1970 Door Weather Stripping

[Tony H.]

Originally, was the door weather stripping on 1970 one piece or two pieces. Was is cut at the bottom center of door to allow drainage away from the interior? When I replaced mine years ago I noticed this configuration but the new WS came as one piece. Before I take a razor blade to the new WS, I'd like to know if I am duplicating original or just an altered WS.

Thanks and regards, Tony

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Hum, I think this issue IS covered in the JG. Weatherstrip is stocked & shipped as a continuous belt. Was cut at bottom to provide pressure relief (door closes nice and solid without 'bounce'). On MY cars, the AIM called out different trim process for coupe vs. convertible (tighter interior 'rebound' potential on coupe). Then, convertibles were shown with a simple slit at the bottom center of the door and coupes had slit PLUS a pretty good 'bite' taken out of each side on a 45 degree chamfer to REALLY open the joint.

Original Shark cars I've looked at varied significantly in terms of the bottom weatherstrip cuts. Some had parting gaps as large as 1/2 inch leading me to believe the weatherstrip was either pre-cut at the final assy line prior to install or guys were in one heck of a hurry....

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Hum, I think this issue IS covered in the JG. Weatherstrip is stocked & shipped as a continuous belt. Was cut at bottom to provide pressure relief (door closes nice and solid without 'bounce'). On MY cars, the AIM called out different trim process for coupe vs. convertible (tighter interior 'rebound' potential on coupe). Then, convertibles were shown with a simple slit at the bottom center of the door and coupes had slit PLUS a pretty good 'bite' taken out of each side on a 45 degree chamfer to REALLY open the joint.

Original Shark cars I've looked at varied significantly in terms of the bottom weatherstrip cuts. Some had parting gaps as large as 1/2 inch leading me to believe the weatherstrip was either pre-cut at the final assy line prior to install or guys were in one heck of a hurry....

[Tony H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Jack,

Thanks for the info. Yes, I now see the write-up on page 38 of the latest JG. I guess I would like to see some original WS on some 70s before I cut mine. Any other observations by others are appreciated.

Tony

[Tony H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Jack,

Thanks for the info. Yes, I now see the write-up on page 38 of the latest JG. I guess I would like to see some original WS on some 70s before I cut mine. Any other observations by others are appreciated.

Tony

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Tony----

The original door weatherstripping on your 1970 was supplied as a one piece part. For coupes, the part number is 3966561(left) and 3966562(right); for convertibles the part numbers are 3966569(left) and 3966570(right). However, the convertible door weatherstrip has been discontinued. In production, these weatherstrips were often cut at the bottom, although no authorization for such a cut will be found in the AIM.

Often times, the term "two-piece" is used in discussions relative to the windshield pillar door weatherstrip. Original windshield pillar weatherstrips for 1970 Corvettes were a one-piece design, GM #3966565 (left) and 3966566 (right). Many reproduction weatherstrips available to service this application are 2 piece designs.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Tony----

The original door weatherstripping on your 1970 was supplied as a one piece part. For coupes, the part number is 3966561(left) and 3966562(right); for convertibles the part numbers are 3966569(left) and 3966570(right). However, the convertible door weatherstrip has been discontinued. In production, these weatherstrips were often cut at the bottom, although no authorization for such a cut will be found in the AIM.

Often times, the term "two-piece" is used in discussions relative to the windshield pillar door weatherstrip. Original windshield pillar weatherstrips for 1970 Corvettes were a one-piece design, GM #3966565 (left) and 3966566 (right). Many reproduction weatherstrips available to service this application are 2 piece designs.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Tony,

My belief is that all 1970-1972 weatherstrip received a cut in the bottom of the door, effectivly making it two pieces. I would, however, defer to the judgement of people more experienced at judging this area than I am. Reba Whittington or George Burgasser come to mind, and perhaps one or both of them will see this and comment.

I can tell you that my 1970 coupe has the cuts mentioned on both doors. I could photograph them and send them to you if you e-mail me off the board with your address.

Rememebr, however, that just because my car has this feature - it does not mean that all 1970, much less all 1970-1972, have the same feature. Even given that some/many/most cars have this the exact details of the size of cut, length of w/strip missing and so on most likely vary depending on who worked that station on the assembly line a given day. It might even, and likely will, be different from side to side in that generally different people worked on each side of the car.

