1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

[Christopher R.]

1962 only Corvettes have a round rubber seal reinforcement (about 4 inches long) cemented behind the center of the rear bow weatherstrip, between the weatherstrip and the convertible top, providing a tighter seal at the body windsplit. (See p. 23 of the JG.)

I can't find that part anywhere. The usual Corvette parts suppliers don't seem to carry it. It also doesn't seem to be included in weatherstrip kits.

1. Anybody know where I can buy it?

2. Anybody know what it looks like? Its profile? Perhaps I can buy a weatherstrip for another application and cut a 4" piece to fit.

[John F.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

CC has it under part#631307. The hump is included in the whole piece. Click on the picture.

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

Thank you, John. That's not the piece to which I was referring. That CC piece is for a hardtop. I'm looking for the 4" strip piece for the softtop.

[John F.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

See SECT-C, Sheet 1.00 View C. in the AIM. Looks like a round seal centered over the windsplit. Is it a piece of foam tucked in the weatherstrip? Hard to tell.

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

Yes, I've seen that. I'm hoping that it's simply a 4" piece of some kind of round rubber weatherstrip that I can glue in there. I was looking for someone who has this piece and could give me a better description of it so I could go out and buy it.

Diameter? Open? Or, filled with foam? Round? Or, shaped?

There used to be a guy at Carlisle (in the middle, near the grandstand) who sold all shapes of weatherstripping in bulk.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

No one has ever carried it since I began with 62's in 1974. The tubular weatherstrip which is used on hardtops seems to fit/work the best of anything I've used.

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

What do you mean by "tubular weatherstrip"? I don't see anything like that in the catalogs.

That's what I'm trying to find. Something made for another application that I can cut up and use in there.

[Robert K.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

i'll post a picture of an original tonight. I don't recall if it is hollow or solid, but it looks like vacuum tube.

[John F.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

Chris, Look what I found tonight while messing with the soft top. It is a 4" by 1/4" or so piece of solid foam weatherstrip glued in the channel to for the shape of the wnd split. This is the second top ever on this car and was installed in 1976. Hope this helps.

[Christopher R.]

Re: 1962 (Only) Convertible Top Rear Bow Seal

John, thanks a million. Just went out and bought some at the local hardware store. Yes, only something about 1/4" wide will fit in there. I found minimum compression foam. Seems to work great. Looks right.

For all you '62 owners reading this. I now have 9' 8" of this stuff left - enough to do 29 more cars. The first 29 of you who send me emails and your address will get a 4" strip of this in the mail. The stuff I bought was 3/4" wide, so you'll need to cut it in half lengthwise. Which will give you another chance to get it right after you screw up the first try.