Weatherproofing and the weatherstrip from hell

[masoncp13]

While I was spending a semester at college, my father took it upon himself to order new weatherstripping for my 62 bird, which was great because that would allow us to move forward on the interior. What we did not realize was that the weatherstripping delivered by Thunderbird headquarters (Don Carter is the brand of the rubber we think) is god awful. It pushed the glass out so much that i had to cut the entire front fin of it off so that the doors would close. Along the a-pillars i practically have a waterfall onto my legs and floorboards. Are there any other brands that would be an improvement; I'm tired of pulling my hair out over something that seems so simple

[63flip]

I just received the trunk lid weatherstripping for my 63 conv from Macs. I haven't installed it yet but a quick side by side comparison and they appeared to match very nicely. I hope to have it installed in the next week or two. This is the first weather stripping I've ordered to replace. Hopefully it goes smoothly. I know its not door stripping but it should be an indicator of the quality and fit of Macs product.

[stove]

While I was spending a semester at college, my father took it upon himself to order new weatherstripping for my 62 bird, which was great because that would allow us to move forward on the interior. What we did not realize was that the weatherstripping delivered by Thunderbird headquarters (Don Carter is the brand of the rubber we think) is god awful. It pushed the glass out so much that i had to cut the entire front fin of it off so that the doors would close. Along the a-pillars i practically have a waterfall onto my legs and floorboards. Are there any other brands that would be an improvement; I'm tired of pulling my hair out over something that seems so simple

Been there done that, EXACTLY! "Tapco" brand. What a maddening nightmare! I was able to re-purchase the (very expensive) drip rail weatherstrips, from
Dennis Carpenter. He has his own house brand... It's still not as good as OE, but at least its functional, and you can still use the doors!!

http://dennis-carpenter.com/roof-rail-w ... 351222-PR/

[gyoungwolf]

It's really sad that the only way to have to find out about bad quality parts is after someone has been taken for a ride.
Grant

[roadster601]

welcome to the wonderful world of restoration

[roadster601]

with all the top quality restorers here ya they would post the best reproducer of any thing to be used on our birdswould make our jobs so easy to produce quality cars we all can be proud of just saying

[texastomeh]

Really sorry to hear about your problems.

Don't want to sound like I am trying to "rub salt into the wounds", but doing a SEARCH and asking questions before taking the leap of a purchase and/or installation can often (actually = usually) save a LOT of headaches.

I am a wealth of advice based on actual experience on how NOT to do it!!

There are quite a few guys on here that actually know what they are talking about and how to do it right or at least an acceptable work-around!!

You would be absolutely amazed at the problems that have been solved with a pencil eraser and a bowling ball .

GOOD LUCK!!

Tom

[masoncp13]

I know, but I wasn't around to make the purchase. The car wasn't driveable for my first semester of college so it stayed at home and all this happened while I was gone. But the weatherstrip he purchased, which was probably the Dennis Carpenter one that was linked here cause Don Carter isn't a real company, has seriously mixed reviews online, some people seem to swear by it while others avoid it like the plague (according to my father)

[masoncp13]

While I was spending a semester at college, my father took it upon himself to order new weatherstripping for my 62 bird, which was great because that would allow us to move forward on the interior. What we did not realize was that the weatherstripping delivered by Thunderbird headquarters (Don Carter is the brand of the rubber we think) is god awful. It pushed the glass out so much that i had to cut the entire front fin of it off so that the doors would close. Along the a-pillars i practically have a waterfall onto my legs and floorboards. Are there any other brands that would be an improvement; I'm tired of pulling my hair out over something that seems so simple

Been there done that, EXACTLY! "Tapco" brand. What a maddening nightmare! I was able to re-purchase the (very expensive) drip rail weatherstrips, from
Dennis Carpenter. He has his own house brand... It's still not as good as OE, but at least its functional, and you can still use the doors!!

http://dennis-carpenter.com/roof-rail-w ... 351222-PR/

Stove, what was your experience with Dennis Carpenter, because my weatherstripping is hard as a rock and puts a bind on the doors almost to the point that they don't shut

[stove]

The Dennis Carpenter product was nice and soft (could have been softer), and is what I currently have installed on the car. 99% water/wind sealed, the doors close, windows function. The first product I purchased was a brand called TAPCO, and was completely un-usable trash, rock hard, door would NOT close, and 100% leakage. Nothing would have allowed them to work.

[Ozzy351]

What stove said! Definitely use DC products. They might be a bit more expensive but you won't be buying twice!

Ozzy

[Steverino]

Thanks for this advice! Now the question is - will I remember it by the time I get around to doing weatherstripping?

[caseyc]

Hi All,
It is getting REALLY exciting! I am getting to the point where I am going to be ready for new weatherstriping and I do not know what direction to go. Many on this post seem to like dennis carpenters weatherstrippping products, but they dont have pics in the catalog so you cant see what you are buying. What about Birds nest? any thoughts? Anyone use the birds nest weatherstripping product?

[Steverino]

I can't tell you for sure about Bird Nest, but I know other T-Bird suppliers sell Carpenter products without necessarily naming them. Mac's is one, for example. I recently bought front & rear window seals from them that turned out to be Carpenter.

[stevegintn]

I just received the trunk lid weatherstripping for my 63 conv from Macs. I haven't installed it yet but a quick side by side comparison and they appeared to match very nicely. I hope to have it installed in the next week or two. This is the first weather stripping I've ordered to replace. Hopefully it goes smoothly. I know its not door stripping but it should be an indicator of the quality and fit of Macs product.

63flip, let me know how that goes for you (esp re glue or sealant required?) - trunk lid weatherstripping is on my top 10 to-do list for my 62.