C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

[Keith R.]

I've got both doors put together with the windows operating pretty well and was getting ready to install the door weatherstrip. I dry fitted the main weatherstrip to the passenger door and found that the top of the reproduction weatherstrip has an integral metal mounting bracket embedded in it which needs to be attached to the door post with the top front window channel rivet inserted from the channel side. I had already installed this rivet on the bench when I installed the front door channel and peened it over. What do you recommend that I do now? Can I drill out the rivet and install a new rivet with the door post installed in the door so that I can secure the top of the weatherstrip to the post? Or, will I have to remove the post to do so? Thoughts on how to proceed? Thanks.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

Keith, What does the 1960 AIM show? Was there a rivet there when you took the old channel out?

I believe a screw is used to hold the top corner with the integrated top corner molded into the weatherstrip. I recall earlier 1956 to 1958 used a rivet because that top piece was a separate part not integrated into the entire weatherstrip.

I must admit I've always been confused about this but have seen screws there on the later cars.

Rich

[Larry C.]

Re: C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

Guess my 62 qualifies as a later car as the door posts have phillips head screws there.

Larry

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

Thanks Rich. I don't recall whether there was a screw or rivet in there when I disassembled it and of course, I can't see whether the hole in the post is threaded or not as there is a rivet in there now. Plus, I installed new weatherstrip 35 odd years ago and there's no guarantee that I did it correctly then as there was little guidance at that time. The 1960 AIM shows a rivet at this location passing through the door post window channel through the post then into the bracket embedded in the weatherstrip. There is a threaded screw hole near that location at the top of the post however it is there to hold the small rounded weatherstrip bracket found in the CC weatherstrip hardware kit. The Service Guide shows a screw at this channel location but I have to believe that a rivet is correct given the size of the bracket hole. Consequently, I'm thinking that the weatherstrip needs to be connected to the post at this location when the front window channel is assembled to the door post while on the bench. Unfortunately, I think that at this point, I'm going to have to pull the door posts out of the car, drill out the top rivet and connect the weatherstrip with a new rivet while on the bench unless there is a rivet tool that will mash down the end of a solid aluminum rivet adequately while the post is still installed in the door.

[Richard M.]

Re: C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

Keith, Your 3rd AIM photo shows a screw there. The first shows a rivet. That one also shows the small separate top piece as in the earlier years.

I suppose it's best to take the post off to prevent damage to anything if you're sure it should be a rivet. I'd be inclined to drill out the rivet and put a screw there while still on the car. But if the hole got enlarged it could be a problem to use a screw.

Rich

[Keith R.]

Re: C1 top door weatherstrip rivet problem

Thanks Rich. The first and second photos are from the AIM. The third from the service guide shows a screw. The first photo shows the rivet and the second shows the screw holding the small rounded oblong weatherstrip bracket at the top. If the AIM shows a rivet, I think that I should put a rivet back in there and pull out the post to prevent damage to the car. On the other hand, I might be able to use a semi-tubular aluminum truss head rivet and install it with the post in the car using something like an Aero rivet tool or an air hammer rivet setting tool. I don't think a screw would work in any case as the hole in the weatherstrip bracket is pretty large.