Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues - NCRS Discussion Boards

Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

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  • Richard M.
    Super Moderator
    • August 31, 1988
    • 11323

    Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

    This is continuation post from a discussion regarding wrinkles and loose fitting C1 windshield glass to frame rubber, here....

    https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...Gasket-Overlap

    ....where several of us have had issues with the windshield rubber leaving wrinkles in both inside corners where they lay over the dashpad, as well as gaps in the lower section where it's supposed to fit over the chrome flanges of the bottom horizontal section of the windshield posts.

    This morning I spoke with Mike at CRC and discovered why some of us have had these problems. Coincidentally, he told me he just got off the phone with Corvette Central over the exact same issue earlier in the morning. The problem is that the rubber is too long. Different glass circumferences can also cause variations in the installation of the rubber. Some may fit better than others.

    Mike said that a few years ago they were getting many complaints that the rubber was too tight going onto the glass.The original length was 132" then and there were complaints is was too tight for some installers. At that time they decided to increase the overall length of the rubber, by as much as 8".

    He said they receive the extruded rubber pieces from their supplier and bond and fabricate the final product in-house. The extrusion is a "straight" type and has no bends in the corners.

    When I told him about my latest difficulties, and similar issues that Tom has had in the in the above thread, and that the wrinkles re-appear after using a heat gun, he offered to have me return the wrinkled rubber from mine here, and also the replacement I have coming from my supplier if that does not fit properly either. He said they have "shorter" versions of the rubber and will swap them out no charge. Mike was very understanding and helpful with this issue. He knows the C1 windshield is a difficult one and wants to make our jobs easier.

    I then explained that many of us here, as well as on other technical Corvette forums, have had issues. He then offered that if any of you feel that your windshield rubber from CRC is too long and will cause wrinkles, he told me to have you contact him directly to help resolve this problem. He explained that CRC wants to provide a properly fitting product and wants to work with customers to resolve issues. He sounded quite sincere and concerned about the problems we've been having and wants to help us fix them.

    Additionally, Mike said they are going to rethink their fabrication process and try to come up with a new overall length of the rubber to correct the problems on future product.

    Mike can be reached there at CRC at 231-839-7725.

    Corvette Rubber Parts
    Missaukee Molded Rubber, Inc.
    6400 W Blue Rd
    Lake City, MI 49651


    .
    .
    Rich
    ====
    Last edited by Richard M.; December 17, 2013, 09:56 PM.
  • Loren L.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 30, 1976
    • 4104

    #2
    Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

    Standing O to Rich........and Happy Hoidays.

    Comment

    • Thomas H.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • August 31, 2005
      • 1058

      #3
      Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

      Rich,

      I appreciate the time and effort you spent doing this research. As much as I don't relish taking my windshield frame apart (again), I may just do it so I can try to minimize the wrinkles and try out the new gasket.

      I saved much of the original I removed from the windshield. Although it is brittle and falls apart, I have some good sections and one thing I noticed (besides the two missing ribs) is that the flap that goes over the dash pad is about 1/4" wider then the original. This added width may also be contributing to the wrinkling.

      Tom
      1958, 283/245, White/red - Top Flight, October 2016
      1960, Black/black, 283/230 4sp
      1966, Black/Red, 327/350 4sp w/AC
      1967, 427/390, 4sp, Goodwood Green, Coupe
      1971 LS5, 4sp, coupe, Bridgehampton Blue
      2007 Z06, Lemans Blue

      Newsletter Editor, Delaware Valley Chapter

      Comment

      • Barry H.
        Very Frequent User
        • April 30, 1976
        • 213

        #4
        Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

        Guys, I replaced quite a few of the straight axle windshields back in the day & I remember that the "origional" service replacement rubber windshield rubber from Chevy was very tight & seemed too short, a lot of work, but once installed it was a decent fit. Maybe the complaints from installers made the Repro guys make it a little longer. Barry Holmes

        Comment

        • Troy P.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • February 1, 1989
          • 1284

          #5
          Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

          I have one that is too long that I got from Zip or CC. Not sure which company made it. I wonder if you can slice it, take a piece out and glue the ends together with Crazy glue? Seems to me that glue works great on rubber.

