53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

[Garry B.]

Guys, can someone with a 53-58 tell me how many total metal retainer buttons there are on your weatherstrips? These are the black metal type buttons found on the door mains (used at top of door near door post and up the backside of the door leading up to the top retaining clip. They are also on the auxiliary w/s (forward part of the door near hinges) two I think on these. Should be a total of around 26 to 28 I believe, but can't recall for sure. Thanks for your help one again! (BTW- the 53-55 may have fewer because I don't they have the auxiliary piece on the front jamb)

Garry Barnes 18531

[Chris S.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

HI Gary
53-55 do not have any - the door weatherstrip was glued on all the way around.....

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Chris,thanks for your response. Always appreciated. To be clear, they were all glued, but does your 54 have any of these buttons? I honestly don't recall this detail about the 53-55. The later models were also glued, but included these buttons in high stress areas.
Garry 18531

[Chris S.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Gary - no problem - the door strip that seals to the body is glued on all the way around. the glue is real sloppy.

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Chris, got it. It's interesting you say "sloppy" because many people become overly concerned about the w/s adhesive showing especially after they have just completed a frame off restoration and new paint. As you imply, they slapped that stuff on with a brush and had no issues with it dripping or being seen out side of the w/s edges. If you want the points, make sure it's sloppy.....and tell them Chris said so. Thanks.
Garry

[Richard M.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Garry here are a few shots of a original 57 that may help.

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

This helps a little Rich. Thanks. Love the car. I may have to get my old Assembly manual out to see if it gives this level of detail.
Now, what's the story on the car?

[Richard M.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

This helps a little Rich. Thanks. Love the car. I may have to get my old Assembly manual out to see if it gives this level of detail.
Now, what's the story on the car?

Garry,

Unfortunately, in the AIMs, when there are multiple items, like screws to hold a piece on, it shows the part# for one or a few, but often never gives a total count and every location it's used on. I think the Bill of Materials, "Instruction" as it's often called, shows those details, but no AIM includes those BOMs.

That '57 was owned for a very long time by a friend. He left it untouched forever. It has pretty much original everything. I use the pictures I took a long time ago for reference. He sold it about 5 years ago and it's now restored as I saw it on a auction somewhere IIRC. I think someone added the FI emblems many years ago for fun. I don't think it originated as a fuelie.

A full library of photos can be seen on my Photobucket site here.....

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/richmz/library/1957%20Corvette%20-%20Unrestored%20Original

Rich

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

I was hoping someone would just go count the buttons on their car and tell me the total. Unless I hear directly from someone I am going with 26 as the number based on my memory. Of course these apply only to 56 to 58 since the earlier ones didn't have them and the '59 on up used a different clip system.

[Chris S.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

I have a 56 and 59 here
Let me go count them for you

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Thanks Chris. I doubt you find any on the '59 unless it is a very early VIN. Thanks for checking.
Garry

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

I have a 56 and 59 here
Let me go count them for you

Chris, were you able to get that count on the w/s retaining buttons? Thanks.
Garry

[Richard M.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Garry,

Since your question stated 53 to 58, I never looked at my '59. But last night I went out to check. My car is a March 17th build(Fri marked 48 years) and in fact has the buttons, albeit plastic buttons that have been there since I bought the car 30+ years ago. I think there are just small holes and not the big holes for the tubular plastic push-in plugs.

So I counted........I got 21. That was one door. I'll check the other later.

Are there holes in your doors already for them, or are you trying to get a count to drill yourself?

Rich
PS also replied to your Windshield rubber thread...

[Garry B.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Rich, I did find my '58 Assembly Manual and it does show four buttons (door main) in the same locations as the '57 door you shared photos of. It also shows 4 more running down the door main from the door post and two on the auxiliary w/s. This would total 10 per door or 20 per car. If I recall correctly, the holes were already there and obviously drilled during assembly. The AIM gives very specific spacing measurements, and says "drill 9 .136-.144 holes through weatherstrip and inner panel after cementing" so clearly holes were drilled and the buttons were installed after w/s application. This makes sense because you couldn't find the holes once the w/s was applied. The only mystery is this page (Section F 12.00) says to drill 9 holes for this forward facing door area. I only count 6 from the drawings.

Garry

[Richard M.]

Re: 53-58 weatherstrip retainer buttons-how many?

Garry, Did you count any under the door bottom horizontal edge? Mine had many there.

Rich