1986 Coupe Windows and Weatherstrip

[Joseph A.]

Hi everyone. I'm having a problem getting my windows to seat properly against the weatherstripping. I've been through 3 sets of weatherstripping.

The first set I bought was from Ecklers and their weatherstripping was rock hard, and the windows would not go up unless the door was open and when you closed the door the windows would sit off the weatherstripping.

So I purchased another seat from Mid-America, and those were softer, the window goes up now but it would not make a good seal to keep the water out. So I talked to a friend of mine who had a similar problem and he told me about a place called Corvette Rubber out of Michigan. He told me their seals are softer then what Softseal sells.

So once again I order another seat of weatherstripping. Once those arrived they were extermely soft. I installed them and the windows went up with the doors closed. This set of weatherstripping seals better, but along the windshield pillar & in the back along the rear pillar there is still a leak.

Also, when I had my Vette painted I replaced the driver and passenger window glass. The body shop adjusted the windows to obtain the best condition possible. These windows are GM windows I ordered from my local GM Dealer. The first set of windows had a curve to the glass that was completly different from the orginals that we removed. So I returned them and they ordered another set. This set of window glass was better and is the glass that is on the car right now.

I still have my orginal windows that were removed when the car was painted. The reason the windows were replaced was they were all scratched up because the window bumpers, with the felt pads, were missing. I just might reinstall the original windows to see if the fit & sealing is better.

At this point I really don't know what to do. I was thinking about buying the GM weatherstripping from my GM dealer, but those are very expensive, and I don't won't to buy them and take a chance of those leaking too.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1986 Coupe Windows and Weatherstrip

Joseph-----

The original weatherstrips used for the side window sealing for your car are no longer available from GM. However, replacements are available from GM and these are, basically, the weatherstrips used for later model C4's. They are very expensive as seen below:

left side top-----GM #22112053-----GM list $105.12

right side top----GM #22112054-----GM list $105.12

front (wraps around for both sides)-----GM #10268887---GM list $322.10

rear (wraps around for both sides)-----GM #10283997---GM list $304.45

I have never used the above weatherstrips. However, I have generally found that GM weatherstripping is superior to all others----sometimes just a little better, sometimes a lot better. But, always better. I figure that's one of the reasons that it costs so much more.

In your case, however, it may just be that your side window glass is the real culprit here. If it is configured differently than original, you can almost expect that the weatherstripping will not fit right, regardless of which weatherstripping that it is.

The front window glass for your application available in SERVICE from GM was the same part number as the original glass used on the car. Generally, I would expect it to be the same. The left side glass is now discontinued, although the right side is still available under the original part number.

[Joseph A.]

Re: 1986 Coupe Windows and Weatherstrip

Thanks Joe.