          Comment

          • Richard M.
            Super Moderator
            • August 31, 1988
            • 11323

            #6
            Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

            Originally posted by Barry Holmes (940)
            Guys, I replaced quite a few of the straight axle windshields back in the day & I remember that the "origional" service replacement rubber windshield rubber from Chevy was very tight & seemed too short, a lot of work, but once installed it was a decent fit. Maybe the complaints from installers made the Repro guys make it a little longer. Barry Holmes
            Barry, Yes exactly correct. 25 years ago I did a few with GM rubber......perfect. I recall then that the rubber was extremely tight. Always looked great when it was done though and never a wrinkle. However a few years ago I used a NOS GM piece. It was in a blue/white GM bag with a Ecklers orange price label dated 1980-something. It was so tight I put in the sun stretched out tied with rope between two fence posts. All day in the Florida sun helped. I installed it that evening, assembled the frame and back on the car. A few days later it split at the bond seam at the post flange. I should have known that old rubber doesn't work well after sitting in a box for 20 years.

            Mike said their "pre-mod" rubber was tight too, and many users complained so much, and some even broke their glass getting the rubber on, which according to him made them increase the length to what it is presently. He admitted that they went a bit too long on the new version, and now trying to find the right measurement to make it fit and appear the way it should be.

            Originally posted by Troy Pyles (14528)
            I have one that is too long that I got from Zip or CC. Not sure which company made it. I wonder if you can slice it, take a piece out and glue the ends together with Crazy glue? Seems to me that glue works great on rubber.
            Troy, I mentioned that same thing to Mike about the latest one I have here. I was thinking of cutting and using rubber adhesive to rejoin it. He said it's risky to try to re-glue it. Their process uses a special bonding process to glue it together, I think he said with heat so that would be difficult to replicate.

            Rich
            p.s. I spoke with Mike on the phone again yesterday and he's sending me a "short version" rubber to try on the windshield I have here. I told him I'll work closely with him and give him feedback on the build. Tom Hoyer also has one coming and will do his as well. Hopefully Tom and I will have some good news with the results. Mike's very thankful that we're working with him to help resolve this. Tom also sent him a sample of his original, showing the ribs in the mold and mike is going to look into making that feature in the future. However, that'd be a entirely new extrusion mold process. That is done off-site so it may take some time, if feasible. IMO, I think the result may be two versions of the rubber, one without the ribs as available today, and likely a more costly "correct with ribs" version.

            Comment

            • Terry D.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • May 31, 1987
              • 2691

              #7
              Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

              Have been following this post with great interest as a new windshield rubber is in this winters project list. I am a little confused though, why if you are making a reproduction would you not make it as original as possible ( leaving the ribs out, maybe a cost issue) but what really baffles me is if they had complaints of the rubber being too tight didn't anyone thimk that going as much as 8 inches longer would crate a whole new set of problems?

              Comment

              • Terry D.
                Extremely Frequent Poster
                • May 31, 1987
                • 2691

                #8
                Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                One more suggestion, this sounds like a great article for Restorer!!

                Comment

                • Thomas H.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • August 31, 2005
                  • 1058

                  #9
                  Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                  Originally posted by Terry Deusterman (11486)
                  One more suggestion, this sounds like a great article for Restorer!!
                  As newsletter editor for our local chapter, I'm hoping to get a tech article out of this for our next issue in Feb. We'll see...........
                  1958, 283/245, White/red - Top Flight, October 2016
                  1960, Black/black, 283/230 4sp
                  1966, Black/Red, 327/350 4sp w/AC
                  1967, 427/390, 4sp, Goodwood Green, Coupe
                  1971 LS5, 4sp, coupe, Bridgehampton Blue
                  2007 Z06, Lemans Blue

                  Newsletter Editor, Delaware Valley Chapter

                  Comment

                  • Troy P.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • February 1, 1989
                    • 1284

                    #10
                    Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                    Not sure what to do now since I didn't buy mine directly from Corvette Rubber, although I suspect they supplied it. My project is held up until I get the windshield in.

