Does anyone have any ideas where I can get (reasonably priced)weather stripping for my '89 Firebird? My recent trip to the USA was uneventful, all I was offered was a draught excluder! The strips I am looking for are the rubber seal between door and pillar as mine are badly damaged and leaking inside (bit of a bummer as the car won't fit in the garage).

Cheers

Mark

 

The seals that the glass presses against? I'm ordering a new set of T-Top seals from Hawks. I find that the cheapest way is to order straight from the states, especially with the great exchange rate at the moment.....which doesn't seem to make the slightest bit of difference with the UK retailer prices.

 

Yes that's what I am looking for, with the benefit of not having T tops to pay for! I couldn't find any auto accessories dealers in the US that were able to help, stating it was a GM dealer part. Do you have a web address for where you are getting yours please?

 

I've just seen their advert at the top of the page.

 

Try this chap on Ebay,I haven't ordered from them as I bought mine a couple of years ago in the UK Weatherstrip

 

I got burned a couple of times trying to buy stuff from eBay and cancelled my membership. I have tried emailing the seller though as he seems to have a lot of stuff.

Cheers

Mark

 

Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear of your bad Ebay experience.It would be a shame to give up on it though mate.I buy literally everything from Ebay,and though I have been shafted twice to the tune of £150,I have genuinely saved £5000+.(I tell the wife it's more like £10,000).Just go to the US Ebay motors site and try a few keywords,lt's like being a kid in a sweetshop.

 

It was the USA where I got stuffed Didn't actually lose any money, but several times the sellers (with no reserve and no disclaimer) withdrew the goods with less than 30 minutes to go before closing. They then have the cheek to email me a couple of weeks later asking if I still wanted the goods!!

May try it again one day, but I am seeing lots of negative publicity about it now.

Mark

 

Just one advice, get GM weatherstripping anything else you will regret even if it's way cheaper!

 

Hmm, wish i'd seen that before I ordered from Mr Weatherstripping on Friday Let's hope that what I get I can do something with. It is Soffseal and searching their site seems to give me the idea that they aren't too bad (touch wood).

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

I'm with erictheviking, ebay is great for US parts especially with the exchange rate as it is. I got stung once buying from the US (my camshaft) but got all the cash back in the end through Paypal. Just use the bigger sellers and you will be fine.

Felix

 

I definitely think that is the point,use the bigger sellers with the good feedback.Having said that,I have used private individuals before and been ok.I would recommend spending a couple of hours(days!) thinking of as many parts/keywords and looking it all up.Talk about aladdin's cave!As Felix said,the exchange rate is very good £1=$1.81 at the moment.I have also noticed that some shops will offer Ebay exclusives,with deals better than their normal online catalogue.I have also used our trusty Thirdgen.org/classified section many times.Some awesome stuff for sale on there.Good luck Mark.

BTW Do a search on soffseal vs GM weatherstripping and some people will favour one over the other.I think it largely comes down to how much time you take to fit it properly.A friend of mine uses Soffseal and swears by it over the GM stuff,but that's just his opinion?

 

Yeh, I swear by Ebay - bought loads of parts off it for my Trans Am over the last year and a bit. So far no problems and have just bought some more bits last night.

Best bet is to stick to the established sellers with good feedback and pay by Paypal on the credit card.

Anyway good luck with the new weatherstripping - it should hopefully be better than what is already on the car ( if not the GM stuff ) - make sure you use the correct weatherstripping adhesive too. I had to order the stuff from the US when I replaced my weatherstripping - I used the 3M adhesive which worked great.

The weatherstripping itself was purchased from Hawks and was old GM stock.

 

Yearone or classic industries, if you can't find the stuff on ebay.

 

Go with the 3M stuff and there is both black and yellow stuff avalible so get the black one as the yellow stuff will show when is squeezes up on the edges in some places.

 

3M Weatherstrip Adhesive. Follow the label directions and you'll never have problems. It might be difficult to get aero-freighted out of the U.S., however.

 

Do you have a part number or anything at all for that so that I can try and get hold of some please? I have been asking at the local car shops and all they can come up with is silicon or Thixofix.

Cheers

Mark

P.S. It still hasn't arrived yet!!

 

I emailed Charlie at www.handsontools.com and purchased it
from them. Dead quick delivery via Airmail. I'd get three tubes to be on the safe side.

