How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstrip?

[Scott S.]

The same AIM illustration (and door weatherstrip part number) is used for all midyear coupes in the 1963-1967 assembly manuals.

For 1967 the illustration is on UPC 1Doors-K12 (View "C", see AIM picture below), showing the cuts required to join the two ends of the main door weatherstrip at the bottom-middle of the door. Is this diagram drawn from a perspective as if you were viewing the weatherstrip at eye-level, e.g., if the car was on a lift, raising the bottom of the door up to eye-level?

It appears that making the cuts shown in the diagram will result in much less surface area contact between the two ends being joined together. It seems to make more sense to have the ends cut in a way that maximizes the contact patch (picture #2 diagram below).

Since the weatherstrip is held in place by glue all around the perimeter of the door, I'm guessing the joint between the two ends is not critical for keeping the weatherstrip attached. Is there some other reason (fit or function) why the AIM instruction seems to minimize the contact patch between ends?

[Dan H.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Probably to let the air out of the tubular w/s.

[Scott S.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Probably to let the air out of the tubular w/s.

Dan,

Thanks for the reply. I had not considered that, but it makes sense. GM 3829883-4 coupe door weatherstrip (NOS) has two hollow chambers, one small and the other looks about 8 to 10 times larger. If the installed weatherstrip is supposed to be oriented so that the larger hollow chamber is bottom-most, then cutting the ends as the AIM shows would indeed allow most of the air to escape when being compressed as the door is closed.

[Troy P.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

The best glue for joining two rubber pieces is Crazy Glue or a cousin thereof. Even with a small contact area it will bond really well.

[Dan B.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

The underside of the door is not a critical area as where the two halves join is the lowest point on the door and water will flow away and not in. Just fit the weatherstrip correctly around the top of the door so the molded piece lines up correctly and but the two halves together with minimal spacing. 3m Super weatherstrip adhesive in black is what I like to use for that. Dan

[Scott S.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

The underside of the door is not a critical area as where the two halves join is the lowest point on the door and water will flow away and not in. Just fit the weatherstrip correctly around the top of the door so the molded piece lines up correctly and but the two halves together with minimal spacing. 3m Super weatherstrip adhesive in black is what I like to use for that. Dan

Dan, thanks for the reply.

The picture below is supposed to be a GM factory photo of a 1963 door. At the bottom-middle, where the two ends of the weatherstrip are supposed to connect, you can see that the ends are mis-matched, even at this distance and resolution. The AIM drawing goes to great lengths on the details of this part of the door weatherstrip installation, I was just hoping to learn why they made such a big deal out of it


1963 Door.jpg

[Dan H.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Scott, if you are having your car Judged, don't use black w/s cement. Also cut the angles as shown in the AIM. Ask me how I know!
Dan

[Scott S.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Scott, if you are having your car Judged, don't use black w/s cement. Also cut the angles as shown in the AIM. Ask me how I know!
Dan

Dan, thanks for the follow-up. I do hope to have the car judged, I can't think of how else to get a better or more thorough (or more harsh!) evaluation of what's wrong or still needs to be corrected. Assuming you know because the judges pointed this out to you, did they also explain why the engineers determined the weatherstrip was to be cut at those angles?

Or did they just say they saw it that way in the AIM?


Edit: Sorry, got the two Dans mixed up, you already addressed that earlier. Your idea makes sense, just seems like there ought to be an "official" explanation somewhere...

[Dan H.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Scott, the Judges are referring to original cars as delivered from St Louis. Look at as many unrestored cars as possible, take pictures, ask questions to make you car as close as you can to original assembly techniques. The AIM is agreat tool too. Happy hunting!
Dan

[John H.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Assuming you know because the judges pointed this out to you, did they also explain why the engineers determined the weatherstrip was to be cut at those angles?

Your idea makes sense, just seems like there ought to be an "official" explanation somewhere...

Scott -

I spent many years in Chevrolet Engineering, two of them ('67-'68) in the Corvette Group; the beveled joint in the door main weatherstrip at the bottom was designed that way for internal pressure relief within the weatherstrip when the door was slammed. Without it, the weatherstrip could rupture or make the door difficult to close.

[Scott S.]

Re: How to make the cut to join the two ends of a Midyear COUPE door main weatherstri

Scott -

I spent many years in Chevrolet Engineering, two of them ('67-'68) in the Corvette Group; the beveled joint in the door main weatherstrip at the bottom was designed that way for internal pressure relief within the weatherstrip when the door was slammed. Without it, the weatherstrip could rupture or make the door difficult to close.

John,

Thanks very much for the explanation,


Scott