Scotty47, I'll weigh in just a bit there on your last question. I agree that as a rule Steele has the best product but in MY OPINION they "cash in" on the name for some products that really are no better than others we buy. I purchased my weather stripping from another vendor for my panel and have been very happy with it the past 3 years. As we all know it has a lot to do with how well we install it. Therefore, I don't think the price at Steele for weather-stripping justified.......
.....I feel a LITTLE different about the windshield gaskets but my thinking here may be just due to my year/model. About a year ago I took the windshield out of my 37 to put in a new frame. I figured the old gasket I bought from JimCarter 15 years ago probably needed changing. I decided to go for the Steele gasket so a friend rode with me to Steele's facility to get some stuff. Their new windshield gasket was a little different, and pricey. I pulled the wallet out and paid big bucks. When I got home and compared I almost put the old gasket back on because it "hugged" the cab better than the smaller new one.......However, the wing vent rubber for my panel, from Steele, was much better than some stuff I purchased from another vendor. It was worth the money.
While at Steele I was told by_____that Steele doesn't make all their rubber stuff anyway, which I already knew. Them, Dennis Carpenter, and others buy and sell from each other which is the difference in different stuff as mentioned above. I also chatted with them about giving Stovebolters a measly 10% discount but it didn't happen!
I'm NOT bad mouthing them, just saying things are not always as they seem to be and we all have different experiences....and some things just aren't worth the difference in $$$$