Terry

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

Tony,

My belief is that all 1970-1972 weatherstrip received a cut in the bottom of the door, effectivly making it two pieces. I would, however, defer to the judgement of people more experienced at judging this area than I am. Reba Whittington or George Burgasser come to mind, and perhaps one or both of them will see this and comment.

I can tell you that my 1970 coupe has the cuts mentioned on both doors. I could photograph them and send them to you if you e-mail me off the board with your address.

Rememebr, however, that just because my car has this feature - it does not mean that all 1970, much less all 1970-1972, have the same feature. Even given that some/many/most cars have this the exact details of the size of cut, length of w/strip missing and so on most likely vary depending on who worked that station on the assembly line a given day. It might even, and likely will, be different from side to side in that generally different people worked on each side of the car.

Terry

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I have never seen an original car without the split, be it coupe or convertible. Some of the gaps are 2 inches or more; some are toward the front of the door; some are toward the rear. This leads me to believe that the weathersrip came to the assembly line in one piece and was cut by the installer. As Terry says keep in mind that these were done by different people, and they did not measure to be sure the cut would be in the center of the door.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I have never seen an original car without the split, be it coupe or convertible. Some of the gaps are 2 inches or more; some are toward the front of the door; some are toward the rear. This leads me to believe that the weathersrip came to the assembly line in one piece and was cut by the installer. As Terry says keep in mind that these were done by different people, and they did not measure to be sure the cut would be in the center of the door.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I agree with Reba. All originals I've seen have 'da cut' and some are REAL SLOPPY as Reba confirms. Can also tell you door 'rebounds' pretty good with fresh weatherstrip and no cut even on convertible with top down.

Last, while AIM does NOT document the process as Joe says, it was almost a religious call out for mid-year cars with coupe having different (exhaggerated) cut than convertible. I still have this hunch that while weatherstip was made as one piece, it was handled on the line as two, maybe in an off-line pre-bin component 'prep' situation. Here's why.

Mid-year car AIM's show coupe weatherstrip being given an extra 45 deg chamfer to widen/open the split. Convertibles do not. Note in AIM for coupes makes reference of 'existing gap' when they instruct the placement of 45 degree cut. This points to the weatherstip having been previously cut which could explain why Shark AIM's don't show the cut/slice process. Shark did NOT fight coupe door fit problems as MY cars did. Last, the fact that original cars I've seen (and Reba confirms) have wide sloppy gap suggests front and rear weatherstrip sections were pulled at random from separate bins to explain the missing material (why would worker make two cuts when it only takes one?).

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I agree with Reba. All originals I've seen have 'da cut' and some are REAL SLOPPY as Reba confirms. Can also tell you door 'rebounds' pretty good with fresh weatherstrip and no cut even on convertible with top down.

Last, while AIM does NOT document the process as Joe says, it was almost a religious call out for mid-year cars with coupe having different (exhaggerated) cut than convertible. I still have this hunch that while weatherstip was made as one piece, it was handled on the line as two, maybe in an off-line pre-bin component 'prep' situation. Here's why.

Mid-year car AIM's show coupe weatherstrip being given an extra 45 deg chamfer to widen/open the split. Convertibles do not. Note in AIM for coupes makes reference of 'existing gap' when they instruct the placement of 45 degree cut. This points to the weatherstip having been previously cut which could explain why Shark AIM's don't show the cut/slice process. Shark did NOT fight coupe door fit problems as MY cars did. Last, the fact that original cars I've seen (and Reba confirms) have wide sloppy gap suggests front and rear weatherstrip sections were pulled at random from separate bins to explain the missing material (why would worker make two cuts when it only takes one?).

[Tony H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I'll wait for a couple of other responses that I am expecting before I take the razor to the WS. From the looks of things, it appears that this cut may be similar to applying blackout to mufflers in that I can have fun with it without worrying about doing it wrong. I feel like I have another opportunity to experience the work of an assembly line worker only on my own Corvette. I guess it's the thought that counts and these moments are my time machine back to July 1970.

[Tony H.]

Re: 1970 Door Weather Stripping

I'll wait for a couple of other responses that I am expecting before I take the razor to the WS. From the looks of things, it appears that this cut may be similar to applying blackout to mufflers in that I can have fun with it without worrying about doing it wrong. I feel like I have another opportunity to experience the work of an assembly line worker only on my own Corvette. I guess it's the thought that counts and these moments are my time machine back to July 1970.