The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Lower Door Seal Retainer

Just finished installing door weather stripping and looking for a source for the metal door seal retainer that mounts to the bottom of the door. I am having trouble locating them, Classic Parts of America has had them on back order since August. My truck never had them and looking for this last item to finish interior.
Thanks!

What year?

Are these what you are looking for?

Thanks for the quick response. That is what I'm looking for. Just called to check inventory and only SS is in stock. I'll try to wait on the standard steel. Forgot to mention it's for a '51 3100.

The SS retainers are only ten bucks more than the carbon steel
and you will never ever have to worry about them rusting as
almost all of the original ones are that I've seen. Have them
toss in the SS screws also.
If your intention is to paint them, the stainless will take
paint just as well as the carbon steel.

DG

I agree, go with Stainless. You really don't see them and they will last. But, I have to disagree with Denny on painting them. Sure, you can paint stainless, but generally painting of stainless steel is not recommended. If you do paint stainless, I suggest an epoxy primer to ensure the best holding power possible.

Now, if you have never installed a seal retainer, be prepared for frustration and a few choice words. One of the most difficult things I remember doing. I had to get creative with c-clamps, blocks of wood, awls, etc.

Thanks guys, I do appreciate it! David, I just made it through the windlace and weather stripping so I am hoping the worst is over.

Nope, the seal retainer is a you know what. The retainer pushes VERY hard against the seal.

Here we go Dave, got your sword out? I'd have to disagree with
your disagreement about painting Stainless Steel.

I spend a good amount of time over at Finishing.com cuz I'm
interested in the many methods used to finish the various parts
of our trucks but also the old radios and metallic radio parts
that I work with when restoring them.
Here is on thread that discusses finishing SS with paint, there
are many more at this sight and online because this is a common
question:
http://www.finishing.com/0000-0199/073.shtml
Of course as with everything there is a left side of the isle
and a right side, so there are no opinions that are cast in
concrete and in the end we need only satisfy own taste.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny: No worries and no swords. I am in construction and many of my practices/beliefs come from my profession. We (construction guys) generally NEVER paint stainless steel and when we do, it is seemingly the first finish to fail. If the paint doesn't see the environment too often, it works better. I once had a client that insisted we paint her nicely brushed stainless railing all around her very large pool area. We used the "proper" paints, technique, you name it and warned her that it would probably not last very long. Two years later, she called saying there were paint problems on the railing. We said "told you so" and ended up getting paid to do it again as she was having a party and wanted the rails perfect. Can't imagine spending $60k every two years on painting stainless steel, but that was the reality.

So, not saying you can't do it, but I won't. Oops, I just realized I painted the center of the stainless glove box door. Well, someone else did (manufacturer), but I redid it.

It's sometimes considered a sacrilege to paint SS, after all it
simply doesn't need any more of a protective coating than what
the metal it self offers.
But, as you observed, the SS on the dash panels are painted and
seem to hold up pretty well over the half century plus that
these trucks have been around.
There is a lot of differing opinions on the subject by the
experts in the finishing field. The military has done a lot
of testing because SS items often need to be camouflaged. The
conclusion to the reports that I've read are that they are
inconclusive. How's that for government speak.
Other ISO certified tests stated that passivation will
improve the surface condition in preparation for
other finishes such as priming or painting.
Cold finished SS is one of those metals that is almost
always pickled and passivized. If it's processed in
the hot rolled condition it may not form a protective
layer due to the mill scale which I would think could
inhibit the adhesion of a paint coating.
DG