The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Installing chrome lock strip in rear window rubber

Even people who have done this for a living...or people who have simply done this intermittently for decades as a hobby know installing the chrome-look lock strip in the rear window rubber isn't fun.

What you'll learn pretty quickly is that the lock strip installing tool you generally get (and even a good professional tool will have the same problems) will ruin the appearance irreversibly. But using a different method, a lot of patience, as much strength as you can muster (in your hands) and careful thought you can install these strips and make them look just as good as any pro installer anywhere.

First get familiar with the design of your weatherstrip rubber (first image below). There's naturally a smaller slot for the pinchweld and a larger slot for the glass. Install this in the cab and let it sit for a day or two. When you install, allow a half inch longer for the corner windows and an inch longer for the center window. Install this so it pushes back on itself. This strip (no matter who made it) will shrink over time and you want the extra to take up that shrinkage. Then install the glass carefully. A popsicle stick and a ball hook tool will help here and if you push/pull gently on the window in/out and up/down, you'll be able to center it and make it get happier with the rubber. You may need an assistant as the glass can fall back into the cab if you push too hard or if it slips out of the rubber slot. Don't use any sealer on these pieces. GM didn't want you to and you don't need it.

The second image below shows the black rubber strip commonly used on this type of strip and the third image shows the chrome-look strip. You'll notice the chrome-look strip does not the ridge at the bottom and if you feel the two side-by-side, you'll see the chrome strip is much less flexible. The absence of this ridge at the bottom and the slicker nature of the chrome-look strip will work to your advantage in installing.

As for the ball end tool, you can buy one or you can make one (as I did). I've made 3 of these and all you need is a bench grinder (or Dremel tool), an old screwdriver and about half an hour of time. You can see the one I made below.

Also, you'll need a screwdriver with a nice straight end. I filed one very straight. You will notice (as you would expect) once you get the strip over the pinchweld and with the window installed, the slot for the lock strip has now become quite a bit thinner (image below). Now on to installing...