Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Gents,

I seek some information re the weatherstrip that fits into the stainless roof rail fitting that goes above the windows on the side on a hardtop car. This is the weather strip that the side windows engage when they are rolled up. I have both stainless pieces but only one rubber, and it is on the ordinary side. I bought a complete weather-strip kit for the car but these pieces were not included. I am assuming that Steele do not make these pieces... Can anyone advise whether these are available in the US and where I might get them? Or, has anyone come up with an alternative solution? Thanks guys.

Warren Jones

A picture would be helpful. I am trying to picture what you mean by rubber?? Can you post a pic of the rubber you have?

Shall do Randy. I actully took a photo but was too big to post, so need to take another. Will post tomorrow...

Warren

Randy,

Find below photo's of the side roof rail fitting and weatherstrip as discussed. By rubber, I meant the weather strip section as shown.

Warren

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G'day Warren,

Have you contacted Spectrum Rubber at Dunheved? Might be worth a try.

I thought you were talking about the "flippers" on a hardtop, but you are referring to the rubber on the curved part that the rear windows slide into. I don't think Steele carries those and do not have any idea where you might purchase them.
Try Mal's suggestion. I will search around but have never seen that item for sale. Sorry I can't be more help.

Been yrs - more like 20 - so I don't remember if I looked and couldn't find or was just in one of my cheap moods at the time but --

Your pieces resemble ones I dealt with also having the fuzz on the sides torn up. My actual support pieces were not in too bad a shape. Can't tell if yours are worse or not but if still decent then there may be an option if you want to do it.

At any rate, I recovered what I had and while maybe not totally authentic, came out reasonably decent and they've held up rather well.

Steel has adhesive bowdrill tape which he says is used for covering the convertible weatherstrips. I bought a roll, and while it may be OK for earlier cars, it was plain canvas like cloth with a slight grain which I felt did not match the fuzzier texture on the 56 that well. Instead, I went to my friendly upholster and we looked thru some samples for a different material. Bought a half yard of black fuzzy dense material with just a slight grainy texture. Slightly thicker than original but worked. Still have a bit of the stuff & wish I could remember the name but just too long ago. Thinner stuff more like the original may be available in some of the velours today.

Anyway, cut into 3 strips and glued on with contact cement. Had assumed support was completely covered so my first attempt was a bust because I did the entire area. As evidenced by the contact cement still remaining (which I had forgotten about), had to remove middle strip after it was in the car because the window was binding and wouldn't move. If you try something like recovering, take note of where the originals were placed before removal. I didn't and also don't know why I never got around to doing it again to remove cement.

Also used the same material for the vertical pieces on the quarter window. Steel only has the plain rubber ones as used for earlier years.

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Thanks Mal - I'll give them a try.

Waz

Thanks Randy. Plenty of great responses coming from the Forum so hopeflly we'll end up with a solution... Waz

I appreciate the detailed response Howard. Your photo's provide a good representation of the section view of the weatherstrip and your solution seems to have worked fine.

As I only have a weatherstrip for one side only, my plan of attack will be to pursue the option of trying to find a suitable modern rubber equivalent first. The lead that Mal put me onto (Spectrum Rubber) seem to have a very extensive product line. I'll also endevour to see if any of the more common makes (Ford, Chev etc) make a similar seal which can be utilised. I would assume that most hard top window frames wpuld be a similar thickness...

If I cannot find anything that suits, I'll then have to try and procure another second hand one so that I have both sides and will then recover similar to what you have done as this seems to have been quite effective. Whatever I end up with, I shall share with the Forum to share the knowledge. Thanks again.

Warren