72 door weatherstrip

[Rich G.]

Hi all and Happy Holidays! I'm putting my 72 back together and have a question for the pros. I put new weatherstrip around the doors, I think I got it from Ecklers a while ago. Now I have to practically slam the crap out of the doors to get them to close all the way. All the gaps look fine. Will this get better over time or is it just crappy weatherstrip. I see advertisements I think from Soft Seal that says quit slamming the doors. What are you guys using?
Thanks

[Jack H.]

Re: 72 door weatherstrip

Prior posts (in the archives) revealed a production 'trick' (borrowed from Fisher body) was to pre-heat the weatherstripping and immediately after it was installed, SLAM the doors shut to cause the rubber to take a 'set' and 'remember' the specific geometry of that door gap.

But, you installed the rubber, so now you 'wait' for it to take a set naturally... That WILL happen, but the speed of deformation will be affected by specific source of your weatherstrip material. Expect the specific durometer of the rubber to vary based on polymerization and age of the material as well as specific extrusion technology (forced areation)...

[Alan S.]

Re: 72 door weatherstrip

Hi Rich,
After installing new weather on the doors of my 71 they took a good bit of force to close compared to what was required before. I was surprised how after only a few weeks with the doors closed the force required was back to what I'd expect.
Regards,
Alan