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weatherstrip source ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrPbody
  • Start date Start date
M

MrPbody

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I've done some poking around, but being new to Vettes I'd prefer to rely on the experience of others. Where is a good source for weatherstrip for around the door and for the front and rear of the side windows?
92 coupe.

TIA,
Pbody
 
You might want to try e-Bay and look for vavettes.....you can buy the complete set very reasonable.....just type in "C4 corvette weather strip" in the search window
hope this helps
Mike
P.S. welcome to CAC
 
MrPbody, I replaced a few weather strips (windshield & T-Top) some time ago with parts from Ecklers. I did not like the results since geometry / texture of the seals are not the same as the original parts. Ecklers supplied reproduction units. Later I found OEM parts were available from Art's Corvette Pars, but at a fairly higher price.

I would have gone with OEM parts had I known the difference. This is my 2 cents.

Cheers,

Selim
 
All weatherstripping is not the same.

If you see a price thats much cheaper, the quality & fit is not as good.

Beware of Ebay vendors, you never know what your getting.
 
Wayne, I wish I knew that before doing the replacements :( :( :(

Eckler's is okay, but not perfect like what I wanted. We all learn and there is a price for the learning...

Selim
 
I discovered the "search" button last night and spent a mind-numbing hour or so going over hundreds of posts on the subject. After my eyes uncrossed I ordered a full set from WeatherstripSpecial.com . seemed like most folks were satisfied with their product and service so I'll give them a shot. I'm replacing them as much for looks as for sealing, as I seldom drive the car in the rain anyway, and even the GM seals are reported to leak under some conditions so.................

I'll let you know in a week or so ;)

Pbody
 
Pbody, think twice before using non-OEM wheather strips... It is worth the investment to buy OEM parts. But it is all up to you of course.
 
redeasysport said:
Check this out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3125393323
I bought from these guys "Metro" has a 30yr warranty go to Metro web site to see the value this place offers. I have not bought an OEM strip yet and see no problems with a quality weather strip like these.

These are just the seals above the door, and are the exact same seals as sold by weatherstripspecial.com (same part # listed) and for the same price ($79.oo) . I have no reason to question the Ebay sellers, but still prefer to rely on the known rep of a place like WS.com . call me oldfashioned ;) .

Pbody
 
Just to conclude this thread: As mentioned a couple weeks ago I did purchase a full kit from WeatherstripSpecial.com and finally got around to compleating the installation today. Frankly I'm a little puzzled at the opinion of some folks on the "poor quality" of aftermarket seals, as I had no problems whatsoever with these. The side seals on the roof panel don't have the plastic reinforcement molded into the corners like the OEM as noted by some, but I really don't see that as a huge problem. and yes, they are more firm than OEM pieces, but I don't see that as being a problem either.........
Installing weatherstripping is never a heartwarming experience, and does require some patience and attention to details, but I found these aftermarket seals to fit very well and to be quite satifactory overall.

ymmv,
Pbody
 
PBody, I am absolutely sure your after market seals are not as good as OEM parts. Compare the prices with Arts Corvette and you will see the difference between OEM and non OEM parts. Compare material quality of your older seals with the replacements. The originals have a velvet like texture, the after markets are like raw rubber. Compare geometry of the new "side targa top seal" with the original one carefully, if you still have it. It is not the same...

It is all what the objective is; if you want stock quality, what you are getting from after market is not good enough.That was the point I was trying to make.

Cheers,

Selim
 
Selim,

I'm really surprised that Ecklers sold repro sets. Wasn't the set close to $800?
 
Sheeze. Did I say the aftermarket seals were as good as OEM? No I did not. and I mentioned the differences in my post. read it again. I saw no reason to pay 1/4 the cost of an average C-4 to replace seals with OEM parts just so I could say I had. What I said was that the aftermarket seals from WeatherstripSpecial.com fit well and were quite satisfactory for my needs. If I wanted to restore a Corvette to be show quality and factory correct, it's unlikely I would have started with a C-4 to begin with. My C-4 is a very nice "driver".... no more, no less.


Pbody
 
Edmond said:
Selim,

I'm really surprised that Ecklers sold repro sets. Wasn't the set close to $800?

Yeps, Eclers delivered (to me at least) repro parts. I had the t-top left and windshield front seals from Ecklers. Prices were a bit cheaper than originals from Arts Corvette that I discovered after the replacement. I was really sorry for paying like US$100 less for the repro units.

I also posted a few times here that Eclers does not declare what they deliver is non-OEM. They really should, so that the consumer knows what he / she is getting.

Cheers,

Selim
 
Jeffvette said:
Sound advice.

somehow I expected Corvette people to have more.................. common sense.

[shrug]
Pbody
 
I think we all made good sense here. Fact of the matter is, when a replacement part is purchased one should make a decision about the objective. If stock quality is desired an OEM part should be sought after. If stock quality is not the objective then an aftermarket part is usually okay.
 
Thought I might weigh in with my experience... This was several years ago on my 1987 Corvette coupe. It needed new weatherstripping when I bought it, and I sucked it up for a few years before replacing it. I was a college student and not overly flush with cash.

So when I did finally replace it, I wanted to go the economical route, my car wasn't a collectible or anything, so why not save some money on non-OEM stuff. I bought my weatherstripping from I think CorvetteCentral and one other Corvette vendor. I believe the weatherstripping was Soff-Seal and some other kind. There wasn't one company that had all the pieces IIRC. Anyway, so about $600 and I replaced basicallye every piece of weatherstripping on the car.

The new stuff seemed nicer because it was thick and firm and not all flimsy and wrinkly like the original. It installed well and looked nice, right up until I tried to put the top back on the car... It sat about a half-inch too high, though I ultimately was able to clamp it down. I figured it would squish over time and get easier. Then I tried to put the windows up. There was no way on earth that was going to happen... The stuff was just too thick and firm to work properly.

Long story short I returned all of it, was out the shipping costs, and bought all new OEM stuff along with new retainer brackets and screws (which I'd recommend to anyone else attempting to do this, it's much easier and not much more money). All the OEM stuff cost me about $1100, I believe. But it was worth the extra cost because when I installed it, everything worked.

If you had success with aftermarket stuff, then that's great. However, not everyone does. :)
 

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