretched).
Yep, that's exactly the one I have. Same length as well. I had an opportunity to visit a local body guy I know today and he confirmed our suspicion....the older one is only that "big" because it's blown out and swollen and squashed with age. Unfortunately it does look as though I'll have to accurately punch the holes for the fasteners on the jamb end. Thanks again everyone for the help.
When you replaced yours was there a noticeable difference in size and shape due to age as seen in my photos above?
Mine looked identical to the originals except for the wear on the old ones.
here are a few pictures of them installed
I hope Soffseal didn't change their design, I purchased mine probably 15-20 years ago and just installed them maybe 2 years ago
Good Luck
Last edited by Schne442; Sep 9, 2022 at 03:28 PM.
Reason: added statement
Quick follow up on this issue. I returned the Metro weather strips and purchased the Softseal version through Jeggs. Much better. Bottom door jamb portion is more accurate in size with mounting pin holes started in the correct location . Length also better. Thanks for the tip!
