weatherstrip removal

[dlrshort]

What does everyone use to remove the adhesive holding old weatherstriping? What other prep do you do. I hear the 3M black adhesive is the way to go.

Dave

 

[Scott81]

Dave,

I removed mine about 5 years ago but I remember that the adhesive remover was almost worthless when taking off 20 year old glue, it was rock hard. I used the remover, a 1" metal scraper and a wire brush to get mine off and it was still a royal pain. I don't know how your 71 is set up but the rear door glass WS on my 81 is held on by 3 rivets as well as glue. If it's anything like mine you'll have to take off the inner panels and drill them out, be very careful doing this so you don't break the fiberglass. To put them back on have someone press the WS pieces against the fiberglass while you put new rivets in....this is much easier with help. (use glue also)

There are 2 colors of adhesive that GM used, black and yellow. Not sure what is correct for a 71 but they are both messy to work with and that stuff sticks to everything. Use what you want really.

T-tops are fairly easy to do, mine had a bunch of plastic plugs to hold them in. A little glue around the area and push in the plugs.

The door strips are a pain also, get some help as I had to stretch mine a little. Have some good tape handy to hold them in place once the glue is on.

The front pillars can also be somewhat of a pain, mine had screws holding the metal chrome strip to the pillar....if that makes any sense.

Before you glue anything it's a good idea to test fit them to see what you are going to have to do to get them on. Leaving them lay in the hot sun for a couple hours also helps, makes them more pliable.

 

[dlrshort]

Thanks, Scott. I was contemplating doin the doors. Sounds like a royal pain!

Dave

 

[Scott81]

Dave,

Everything is a pain on these cars The doors aren't that bad if you have someone help out, the door WS pieces are long so an extra set of hands really helps. Plus you'll feel much better doing it yourself rather than paying some schlep too much money.

 

[Dave L.]

Use the BLACK 3M adhesive. If you use the yellow,any where there is excess it will squeeze out around the weatherstrip and look really bad!! For best results don't adhere the weathersrip to the surface imediately,let the glue get a little tacky first then adhere to the surface. If you take your time it is not to bad a job.

Dave

 

[Ala75Vette]

Let me echo what everyone else has just said. I just did my door WS for my '75 two weekends ago, used the black glue, and although it was sort of a pain, it looks good, wasn't toooo tough to do, and man, it sure makes a difference with rattles, etc (i.e., there aren't any more!).

 

[mmvette80]

I did my weatherstripping also. Good luck. It wasn't fun.

 

[jcompton]

I am in the process of re-sealing my 82 ce also. A word of wisdom.....be very, very careful in removing the weatherstripping from a glass t-top. you can scratch thru the black masking the factory puts on the edge of the glass, then you have a scratch that shows thru from the outside. (I know, I did it. Luckly only one small one.) Also had to drill out the three bolts at door edge. Make a short drill so you can't over stroke and hit the glass.