T-top weatherstripping part #

[Warren F.]

Is the part # for the years 70-72 T-top weatherstripping 3966572 & 3966571 or are they 3629954 & 3629953, I've found some, just not sure which is original or proper?

[Chuck S.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Warren, according to my Corvette parts boot (as of 1972), PNs 3966571/2 ARE the correct T-top weatherstrips for 70-72 Corvettes. The left is 3966571, and the right is 3966572. Weatherstrips for 68s and 69s are uniquely different, both from 70-72, and from each other.

The other two part numbers your post mentioned do not appear to be Corvette PNs...at least not when this book was printed. In fact, they appear to predate all 3XXXXXX Corvette PNs.

[Warren F.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Chuck: Thanks, for the info. I purchased these as '71 T-top weatherstrip, GM NOS stock, thru the Driveline ad in recent issue and will let you know when they arrive. Part #'s read to me on boxes were 3629954 & 3629953. So I guess I'll see what I've purchased in a few days!

[Joe L.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Warren-----

GM #3966571 and 3966572 were the part numbers for the weatherstrip used in PRODUCTION for 1970 through 1974 Corvettes. They were also once available in SERVICE. GM #362953 and 362954 are the part numbers for the PRODUCTION 1975 through early 1977 weatherstrip. The latter became the SERVICE parts for 1970 through 1974 applications when the original part numbers were discontinued from SERVICE about 1976.

[Warren F.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Joe: Thank you VERY MUCH. Do you have any idea what the differences are?

[Chuck S.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Joe, thanks for your help on this.

It's interesting that part numbers in the 36XXXXX series were issued for service parts after the 39XXXXX series part numbers for production. It defies engineering logic to have lower part numbers issued AFTER earlier part numbers. Have you seen this often in your study of GM parts?

[Joe L.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Chuck------

The "36" part numbers are 6 DIGIT part numbers; they were mistakenly shown as 7 digits in the original post here. The original "39" part numbers for 70-74 were 7 DIGIT part numbers.

What happened was in the mid-70s GM started to run out of 7 digit part numbers and they weren't ready yet to get into the 8 digit series. So, they scrounged around to find blocks of part numbers which had never been assigned and/or previously used. They came up with some unused blocks in the 6 digit series begining with "3" and "4". So, they started to use them. A lot of Corvette part numbers in the mid 70s period are from this batch of unused 6 digit part numbers. I think that Art Armstrong, a board regular who formerly worked for GM, was involved in "searching out" the unused blocks of part numbers.

Although part number issuance WITHIN A GIVEN, ASSIGNED BLOCK is usually more-or-less sequential, there are exceptions.

[Joe L.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Warren-----

I used to know, but I've forgotten. Vaguely, I recall that one or the other may have used an integral "stiffner/reinforcement" on the section above the side window and the other may have used an external and seperate "stiffner/reinforcement". I think that the number of nylon pin fastners is the same for both.

[Warren F.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Joe: Thankyou for your opinion, again. I purchased a set of GM weatherstripping in 1988, and from your post I am assuming I must have gotten the superseded #'s. I can't remember whether they had that reinforced metal or not in the portion over the side window when I installed them. I have found another source for the correct original weatherstripping and am in the process of acquiring them. You've been a big help -- thanks, Warren

[Joe L.]

Re: T-top weatherstripping part #

Warren-----

If you purchased the weathstripping in 1988 from GM, you would have gotten the superceded part numbers. No question about it (unless some dealer just happended to have REAL old stock on his shelves---possible but NOT likley for an item like this).