The time is near for me to finally get my Camaro painted. I figure before I take it in, I should remove all the weatherstripping that needs to be replaced. I did some searches and really didn't find any good info on the best weatherstripping to get. I'm looking for complete door replacement. I was wondering which vendor has the best quality, best fit, best price. I see Fairchild, Precision, Metro, and kits from Hawks and other vendors. What are your recommendations?

1988 IROC No T-Tops

 

None of it is as good as the original. Your best bet seems to be Fairchild...

 

I used the full kit from Fairchild on my 82 w/o t tops. They went on well and are great quality. They totally need time to soften/squish a little. I've had the car back from paint for 7 months and they are getting better. Initially I had to be a little more forceful w the doors. I'd think about hinges while you're at it!

 

Fairchild may be a good choice. Rockauto has a good selection

 

I used Steele Rubber. I liked the fit and quality, nearly OEM. Installation was easy. I didn’t have a “break in period”, the doors closed normally from the beginning and everything sealed great. I plan on using them on my current project when the time comes. I hope this helps.

 

I just installed the Metro ones. They are soft but don't have the hard plastic in the end pieces. It only took 2 days with the doors shut to make the doors easy to close.

 

I used nos GM and its been over 6 months, still have to be a bit firm closing the doors.

 

Who sells this brand?

 

You can buy right from their website.


https://www.steelerubber.com

 

Cool, thank you.

 

I had a bad experience with 1aauto weatherstripping and wouldn't recommend them. I mocked the gaskets up on my car and they fit very poorly, I emailed 1aauto asking if I could exchange for another set and they basically convinced themselves that I had a C&C t top car and that's why they didn't fit nicely (I don't have a C&C t top car lol). That was still their default answer even after I sent them pictures of their gaskets fitting poorly in my blaringly obvious factory t top car. A few more back and fourth emails later, they said they would send me a new gasket. They ended up sending me the little gasket that goes on the t top edge and not the gasket I sent them pictures of. I gave up on them after that.

 

Now I am really confused. Lets count them: Fairchild, Steele, Metro, 1aauto. Looks like Fairchild is the cheapest and Steele is the most expensive followed by Metro. I may be leaning toward Steele.

 

my apologies, it was their DIY solutions kit part number WSS00491 that i had the issue with. seems that it is now unavailable so no longer an issue.

 

Was hoping Steele had more stuff for verts. Maybe with time they will.

 

I am leaning toward a combination of Metro, Steele, and maybe fairchild. Seems prices are all over the place.

 

I don't know if Metro weatherstripping has improved any, but the stuff I put on my '78 Firebird years ago wouldn't let the windows close and came apart at the seams. I never had this trouble with Soff Seal stuff I put on a '77 Formula.

 

I just got Fairchild door weatherstripping from RockAuto. The end parts don't have the plastic inserts and I bet when I screw them, the screw will just rip the weatherstripping apart. Those are going back. Any other brands that work better and have the plastic inserts to mount the end points besides hunting for NOS?

 

Im having good luck with soff seal currently, 6 years plus. I had fairchild prior and it was too soft. It sagged along the bottom of the door and would pop off from the retainer clips.

 

I returned the Fairchild back to RockAuto and ordered SoftSeal from Summit Racing. Hopefully, it will fit better. If not, then I guess there is Metro weather stripping or I can hunt Ebay for GM NOS.

 

SoftSeal weather stripping arrived and it is a lot softer than the Fairchild and fits better. I was able to install the driver side without any issues or trimming and the door closed just fine. Tighter than with the original worn out gasket but not too tight that I had to push the door in. I am going to leave it overnight as I added some gasket sealant at the ends and will report in a couple of days.

 

I installed Fairchild last summer. Kit from Rock Auto including doors, T-tops and window sweeps. Months later you still have to slam the drivers side door. Passenger side is not as bad for whatever reason. The car was being restored so new hinges were also done, along with glass, motors and regulator disassembled and cleaned and tightened up. To this day we can't get the window glass sealed against the top to keep water out. We've spent hours adjusting the doors and glass. We don't have any leaks around the top of the T-top itself, just where the door glass goes up against the Top.
I think I would try SoffSeal or Steele Rubber the next time.

 

An update after few days and using the car this weekend. Last week, I was able to install both door weather stripping from SoftSeal after I returned the Fairchild (was too hard and didn't mold nicely when I tried to dry fit it). The SoftSeal weather stripping installed fine and didn't require any trimming. I did have a hard time pushing the pins into the door but with a use of a trim remover, I was able to complete the job. Some gasket maker was added where the original seals were glued to the door. Initial door closing was definitely harder than with the 30+ year old rubber but not impossible. I basically shut the door and left it for 24 hours to settle and glue to dry. Next day, I was able to open the door and shut it few times with a bit of effort but nothing that would worry me. Right now after few rides and using the door 20+ times, the door work fine though you do feel that the rubber is new. But I think this is closer to how it was from the factory as my old doors could be closed if I parked angled and just used the gravity.

Couple of notes: SoftSeal weather stripping doesn't have the plastic inserts where the screws mount. Kinda looks like there is some sort of plastic washer there but nothing substantial that would keep the whole end in place. I used wide washers and also used glue (gasket maker) around the holes so the whole part stays in place and doesn't rip. The pins that go into the door are kinda flimsy. They push hard into the door but the piece that stays in the rubber is very flimsy. If you have a door that's sagging and the rubber drags, you may have issues with those pins popping out. I was thinking of sealing them permanently in the rubber but so far none of them popped out. The rubber compound is pretty soft. I can't really compare to the originals as they were gone but I assume that over time it will mould to the doors just fine.

Overall, I am happy with the installed weather stripping.

 

Thanks for the update and info!!!

 

That's the way Soffseal is based on my experience. The good thing is after a few years your doors will shut just fine. Unfortunately I haven't found anything better, including NOS GM weatherstripping.

 

'Looks like whatever brand you choose is gonna be a compromise...

 

I think this is totally true. The Fairchild ones I have went on perfectly. Lined up w all the holes. No adhesive needed. The only issue was they were a little stiff. The guy that did the paint on the car was really happy w them as far as install. All he does are restorations. He said most cars are a little stiff to close initially w new seals.

 

Have any photos of the fitment?