weatherstrip/window sweeps

[Skip]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to this. Life and family gets in the way sometimes. Busy, busy, busy.

Okay, so back on subject. I'm gonna get ready to do the job but like I mentioned before it appears I have a problem. Without taking the door apart and just looking at the chrome escutcheon on the left side rear door to be rusted away. The metal looks rusted and curled between the inside of the escutcheon between the glass and the chrome. I will have to find a new one somewhere. Now I have to find the time to take that door panel apart and do a more detailed inspection.

I am looking on J.C. Whitney for the Belt Weatherstrips and according to their web site SKU#: JCW-819751 Manufacturer# 1369-4 Brand: Fairchild Industries $19.47 for a 48" length is a fit for my '93 Buick Century Special so I'm bookmarking that.

[Ray_McAvoy]

I am looking on J.C. Whitney for the Belt Weatherstrips and according to their web site SKU#: JCW-819751 Manufacturer# 1369-4 Brand: Fairchild Industries $19.47 for a 48" length is a fit for my '93 Buick Century Special so I'm bookmarking that.

Just an FYI, I think you can get a better deal on RockAuto.

Through JC Whiteney, you'd have to buy 4 of those 48" pieces (at a total cost of $77.88) to have enough to do all 4 doors.

RockAuto carries the same #1369 Fairchild brand beltline weatherstrip under the following part numbers:

# 13694X2 is for two 48" pieces and is currently listed for $30.79. You'd only need to buy 2 of those (to get 4 pieces) for a total of $61.58.

# 136927X3 is for three 32" pieces and is currently listed for $29.79. You'd still need to buy 2 (to get 6 pieces, and have 2 left over) for a total of $59.58. This is what I bought for mine since the 32" length is a much better fit on a 4-door. Plus you end up with 2 full 32" pieces left over that could be useful if you ever need to replace them again (as opposed to the shorter scraps that would be left after cutting down the 48" pieces).

[Skip]

Thank you Ray, I will look into that.

[Skip]

Well, there is no sense in my going any further with this. What it appears I'm going to need is what I believe is called the "Outer Belt Reveal Molding" which is the Chrome piece that we see when we look at the outer part of the door at the bottom of the windows. That is what the door sweep is attached to. Mine is rotted away badly.

The question now would be...........does anyone know where I can find this? I live in Chicago and these cars are almost non-existant here. Even if I could find one in the bone yard it's going to be much worse than mine is.

Hmm, I guess I could call up yards in Florida and see if they have one. Maybe they could ship me one out if they do. Hmmmmmm.

[Ray_McAvoy]

Sorry to hear the "tin worms" have been feasting on your car's belt molding ... or I should probably say "aluminum worms" because I believe the "chrome" on these is anodized aluminum.

Yeah, getting in touch with some of our members in southern states where rust & corrosion isn't much of an issue would probably be your best bet for finding some good replacements.

But it might not hurt to see what your local junkyards have to offer. I know when I replaced the weatherstrips on my '88 I was pleasantly surprised to find the aluminum belt moldings were still nearly new looking despite the amount of rust & corrosion I had to repair elsewhere on the car.

[Keiths1976]

Hey skip I live in Florida sir ! I will make a yard trip tomorrow cause I am going for a for a fellow member and take a look for u . which side drivers front or passenger front door ? Drop me a email skip mx67627@aol.com thanks Keith !

[Skip]

Thank you so very much for the offer. Email sent.

[Moonkilla1]

I can't understand why we can't just take the belt weather strip off of a 2010-16 any type of car found in the yard, measure, cut and make it work. Are these really that important to have a specific type made for our A-body's alone? Of course I understand there will be modifications made but wouldn't it be worth it knowing you can pick some up today at a fraction of the cost at your local yard?

I have been thinking about this for a while now because Rustys 26 years old and needs them replaced badly, it seems to be common topic here on the forums.

What are your thoughts on this guys?

[SegaGT]

I can't understand why we can't just take the belt weather strip off of a 2010-16 any type of car found in the yard, measure, cut and make it work. Are these really that important to have a specific type made for our A-body's alone? Of course I understand there will be modifications made but wouldn't it be worth it knowing you can pick some up today at a fraction of the cost at your local yard?

I have been thinking about this for a while now because Rustys 26 years old and needs them replaced badly, it seems to be common topic here on the forums.

What are your thoughts on this guys?

In a way you are kind of right about what you are saying above. The replacement we can order (links in previous posts) is a generic that is non brand specific. The write up that was linked is from a Ford forum

As you say its a mater of measuring and cutting. Since you have to take the door all apart to replace it, you might as well get new material. The yard swap would have made sense if any A-bodys still had good rubber, but they are all 20+ years old now.

As for newer cars, the dimensions and profile of the glass/contact/mount surfaces would likely be different.
The part number generic that we have been talking about is the correct profile to fit our cars as has been verified by several members in this forum so that is why buying new material from Rock Auto/ JC Whitney. etc. makes the most sense.

I went hunting through A-Body forums and put links to all the info I found here because as you say we are just about all dealing with this issue now.
The last step will be for someone to just do a write up thread on an A body and share.

Moonkilla, you are an inspiration, and have made great progress with your beautiful car.
Maybe you can get the material, do your car and do a write up to help us out

[Century7667]

I did this job about 5 years ago. The dew wipes come in all sorts of different profiles. You have to get the right one.

It's really not a big deal at all to separate the old dried up dew wipe from the chrome escutcheon. The measurements are all even SAE measurement. That is if you measure the old rubber, you'll find the notch here that's exactly 3/8", and everything is real easy. The original was stapled or crimped in, but the screws will hold it in fine by themselves. I replaced my screws with stainless ones.

If you scroll down this post, you'll see what I did: http://www.a-body.net/forums/showthr...ghlight=window

That was 4 and a half years ago. I have to badge into the parking garage everyday, with no power window issues whatsoever. Original everything except the dew wipe and screws.

Ken T.

[BretGray1987]

Hi all newbie lurker here….I own a 1987 cutlass ciera 4 door (2.5), and I need the window sill seals (found those) and the window channel. I’ve searched many posts regarding which window channel to use and didn’t find anything definitive regarding a part number, supplier or other such. Does anyone know which channel profile works best? Any other GM vehicles (with greater aftermarket support) interchange? Please advise and thanks for all the awesome posts.

BSG

[Keiths1976]

Window dew strips if they are the ones in the outside of the windows . Rock auto has them in sets of two and some trimming is needed and u need your old ones to mark the screw holes

[Keiths1976]