When you're fitting your new weatherstripping, a good idea once the old stuff has been removed, is to take the centre panel off
( 8 screws I think ) and inspect it for corrosion. Put loads of silicone sealant on the underside of it before putting it back into place. It can be a source of water ingress,
which is what happened to me. Had to purchase a new centre panel off Ebay infact - my old one was pretty corroded in the channels that the weatherstripping fits into.

Here's a direct link for the 3M adhesive - you want the black stuff
no. 3M08008 ( Super Weatherstrip Adhesive )

http://www.handsontools.com/store-ca...overs_459.html

At $ 5.96 per tube it's dead cheap

 

Problem is, they don't respond to emails asking for shipping information. Perhaps I am being unfair and impatient as I only emailed them on Friday and followed it up today.

I am impatient though as the strips arrived today, well sort of. Parcel Farce tried to deliver them but I wasn't in. Maybe sometime during the week (after i've paid the extra £16 charge!)

Mark

 

Just keep at them, they should get back to you ok. The shipping wasn't expensive either, just USPS Airmail for the stuff.

 

Let me know if they get back to you. I could do with some of that stuff also.

 

They have a minimum $20 order. If they ever get back to me do you fancy splitting a shipment? I want 2 tubes if you have 2 tubes also we could split it 50/50?

Let me know and i'll PM you when I find out.

Mark

 

Keep on at them until you get a reply. And let me know what happens. I'm interested. I tried e-mailing places in the UK that deal in 3M products but they never replied.

 

When I tried contacting a couple of companies in the UK who dealt with 3M products, one said that 3M had discontinued the adhesive over here and the other would only sell in bulk to the trade.

I guess if all else fails you could try phoning. At any rate, when I dealt with them they were spot on - excellent prices and contact, along with *very* fast shipping.

Definitely keep at them.

 

Well i've given handsontools every chance to quote me, but they have refused to respond . I have found another site at http://www.atrim.com. I am going to order 4x 5oz tubes tonight or tomorrow, they are $6.25ea + $6ea for shipping (not sure what that works out at Sterling as I will need to check my credit card). Hopefully it will not put the shipment above the threshold for customs to stop and add their little bit extra!

I am going to keep two tubes, but the other two are up for grabs for what it costs me to receive and send them to you. Any takers?

Cheers

Mark

 

Mark,

Is this the same 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive that the other place was selling? I presume it's black?

If so I'll take the other 2 tubes off you. It shouldn't come to much more than £15 for 2 tubes including P&P which means the 4 should be just under the £35 limit.

 

Yes it is exactly the same. Black 3M adhesive 08008. The total price for all four tubes including shipping is $49.50 which at todays rate is about £27(ish). I have since looked at HMC&E's site and it says that goods purchased over £18 are subject to duty/ vat but gifts under £36 are duty/ vat free. Hopefully the "gift" box will be ticked on the customs coupon and I have asked for no receipt, so it looks like a proper gift.

Will let you know when it arrives, it was ordered this evening for shipping tomorrow.

Cheers

Mark

 

Great stuff. Shouldn't be too long.

I take it 2 tubes should be enough for a T-Top car?

 

I have no idea, although I did read on one of the sites I searched that one tube should be enough to do one car. Whether that was hard top like mine, or T tops like yours I don't know.

 

Having finished work early today, I decided to do some work on the car. First I fitted the hood struts, simplest thing in the World, although the instructions made it look difficult.

Next the weatherstripping. I had been talking to Peter Jones in Luton, (he fits a lot of windscreens to American cars) whilst on my quest for the 3M adhesive. He suggested "dry" fitting the weatherstripping and leaving it for a week or so to "get used" to the shape it is going to take. The driver's side came away easily, there was no adhesive in there. The new srips fitted in dead easily, one side done in 20 minutes. The passenger side? . This side had been fitted using the adhesive and it is a right b*stard to get off. Removing the old strip was easy, it was removing the old parts that ripped off and were stuck under the lip of the frame. I used a bit of solvent cleaner and eventually it all came away and the second seal was fitted. Once the adhesive arrives, I shall remove it all again and refit it, the windows can be fitted properly then too!


RMK: Looking at how the adhesive was used on the one side, it was "dabbed" in 6" strips along the channel. I would imagine if you do the same the two tubes will be ample.

Cheers

Mark

 

Glad you got your adhesive arranged ok through an alternative source

You will find that two tubes are plenty.

Best of luck.

 

For everyone that has done this, what did you use to fill/bridge the gap that is in the red circle in this pic? I've heard you need 3M strip caulk...but can't find this stuff anywhere. Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks