Any advice on installing outer door seals?

[dmcerik]

Hi,

I have new seals I got from DMC Midwest about 7 years ago but never installed them due to life events. I'm looking to install them now and was wondering if anyone had any advice, or if anyone knows of a good video out there showing how to do it. The seals on mine were removed a very long time ago so I don't have any point of reference. The kit I got comes with 2 pieces. 1 piece for each door. It looks like each piece then needs to be cut to account for the front of the door and the back of the door.

Any advice, pictures, videos, would be helpful.

[David T]

Your first stop should be to contact the vendor you purchased the parts from for support. A quick phone call will probably get you all the info you need.

[Patrick C]

Hi,

I have new seals I got from DMC Midwest about 7 years ago but never installed them due to life events. I'm looking to install them now and was wondering if anyone had any advice, or if anyone knows of a good video out there showing how to do it. The seals on mine were removed a very long time ago so I don't have any point of reference. The kit I got comes with 2 pieces. 1 piece for each door. It looks like each piece then needs to be cut to account for the front of the door and the back of the door.

Any advice, pictures, videos, would be helpful.

Hi Erik! You want to buy some 3M BLACK Weatherstrip adhesive (not yellow...it oozes out and looks awful) to adhere the new rubber to the panels. You will have to make a few cuts on the new strips to account for the striker pin areas, up by the door strut mount (as I recall), etc. Nothing too difficult. Good luck!

EDIT: Here's a quick image I found online showing what I mean around trimming the rubber around the striker pin "boxes". http://imgur.com/YvXp4RW.jpg

[iflights]

Having done this twice or would that be 2 doors X 2 times, here are my 2 tips...

1) Figure out where you are going to start and end. In my case, the starting and ending point is directly level to the door pin switches. You'll probably have more length than you need...don't cut the strip in advance, leave that for the very last and final attachment point.

2) Attach a small segment, maybe 12-18" at a time using the black weatherstrip adhesive that Patrick recommended. Smooth some on the body of the car, and smooth out some adhesive on the strip. Wait until both surfaces get tacky, then put the strip on the car and apply pressure. Regardless of how careful you are, this adhesive tends to get everywhere so make sure you have some adhesive remover too.

3) bonus tip...You might have to use blue painters to ensure some constant pressure on the strip.

[northeast dmc]

Having done this twice or would that be 2 doors X 2 times, here are my 2 tips...

1) Figure out where you are going to start and end. In my case, the starting and ending point is directly level to the door pin switches. You'll probably have more length than you need...don't cut the strip in advance, leave that for the very last and final attachment point.

2) Attach a small segment, maybe 12-18" at a time using the black weatherstrip adhesive that Patrick recommended. Smooth some on the body of the car, and smooth out some adhesive on the strip. Wait until both surfaces get tacky, then put the strip on the car and apply pressure. Regardless of how careful you are, this adhesive tends to get everywhere so make sure you have some adhesive remover too.

3) bonus tip...You might have to use blue painters to ensure some constant pressure on the strip.

I have a question what is best to clean the surface before installing the new strips, I am in the same boat and need to replace mine.

[DMC-81]

Hi,

I have new seals I got from DMC Midwest about 7 years ago but never installed them due to life events. I'm looking to install them now and was wondering if anyone had any advice, or if anyone knows of a good video out there showing how to do it. The seals on mine were removed a very long time ago so I don't have any point of reference. The kit I got comes with 2 pieces. 1 piece for each door. It looks like each piece then needs to be cut to account for the front of the door and the back of the door.

Any advice, pictures, videos, would be helpful.

Hi there. If it helps, I have several pictures and comments of this job in the Interior Restoration (http://dmctalk.org/album.php?albumid=334) album on my profile, (page 4 I think).

[dmcerik]

I did. And always do. These forums are also for gaining insight into what others have done which is why we are here in the first place.


Your first stop should be to contact the vendor you purchased the parts from for support. A quick phone call will probably get you all the info you need.

[dmcerik]

Patrick, Iflights, and Dana,

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. I'll post back once things are completed.

[David T]

Most vendors do the cut-outs and trimming but maybe not all of them do. No big deal but I can understand your problem if you don't have the old ones to go by. The splice (joint) is usually about level with the door pin switches. Leave the ends just a bit long and use a short piece of rubber tubing inside to join the ends. Use either the black or the clear weatherstripping glue, the yellow stuff is too obvious if you get messy. Use a mallet to beat the seal on all the way. Inside the seal are metal clips that have to be forced on over the edge and if you try to do it with your hands you will beat them up. You may have to readjust the door anchor pins once you install the new seals. Wipe the seals with silicone and the doors where the seals rub like along the front edge. Depending on the part some vendors include a flyer with installation instructions.

[DMC-81]

I have a question what is best to clean the surface before installing the new strips, I am in the same boat and need to replace mine.

I found carb/brake cleaner very effective in removing the old glue from the stainless. You have to be very careful with adjacent painted surfaces though.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45417&d=1471210264

[iflights]

I have a question what is best to clean the surface before installing the new strips, I am in the same boat and need to replace mine.

3M Adhesive Cleaner 08984 worked well for me. Not sure what the PO used on mine, but it wasn't weatherstrip adhesive...probably windshield adhesive. The 3M cleaner worked wonders after putting it on liberally, letting it sit, then scrubbing it off with a rag. Hard to find and get shipped however, as labeled for professional use only. Get the quart size, you'll have plenty left over for all kinds of other tough cleaning.

[dmcerik]

Very nice! I recently completed a brake job and flush, so I have plenty of brake cleaner. I'll be careful with it and give it a shot for removing the old glue.

I was hoping to do the job today but it was just too cold here in West Michigan, even in my garage which usually stays no lower than 45 degrees. My guess is that 3M glue needs a higher temp to play right.

Thanks again everyone. Very much appreciated.


I found carb/brake cleaner very effective in removing the old glue from the stainless. You have to be very careful with adjacent painted surfaces though.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45417&d=1471210264

[john 05141]

I used a piece of plastic as a guide to make sure the weatherstrip was positioned just right. A few years earlier I did that without and it is ugly when the weather trip shows when the door is closed at the front strikerpin where the SS panel makes a bend. I replaced the strips every 5 years or so. Due to an imperfect positioning of the passengers door the wheather strip wears off and needed replacement.
Later a SS roofcage was placed and the positioning was fixed.

Jan

[northeast dmc]

I used a piece of plastic as a guide to make sure the weatherstrip was positioned just right. A few years earlier I did that without and it is ugly when the weather trip shows when the door is closed at the front strikerpin where the SS panel makes a bend. I replaced the strips every 5 years or so. Due to an imperfect positioning of the passengers door the wheather strip wears off and needed replacement.
Later a SS roofcage was placed and the positioning was fixed.

Jan

Thanks, do you have a picture showing the plastic piece, I assume you used it to keep the seal just below the outer surface or even with it??( I hate to assume, always gets me in trouble, and at times I tend to over think things)

[5dmc1]

I used a piece of plastic as a guide to make sure the weatherstrip was positioned just right. A few years earlier I did that without and it is ugly when the weather trip shows when the door is closed at the front strikerpin where the SS panel makes a bend. I replaced the strips every 5 years or so. Due to an imperfect positioning of the passengers door the wheather strip wears off and needed replacement.
Later a SS roofcage was placed and the positioning was fixed.

Jan

About how much did that roof box install cost from start to finish if you dont mind me asking? I know how much frame jobs are, hoping it isnt anything close....