C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

[Richard Mozzetta (13499)]

Last night and today I finally finished and installed my self restored original cloth covered window weatherstrips. A long time ago I asked about my old w/s I saved from 20 years ago when I replaced it. Several folks here told me how to restore them. Thanks to all that led me in the right direction. I never knew they were cloth covered. 15 years ago I replaced the top. Ialso installed new weatherstrip, the late 59-62 type, which I never cared for because they didn't fit right and I had to modify the forward retainers to fit my early 59 top. I'm glad I saved my old w/strips. Almost threw them away a dozen times.

This is what they looked like from 20 years ago, all cloth missing.

I got the cloth, called Bowdrill Tape, from Steel Rubber Products. It's a sticky back cloth. Tedious to get them covered without wrinkles. Well, after many hours several months ago restoring and recovering them, here they are. Both sides done and installed. Notice the integrated studs, welded to the rubber coated retainers. The front w/s has a 1/4" stud with chrome nut to also act as a retainer for the forward adjusting braces. There are also 7, 10-32 studs total per side to hold them in, and one 10-32 phillips screw each side for the forward pieces.


Some reference pages from the parts books showing original parts & w/strips.

Rich Mozzetta #13499
p.s. I washed the car today and no leaks. I'm sure that'll be different at speed.:-)
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[Rob Musquetier (41157)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Nice work, I'm sure this must make a difference in the amount of water pouring in while driving in wet conditions!!!

regards,
Rob
(late '59, without cloth covering)

[Greg Picconi (8458)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Rich what is the part number and how much did you need

[Richard Mozzetta (13499)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Hi Greg,

It's 70-1175-65.
link to the Steele online page:

http://166.82.96.3/cgi-bin/v2.exe?yr=62&mk=CH&tp=ALL&pk=TN

search down for Conv't Roof Rail Weatherstrip ......"bowdrill".

It's 5" wide, 5' long. I needed 2 rolls. FYI, the 2 1/2"w is not wide enough to wrap them sideways. It requires apx 3 1/2" width, and about 6 feet of length. You'll be glad you have extra for mistakes. I did. It is extremely sticky. You must thorougly clean the rubber with solvent for best results. When covering, keep the backing paper close to the surface of the rubber to prevent hiccups and bubbles. I used a long thin scrwdriver to work it in lengthwise and worked it in slowly into the lengthwise corners. Look at the edge view of a w/s and you'll see how tedious it can be. No wonder they went to "clothless" w/strips.

Rich

[Richard Mozzetta (13499)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Thanks Rob.......Reminds me of a Amphicar sometimes. I've thought of installing a marine bilge pump many times.

[Verle Randolph (14764)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Rich,

The easy solution is to drill a hole in each floorboard big enough for a bathtub stopper. When you are through taking a bath you pull the plug and let the water run out.

Verle

[Roy Braatz (182)]

RICH Soft Top Weatherstrip

Your early is the front header a soft rubber spong type.

[Dick Whittington (8804)]

Re: C1 Cloth Covered Soft Top Weatherstrip

Somewhere there is a '61 wandering around with numerous 1/4" holes in the floorboards. VIN is 313

In the summer time if it started to rain while I was driving it, I would lower the top. Less water. Over 45 mph the rain would go over me

[Richard Mozzetta (13499)]

Re: RICH Soft Top Weatherstrip

Hi Roy,

Yes, when I removed my header weatherstrip long ago it was cracked and brittle, but showed it originally was a soft sponge rubber type. And as you mentioned months ago when i started this task, it was attached to the 2 forward side window w/strips as an assembly. Since I had no original replacement for the header w/s I modified my later type and used my reinforcements(I rubber dip coated them) from the original header corners I saved to tie in my side w/s foam extentions.

Ext pics here:

Here's a pic of the wrap process. It took about 20 minutes per w/s(after a few practice booboos):-)

Rich

Rich