NOS weatherstrip wrinkles

[SS427]

I just purchased as set of NOS drip rail weatherstrips that are badly wrinkled due to being rolled up in a box since 1983/84. Does anyone have a tried and true way to get the wrinkles out? Stretching them does not work. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Big Block Bill]

Rick,

I've used a 250 Watt red heat lamp bulb & Bell shaped fixture with great success. It's worth a try.

Bill

[Postsedan]

Hoping Bills idea, removes some of the wrinkles.....but not all.
IMO....the wrinkles shows off the NOS Seals and differentiates them just as NOS.....the wrinkles don't bother me :)

Dan

[x77-69z28]

Hoping Bills idea, removes some of the wrinkles.....but not all.
IMO....the wrinkles shows off the NOS Seals and differentiates them just as NOS.....the wrinkles don't bother me :)

Dan

That’s what she said!
Sorry couldn’t resist. I wouldn’t try too hard to get rid of the wrinkles. I’m sure they will be fine once installed.
Buddy

[SS427]

The problem is, because the weatherstrip was rolled up in a box the inside diameter is fine and the outside looks fine as long as it is rolled. Once you straighten it out the outside diameter is badly wrinkled and will not pull out due to the inside wire not allowing it to stretch.

The first photo is of them rolled up, perfectly nice. 2nd photo shows how bad they are wrinkled when laying flat but you cannot stretch these due to that wire.

[Postsedan]

I have installed similar looking seals (and on Post Sedan models they are much more visible).....hot warm weather and once installed will do wonders to them.
I believe they will be fine and will look the part once they are in the Yenko Chevelle :)

Dan

[SS427]

Wish I could share your optimism but I have not had very good luck in the past and was hoping maybe someone would have a not-so-secret trick. The sad part is they are way too expensive to experiment with.

[SS427]

Already trying that. Agree with the old NOS parts. Not always the best choice I just can't bring myself to use repop parts on this car.

[Postsedan]

Already trying that. Agree with the old NOS parts. Not always the best choice I just can't bring myself to use repop parts on this car.

Neither would the rest of us, (that Get It)....especially with such an Iconic Muscle Car.
You are doing the Right Thing :)

Dan

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Maybe wave a Hairdryer or Heat gun @ them?:hmmm:
Practice on dead pieces first.
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[LITTLE TOMMIE]

with these cars being over restored these days we forget that all parts were not perfect when they came from the factory, as long as there GM it really doesn't matter. they probably look more factory then you think

[Woj]

Rick,

I’ve heard of putting wrinkled NOS wx strips in hot water, but never tried it personally. Maybe try that with a small length of the rubber? The NOS roof rail weatherstrip that is available for the 69’s really isn’t the same as the originals for 69 Chevelle. I believe that is what you have in the photograph. The original roof rail weather strip for 69 had a molded groove for the side windows that the glass would fit into. What you have will eventually make its own groove over time. I found one in 25 years that is an original part, and it is different from the more modern GM replacement.

If you aren’t comfortable with that weatherstrip, maybe use a repop since the GM strip isn’t technically correct. Or, try mounting the NOS and see if it relaxes with time and with the windows pushed into the weather strip. Can you stretch them enough to pull out the wrinkles?

If I can find some pix of original roof rail weatherstrip with the groove, I’ll post.

Phil

[Flying Undertaker]

I would not use a heat gun-way too hot. I'd try the adjustable hair dryer, heat lamp or sunlight while stretching out the piece. I would also stay away from hot/warm water as the weatherstrip may absorb the water into the latex. But still try these methods on a used piece first. Just my opinion. Don.

[marxjunk]

i did a pair for a chevelle years ago, i was so disappointed in the way they looked right out of the box, i almost talked myself into buying new repops

..i fixed them on accident...i pulled the car out and the strips where laying on the hood of the car in the middle of summer for 3 days...came back on monday and freaked...

but was a good surprise, the sunlight, on a black hood and 4 cycles of heat and cool..made them really nice...95 degree weather and no clouds...i did nothing but throw them on the hood, got busy with something else, pulled the car out and just forgot them really..i gotta say..it was impressive how they ended up..and had people asking me how i got them to lay down so nice etc..it was pure accidental

i dont know if i would do that with the cost of them in 2019...i dunno...it was a total accident..and i think i bought those back then for 79 bux each..i cant remember now

[Burd]

I have a W72 foam gas line cover, it’s been folded for years, you can’t get the flat areas out.

[tunes]

Here is what is left of my original roof seals and they show the groove where the glass goes into for a good seal. I've never seen a correct reproduction of these either.

[Woj]

That is the groove I was referring to. I have one NOS weather strip that matches that. Bought it about 24years ago at Charlotte. It had the original part number from the 69 book, came in a GM bag.

The one I have isn’t in great shape, but good for reference. I can post pix over the weekend. I was hoping to get an opportunity to remake these, but that never happened.

Phil

[firstgenaddict]

That type of seal looks like the 70- up Camaro style, did they change to that style for 71 or 72? and retro it to the 69 A body?

FWIW - the reproduction first gen Camaro OER LATEX Roof Rails are the old style like shown - I compared the profiles of the repro to the originals which I removed and they were the same through the cross section - the OER SEAL was superior to anything else available. -
I am interested in the outcome here as I need some for my 68 GTO and I WAS HOPING THAT OER made this type of seal for A-bodies - PHOTOS of the seal in the F body. -