The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Installing Weather Stripping.

Hey Gang,

With spring around the corner in Wisconsin, I am hoping to install new weather stripping. The doors are clean and bare and the tracks in the cab appear to be free from crimps. Are there any good sites with photos or diagrams to use as a reference? I have the weather stripping but no directions or recommendations. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

If you are talking about the windlace that "slides" in the track around the door, get a dictionary of curse words because you are going to need more than you have ever used. I just finished both doors on my 49 last month. I will be having my hernia repaired soon as a result. Not really. My tips would be as follows:
I used liquid dishwashing soap as a lubricant along with Armorall (sp?) Get out your shop manual as it is some help. The repop rubber is not notched as described in the manual but by holding it in place I kind of guestimated where to notch it, which I did with a razor knife. I think that the profile of the part of the windlace that actually slides in the track is a little thicker than original and on one door I took a rotating stone in a Craftsman (dremel type) tool and thinned off that part of the windlace. Be sure the track is free of crimps before you start. I helper is almost necessary to keep the rubber feeding into the track as you pull your guts out trying to get it in. As you pull the rubber is thinned out by stretching and slowly it will feed in. When you get frustrated stop and come back later. Lots of lubricant to the track and the rubber. I had some silicone lubricant but the can said it had acetone in it and I was afraid it would damage the rubber. I got mine from Jim Carter as he was the only one that I could find advertising the greyish brown color original to my 49. Later, I think they were black. I had some of the original from when I disassembled my truck and that is why I think the profile is slightly different on the repop and on reason it is so hard to intall. If it had been that difficult and time comsuming at the factory the trucks would have cost 10 grand in 1949

Thanks rwise,

I will definitely keep the dictionary handy. I have my shop manual and will refer to that as well as round up some assistance when the time comes to install the windlace. The door weatherstipping that glues on, was that difficult to install?

Thanks,
Chris

The glue on weatherstrip gets tricky to install on the forward side of the door by the hinges. This is assuming that the doors are still installed on the cab. It would be much easier if you took the doors off, but then you have realignment issues, etc... On my drivers side door there is still a foot long area of the weatherstrip that is not glued to the door because I could just not get to it. Other than that it went on fairly well.

Thanks stevejumpr,

The doors are on and I don't plan on taking them off. We will see how it goes next warm weekend.

Chris

Yo!!! Make sure you buy BLACK glue!!! The yellow stuff is an eye-sore!

I have black windlace I'll be puttin in this Spring, too ... thanks for the tips rwise! ... I'm thinking of cleverly covering the rubber windlace with the same vinyl I wind up doing the interior with, too. We'll see if it's a good idea or not when I get around to it.

Great point Horvath,
I got a tube of glue from American Classic Truck Parts. I will have to confirm that it is black. I also got my weather stripping from them as well. I have a Corvette yellow truck with black interior and agree the yellow glue would not look to good with the black on the inner door and interior.

3M makes a clear weitherstripping glue too. Better than the yellow, and black is definitely better cosmetically.

I am in Schofield WI, and I don't see spring around the corner yet. I have done both strips tho, and learned alot the hard way. Cut off a piece of windlas and slightly bend the chanel open until it goes thru. Then pull the real one thru and crimp the windlas back onto it. If yours is like mine, you will pull your guts out on the first one and open up the second one. - Scott

Come on Scott, I got my turkey tag notice in the mail last week from the DNR , tom turkey's were strutting their stuff . Spring is on the way. Plus we have over 300 geese in the flooded field behind my house, warmer weather is making its way to Wisconsin.

Anyway, thanks for the tip with the windlace. I think I am going to cut a small test piece and try to slide it through looking for rough spots. I have a buddy lined up to help me feed the windlace through. I plan on putting the windlace in before I try the glue on door weatherstipping. Like to see some pics of you 55.1

Thanks,
Chris

Chris,
Mine is nothing to look at, since it is a rolling restoration trying to apease the wife by using it now and then. Hate to use it in the salt of winter, but like to use it all summer. Don't know if I can do pix. Ugly white thing anyway. I'll try to send a pic. - Scott

Thanks Scott,

I know that my 55.1 won't ever see snow or rain again. The paint job is finished with some mechanical updates and weatherstipping to finish. My truck certainly won't be reserved for Sunday's. I like driving it to work and to the store. It is fun to see the reaction of other drivers.

Are you planning on heading to the Jefferson Swap Meet? I will be there looking for good deals to sell on ebay, no just kidding. I will be looking but don't really plan on buying.

Later,
Chris

Hey guys,
I am looking into the weather strip deal aswell. However I dont like the weather strip on the inside of the cab. I had a lot of rust on the tracks and the one on the bottom of the passenger side was gone when I got the truck. I was thinking of taking off all the track and just upolstering over the areas. What do you think?
Do you see any problems with this?
Thanks
Chris

Easiest thing I ever did. Just told my wife that it needed to be done and she's always asking what she can do so there ya go! She pushed it in a little at a time with a putty knife from the side I think. Kinda dangerous but at least I wasn't doing it.. She actually did most of 2 trucks.
Jim

Chris55.1,
I have never been to the jefferson meet. I go to the Iola meet in july. How is the Jefferson meet? What kind of meet is it? I'm from Watertown originally and may need an excuse to go to Jefferson. - Scott

Check out this site;

http://www.jeffersonswapmeet.com/

This should answer all your questions about Jefferson and give you an excuse to go.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris,
Sounds great! Ever been to Iola? Also Great!
Good luck with the weather strips. - Scott

Jefferson is nice as its flat ground L.O.L.Useually a bit muddy.At either one its a lot of walking and i never have enough cash.

Wise is right ! That windlace is a b*#ch to install. The factory crimped the track every foot or so.
I made a tool which fits into the track. Once you get the tool started in the track you tap it along with a small hammer & it cleans out the track & opens up the factory crimps.
I always use a small paint brush & light oil in the track before installing the rubber.
This procedure has prevented me from "poppin' a nut" while installing the windlace.