68-72 convertible deck lid weatherstrip question.

[Mike E.]

What should the ends look like? The pic on p. 48 of the latest TIMJG caught my attention and got me thinking. (A dangerous state of affairs). The pic shows a straight cut, while the reproduction I just bought has an L-shaped end. I looked at my untouched 70, and they are a straight cut. The AIM section 1 page F6 calls out the same part number, 3912948 for 70 through 72. (I was too lazy to look at 68 and 69). So my conclusion is that it shouldbe straight cut. Correct? Then why would the reproduction have added material and production cost in order to be incorrect?
Your wisdom is coveted!

[Joe L.]

Re: 68-72 convertible deck lid weatherstrip question.

What should the ends look like? The pic on p. 48 of the latest TIMJG caught my attention and got me thinking. (A dangerous state of affairs). The pic shows a straight cut, while the reproduction I just bought has an L-shaped end. I looked at my untouched 70, and they are a straight cut. The AIM section 1 page F6 calls out the same part number, 3912948 for 70 through 72. (I was too lazy to look at 68 and 69). So my conclusion is that it shouldbe straight cut. Correct? Then why would the reproduction have added material and production cost in order to be incorrect?
Your wisdom is coveted!

Mike------

This is a simple question with a somewhat complicated answer.

The 1963-67 deck lid weatherstrip for both PRODUCTION and SERVICE was GM #3826967. This weatherstrip had the molded ends.

The 1968-75 deck lid weatherstrip used in PRODUCTION was GM #3912948. This weatherstrip was never available in SERVICE. Instead, the above-referenced GM #3826967 weatherstrip was, when it was available, always specified as the SERVICE weatherstrip for 1968-75 Corvettes. The original deck lid weatherstrip on my 1969 has bevel cut ends. I have to assume this is the configuration of the GM #3912948 weatherstrip, assuming, of course, that the 3912948 was the weatherstrip actually used in PRODUCTION.

When the 3826967 is used in SERVICE for 1968-75 Corvette convertibles I presume that GM's intent is that the molded ends be cut off. It might even be necessary to further shorten the 3826967 in order to fit 68-75 Corvette applications.

So, the reproduction sources appear to have faithfully reproduced the configuration of the 3826967 weatherstrip which, as I mentioned, is the PRODUCTION and SERVICE weatherstrip for 1963-67 Corvettes and the SERVICE weatherstrip for 1968-75 Corvettes. They, apparently, have not reproduced the GM #3912948 weatherstrip but, perhaps, their intention is the same as GM's as far as the 3826967 being modified to convert it to the 3912948 configuration.

One thing I did notice about the deck lid weatherstrip on my 1969: it appears, looking at the ends, that the outer portion of the weatherstrip is the usual, soft "foam rubber". However, there appears to be an inner core of much harder rubber. I don't know if this is a configuration unique to the 3912948 or if it's shared by the 3826967 as I've never "cut open" the latter.