C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

[Roger P.]

Hi guys (& ladies, too),
My '65 convertible vent window rubber seals are beginning to show cracks from age at the bottom and corner. I would like to replace them without removing the door panels and taking out the entire assembly. Is this possible, or is this the one weatherstripping piece on a C2 that isn't easy to replace (other than the windshield)? Can someone give me the easiest "step-by-step" procedure to replace these rubber seals? The vent window mechanisms otherwise work very well... I'm just not lovin' the cracks. FYI, I also posted on the CF for other opinions on my options. I want to confirm the easiest procedure for this project. I understand that the rubber seal would have to be cut at the "T" pivot on either the inside or outside if the vent window assembly isn't removed from the door. Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Roger (50141)

[Gene M.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

Roger,
I have never done this task witout removing the wing window assembly from the door. The post for the wing rotation that attaches to the transmission crank goes thru the rubber seal.

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

Gene,
Well, it's looks like I will have to roll up my sleeves and tackle this project by removing the door panels. It appears that the rubber seals could be removed & replaced without removing the vent window (by cutting the rubber seal at the "T" pivot), but that hasn't been advised by anyone. I just don't want to break something or create another issue by accident . I will have to take it slow and keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks for your reply,
Roger (50141)

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

I removed the door panels and the vent windows from the car and sent the frames out to the chrome shop for triple plating (copper-nickel-chrome). Just received the new rubber seals and pre-bent window channel "fuzzy" runs. If all goes well, I should have the frames back from the chrome shop on Wednesday and the vent window assemblies back together and ready for installation back in the car next weekend (fingers crossed). So far, so good! I also purchased some misc. new parts such as door panel moisture-sound barriers, lock knobs, and crank handle foam seals & plastic backplates. While the door panels are off the car, I also bought clear epoxy to reinforce the door panels' hard cardboard backing where the retaining clips are attached due to some previous (mild) moisture damage.

I was curious about the hand-written numbers and letters that I found on the back of my original door panels. There is a manufacture date stamp of Feb. 11, 1965 and Feb. 12, 1965 on the panels. My car was assembled on Feb. 26, 1965, so the dates make sense. However, each panel has the number "3" hand written. One panel has "B22" written, while the other panel has what looks like either "J21" or "P21" written. In addition, one panel as the letter "B" written while the other panel has the letter "C" written. What do these letters and numbers mean? Are they date codes or production sequence numbers?

Thanks, Roger (50141)

[Greg C.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

Hi guys (& ladies, too),
My '65 convertible vent window rubber seals are beginning to show cracks from age at the bottom and corner. I would like to replace them without removing the door panels and taking out the entire assembly. Is this possible, or is this the one weatherstripping piece on a C2 that isn't easy to replace (other than the windshield)? Can someone give me the easiest "step-by-step" procedure to replace these rubber seals? The vent window mechanisms otherwise work very well... I'm just not lovin' the cracks. FYI, I also posted on the CF for other opinions on my options. I want to confirm the easiest procedure for this project. I understand that the rubber seal would have to be cut at the "T" pivot on either the inside or outside if the vent window assembly isn't removed from the door. Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Roger (50141)

Hi...I did this before and it was a big dissapointment,aftermarket rubber seals are really tough to install and they never fit well. I wished I had never done it. I dont think it could be done without removing the whole assembly as the new rubber has to be lightly hammered in. Trust me...dont do it,Greg

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

Hi Greg. At this point, I'm committed to the project because everything is disassembled, the parts have been delivered, and the frames are at the chrome shop. It started with the cracks on the rubber seals, but when I looked closer, I noticed small pitting on the frames. The small pitting became a bigger issue than the rubber seals because it visually magnified in my eyes and I knew it was time to re-chrome the frames. I am hopeful that the project will have a happy ending because of the guidance that I received on this TDB and the Corvette Forum, and from the advice of buying only "Corvette Rubber" vent window seals. I also made the decision to have a professional restorer install the rubber seals in the frames because of the difficulty that you described... just removing the old seals was a wrestling match! If all goes according to plan without Murphy's Law kicking in as it often does, I will have the frames back from the chrome shop this afternoon and the rubber seals installed tomorrow. Assuming no issues with the installation, I will install the restored vent window frames back in the car this holiday weekend... with the hope that I won't have to do this project again for many, many years (if ever)!! Stay tuned , Roger (50141)

[Roger P.]

Re: C2 Convertible Vent Window Rubber Seal

Finally, this project is finished!! It certainly was necessary with the cracked rubber seals and the pitted chrome frame, but what a PITA! I didn't anticipate the door panel repairs, nor the trial & error adjusting of the vent window frames to get them "right". I'm a perfectionist, so every task takes me a little longer than most guys. Now that it is finally done, I am happy with the finished product. In addition to the door panel repairs, I had an issue with the passenger door window. When I fit the vent window with the correct gap to the windshield frame, the door glass wasn't snug between the front and rear vertical channels. If I moved the vent frame back to tighten the glass, then the gap to the windshield was unacceptable to me. After searching the archives and finding no solution to my problem, I put a couple washers at the top mounting screw of the rear channel to shim the channel forward which then tightened the glass between the front and rear channels. That was a good solution that solved the problem, but it left me with a small gap at the bottom of the glass where it met the convertible top rubber seal. Doh!! So, after some serious contemplation, and considering that the top is up only when the car is stored or when I get caught in the rain, I decided that the window and vent frame were correct and I had to deal with the convertible top rubber seal. Being somewhat of a MacGyver, I took a piece of hood weatherstripping that I had from a previous project and cut & trimmed it to shim the convertible rubber seal that meets the rear edge of the window glass. It worked out well and looks very good, but it was a real bee-ach getting the threaded studs through the convertible top frame holes and then getting the nuts started on the threads. The working area is extremely tight, so I had to double-face tape each nut to the tip of my finger to get it started on the threads while pushing and compressing the rubber shim. With persistence and some swearing, I got the job done. Amen! My door panels are original to the car, but for some reason the passenger side doesn't fit as flush to the fiberglass door in the center of the arch as the driver side. Seeing no other option, I will probably fill the gap at the edge of the door jamb with another MacGyver weatherstripping job. As many have said before me, I hope that this is the last time that I have to work inside those doors!! One last thing... I want to thank those who have guided me with their experience during this project. This is a great forum with very good people and I'm honored to be a member. I have attached a few photos of the restored vent windows and repaired door panels for you to check out.

Cheers, Roger (50141)