1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

[Richard M.]

The original door post weatherstrips on a '59 I've been tinkering with had their original retainers still attached. I had the posts chromed but put the rubber pieces in a bag some time ago.
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After looking closely When I took the retainers off and saw the backsides, I was surprised. Not totally surprised as I've seen many original bolts, brackets and other hardware items also with a dichromate finish. (yellow plating over clear)
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I media blasted them, which was hard to do without losing them in the cabinet, and decided to make them "yellow cad" again. Note the numbers stamped on the backside of the lowers which are not interchangeable. Likely a stamping code for left and right.
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Not exactly like they were originally, but close. I cut the loop wires from the old pieces and refinished and spliced them in the rubber. The retainers have little hooks that catch the wires inside the rubber. I cut the top retainer from it's reinforcements and pushed them into the rubber and attached. All use 6-32 screws.
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After test fitting I glued the rubbers to the posts and finished assembly of the retainers.

Done.....
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PS. It appears i used the wrong type 6-32 screws. I'll need to get flat head screws. makes sense to keep a lower profile against the window posts.

[Ian G.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

What date/month was the car? Cool find! I've been getting suspicious a lot of hardware, especially on the exterior was yellow cad. The original door hinge bolts on my car were also yellow cad, as well as decklid latch, decklid washers, list goes on.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

Yes I think that MOST of the hardware on these was the dichromate. I've pulled undercar exhaust hanger brackets, and those little 1/4-20 TR bolts have yellow on their backsides. Decklid center latch pieces, interior bolts and special scrwes, so many items are dichromate.

This '59 is a January car IIRC. #4208. My '59 is #5504(March), and also lots of dichromate in the 30 years I've been tinkering on it. Same with a '59 #5906(March) I did a few years ago.

For those that take these cars apart often, many surprises abound.

I firmly believe that all hardware made by outside vendors had choices of plating. If the spec was zinc or cad, whatever they had plenty of probably got used.

Rich

[Brad K.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

My late '59 #8519 did not have any rubber or clips left when I did my restoration. It did have all eight of the round, 6-32 phillips head screws remaining and I assumed they were all original. So I took all the screws, the clips and the wire retainers (which I fabricated out of large paper clips) and had them all dull white cad plated and installed them. No judges negatively commented on them and I thought they turned out very nicely. Also....my door jam clearances on the door posts were .095" at a minimum, and I had no interferences with the screw heads.

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[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

Brad, Those look fine. You did a nice job on them.

The vendors supply them in a black finish...Quite pricey too.

http://www.parts123.com/corvettecentral/dyndetail.pta?catalog=0000050e&ukey=42795

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There is no mention in the '58-'60 JG about dichromate on these parts nor have I seen them deduct for not having it, but I believe because it is unknown whether or not it was used. It's not documented anywhere that I know of. Like I mentioned, vendors may have had choices and there may be both clear and yellow on some cars. I've seen both on the same items on different C1's. However, the later '61 and '62 Corvettes used it for the male/female hood latches and that is specified in the JG. Blackout can cover much of it, and that's when you see it, during disassembly. Like these I had plated for a late '61.
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However, dichromate is sacrificial. It's typically applied over clear(silver) zinc or cadmium, and in time the dichromate disappears and the clear/silver is left to protect the metal. On those original retainers that I removed, the clear plating was still present on the outer surfaces, whereas as shown the dichromate still obvious on the backside.

I also restore old Jaguars and we see the same. The plumbing on the early V12 engines for fuel and emissions were dichromate over clear. In time the yellow dissipates leaving just the clear. In the JCNA, we also had controversies regarding it's use on certain items, even front and rear suspension control arms and other undercarriage items. It was finally discovered when taking original cars apart that dichromate was obvious under hardware pieces not exposed to sunlight and the elements, however what remained was a clear plating over time.

When my wife and I restored her '72 V12 E-Type years ago, I used a dichromate finish on much plumbing and even bolts much like what I used above. The judges gave no deducts and awarded the car a 99.6 average in the Championship Division for 3 events that year we moved to Florida. We drove it to the 3 events all over the state. They give no "Driving" points, so it was a tough match against the trailer crowd. We spent more time cleaning bugs off the car than we cared to.

Rich

[Ian G.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

Rich, aren't you glad you bought that e-type in the last few year? They have really been going up...

[Richard M.]

Re: 1959 Door Post Weatherstrip Retainer Discovery

Rich, aren't you glad you bought that e-type in the last few year? They have really been going up...

Actually 24 years ago last month for her birthday. I found it at the Amherst, NH Swap Meet while looking for Corvette parts. Then the engine broke 6 years later(my fault), when it overheated and dropped a valve seat in #5B and took out a piston and cylinder liner. Then I took it completely apart cuz I couldn't stop. One thing led to another and did a "frame-off"(I should say monocoque off). Rebuilt the V12 from scratch after machine shop head work, and running well ever since, albeit oil leaks typical of the rear main seal design. If a Jag doesn't leak oil that means there's no oil in it.

She used to drive our 3 young toddler boys around in it when I'd drive my '59 with one of them swapping around with her on Sunday drives. I miss those times. They also used to sit in the tiny back seat with me driving and the wife at my side, while the older was a working teenager.

A few years ago 2 of them, much older now with their own families, joined me for the fun at the Sebring Historic Races. A 2+ hour drive. We decided to take her E-Type. But this time Dad got to sit in the back seat, sideways, while they swapped the helm on the great FL back roads to and from the event. Felt weird, but fun.

I haven't seen values lately, but it's really hers and her keeper. I'm just the mechanic.

I like Corvettes better.