Lower Door Seals-Do they Work?

[vette-dude]

Today I installed the upper outer door weatherstrip seal. Not too bad a job except for the door panel reinstall. I swear you need three hands. Anyways, I have those lower, stick on door seals that are suppose to keep the muck and stuff from getting all over the inside of the lower door and door frame. (You know the seals Detroit Forgot). As I was laying under the door and test fitting the rubber seal I noticed it covers up the drain holes for the door. Now, me thinks this can't be good. Has anyone put these on? If so how does the water get out of the door. Not that I drive in the rain alot but I do wash the car and I would surmise water does get by the upper seals and into the door on occasions. Am I just being a worry wart?? I realize the door won't rust but the moisture would play havoc with all the elctrical connectors in the door. Cutting the seals to allow the drainage would seem to defeat the purpose of the product. Anybody care to help and old fart figure out why he spent $25 on these things????:confused

Randy

 

[vette-dude]

Guess there were more important topics to discuss.:eyerole Sorry for wasting everyones time who read this. I'll figure it out on my own.

Randy

 

[tlong]

I don't have first hand experience but the scuttlebutt is that it makes the doors hard to close. Trade-off I guess. More should chime in later.

 

[vettepilot]

Today I installed the upper outer door weatherstrip seal. Not too bad a job except for the door panel reinstall. I swear you need three hands. Anyways, I have those lower, stick on door seals that are suppose to keep the muck and stuff from getting all over the inside of the lower door and door frame. (You know the seals Detroit Forgot). As I was laying under the door and test fitting the rubber seal I noticed it covers up the drain holes for the door. Now, me thinks this can't be good. Has anyone put these on? If so how does the water get out of the door. Not that I drive in the rain alot but I do wash the car and I would surmise water does get by the upper seals and into the door on occasions. Am I just being a worry wart?? I realize the door won't rust but the moisture would play havoc with all the elctrical connectors in the door. Cutting the seals to allow the drainage would seem to defeat the purpose of the product. Anybody care to help and old fart figure out why he spent $25 on these things????:confused

Randy

How many "drain holes" did you notice? I'm not exactly positive on this, and I no longer have my C4 to go look at, but I think on my two C4s, 91 and 93, the weather stripping was held on with t-shaped plastic push pins that were locked into the weather stripping by the t-head, and the shafts were barbed that went into the holes in the door. But again I can't be certain about that. I think there were 3 or 4 holes along the bottom of the door where the weather stripping attached. Is that what you are seeing?

vettepilot

 

[B17Crew]

vette-dude,
I have been running them for almost 10 years now on my C4’s. There is no problem with water being trapped. The seals DO NOT cover up any holes, if you have covered up any holes, you have installed/placed the seals incorrectly.

Until last year my C4’s have been daily drivers here in Ohio. Ohio as you can imagine spends most of it’s days in canopies of grey compared to other parts of the U.S. In other words, the seals have been through EVERYTHING.

I have nothing but good things to say about them, they keep the inside lower door jam, noticeably cleaner, ie, dirt does not intrude as high in the doorjam when you have the seals in. C4’s are prone to “sandblasting” just ahead of the lower rear quarter -- just ahead of the rear wheel. I think the seals may have even helped slow the blast effect because my C4’s do not have the damage that my non-sealed C4 had.

They are well worth the money if you drive your Corvette in inclement weather, if your Corvette is a sunny day only car, I don’t feel they are necessary.

B17Crew

 

[B17Crew]

vette-dude,
Forgot to mention that the stick on seal should run the lower length of the inside edge of the door.

Pulled this from Mid Americas site:
“Keep the door sill area of your Corvette insulated against road dirt by installing these rubber Door Sill Seals to the bottom of your doors, sealing the opening along the bottom of the door lip. Quick and easy installation using peel-off tape backing. Instructions included. Seals 2 doors.”


Mid America site, select “Corvette”
http://www.mamotorworks.com/

Hopefully, this direct link will work, if not it’s part number 602-328.

http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomf...http://www.madvet.com/shop%3Fcategory%3D1.193

B17Crew

 

[vette-dude]

B17 and the rest.

Thanks for the responses. Maybe I am trying to put them on upside down. I will check this evening and let everyone know if I am really that dumb. Don't have instructions as bought these from another owner who sold his C4 and bought a C5 and had lost the instructions. There are two holes in the front and rear of the door for drainage and when I test fit the seals they covered them up. But now that I have some more info from you all I see where I could have had them test fit upside down. Had stick on area up so I will reverse and see what it looks like. Thanks again.

Randy

 

[AmosF16]

Randy,
A friend of mine installed them on his C5, and they work great at keeping water and dirt/dust and such out of the sills. His opinion is it's another seal Chevy should have installed but didn't, along with the front hood seal.
Cheers, Andy

 

[FX GS]

Guess there were more important topics to discuss.:eyerole Sorry for wasting everyones time who read this. I'll figure it out on my own.

Randy

Ease off a little.:eyerole You posted going into the w/e and the weather was so nice all over, most people were probably out enjoying their Corvettes before old man winter sets in.

I have the seal installed and they work exactly as advertised.

 

[vette-dude]

Ease off a little.:eyerole You posted going into the w/e and the weather was so nice all over, most people were probably out enjoying their Corvettes before old man winter sets in.

I have the seal installed and they work exactly as advertised.

Just frustrated I guess. Come with age,

Randy

 

[B17Crew]

vette-dude,
I wish I could take some pics and post them for you, but at this time I am unable. If anybody has the seals installed and has a digital camera handy, I’m sure a visual reference would help vette-dude out.

Don’t be discouraged by not getting an immediate response, this is a great forum with many Corvette enthusiasts. Someone can always shed light on questions or at least point you in the right direction!

Happy Corvetting vette-dude,
B17Crew

 

[nyernga]

Look in an Ecklers or Mid America catelog. You'll see how they mount...


Len

 

[Tim Scales]

I have 'em on the '92. They do make the doors a little harder to close but I found the benefit was worth the extra effort! Much cleaner after traveling through rain. Not as much road debris! Well worth the money in my opinion.

 

[SSTibet]

I installed the seals on my 95 Coupe many months ago thinking that it was a good idea to keep road dirt from coming inside the car. The car is 100% garraged when not in use and I do not think the seal closes any openings at all. At least I did not notice any drain holes getting blocked while installing them.

 

[LT4man]

I have had them on since I bought my last C4. I think they work great. Mid America would be able to send you instructions. Just ask them. They keep the dirt out and my pants clean. Just be sure to wipe clean the area where they will stick on. I used a little brake cleaner sprayed on a towel to do the trick. Brake cleaner will take any dirt or wax off and dries immediately.
Good luck!
If you are still having problems, post again and we will definitely get you going in the right direction.

 

[vette-dude]

Thanks for all the replies. Even though I was having a bad day when I posted it has certainly gotten better since. I will put these seals on while the vette is in hibernation through the winter. You guys and gals are the best.

Randy

 

[B17Crew]

Great! I hope they go on easy for you vette-dude. Any problems, just check in here on the CAC.

B17Crew