                    Comment

                    • Richard M.
                      Super Moderator
                      • August 31, 1988
                      • 11323

                      #11
                      Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                      Originally posted by Troy Pyles (14528)
                      Not sure what to do now since I didn't buy mine directly from Corvette Rubber, although I suspect they supplied it. My project is held up until I get the windshield in.
                      Troy, As I understand it, Corvette Central gets theirs from CRC, as well as Zip Corvette. I believe CRC supplies many other retailers as well. Since yours came from CC, I would give Mike a call on Monday. When I spoke to him yesterday I mentioned others may be calling with the same problems.

                      He was great to work with, and getting another installer to check the newly designed rubber would be a win for everyone. Between myself and Tom, and if you get one we can help get this fixed forever.

                      I'm certain if the new one has problems, still too long, or too short, Mike will get it right. It just may take a little time. Our feedback should help.

                      Rich
                      p.s. It makes me glad that we have suppliers like CRC close by and not in some unreachable foreign world.

                      Comment

                      • Michael A.
                        Frequent User
                        • June 30, 1986
                        • 68

                        #12
                        Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                        Hi Guy's I am in the process of trying to install mine right now. Just came back up stairs from a failed attempt. I have an NOS rubber that I got years ago from GM, too small. I also have a new one from CC whom I assume are supplied by CRC it is way too long. I quess I will be calling them on Monday. Need to get this job complete, I am finally going together with 1956 car no. 10. Windshield is the next big project don't have any fond memories of doing it on my last 57 but that was 20 years ago. Guess the job has not gotten any easier. Thanks for this thread. Wish me luck and Merry Christmas Mike Anderson (317)729-2418

                        Comment

                        • Richard M.
                          Super Moderator
                          • August 31, 1988
                          • 11323

                          #13
                          Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                          I received the (not shortened, presently made, long) replacement I ordered Monday from my supplier and tried it out. As I suspected, it's not working out very well. So I stretched this new one at the dash corners so it fits right, along with nice overlap for the w/s post bottom flanges. I had a few leftover tack strips from a soft top rebuild and used them under the rubber flaps to simulate the dashpad lip. Looked perfect.

                          PC200001.jpgPC200002.jpg

                          However, In order to get the dashpad corners good with no wrinkles, there was much slack left up top as you can see. I took a few measurements. I laid the slacked part down flat, unstretched, and it's about 3" too long.

                          PC200004.jpg PC200005.jpg

                          Even if the new cut rubber is a shortened a little more than that I think it'll be fine.

                          More to come, likely next week when I get the new one from Mike @ CRC and do the same testing.

                          Rich

                          Comment

                          • Richard M.
                            Super Moderator
                            • August 31, 1988
                            • 11323

                            #14
                            Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                            Originally posted by Michael Anderson (10210)
                            Hi Guy's I am in the process of trying to install mine right now. Just came back up stairs from a failed attempt. I have an NOS rubber that I got years ago from GM, too small. I also have a new one from CC whom I assume are supplied by CRC it is way too long. I quess I will be calling them on Monday. Need to get this job complete, I am finally going together with 1956 car no. 10. Windshield is the next big project don't have any fond memories of doing it on my last 57 but that was 20 years ago. Guess the job has not gotten any easier. Thanks for this thread. Wish me luck and Merry Christmas Mike Anderson (317)729-2418
                            Mike, good thing you didn't use that NOS rubbber. Even if it fit, a few days later it would split at the lower seam(s).

                            Rich

                            Comment

                            • Thomas H.
                              Extremely Frequent Poster
                              • August 31, 2005
                              • 1058

                              #15
                              Re: Corvette Rubber Company - C1 1956 to 1962 Windshield Rubber Weatherstrip Issues

                              Originally posted by Richard Mozzetta (13499)
                              I received the (not shortened, presently made, long) replacement I ordered Monday from my supplier and tried it out. As I suspected, it's not working out very well. So I stretched this new one at the dash corners so it fits right, along with nice overlap for the w/s post bottom flanges. I had a few leftover tack strips from a soft top rebuild and used them under the rubber flaps to simulate the dashpad lip. Looked perfect.

                              [ATTACH=CONFIG]49688[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]49689[/ATTACH]

                              However, In order to get the dashpad corners good with no wrinkles, there was much slack left up top as you can see. I took a few measurements. I laid the slacked part down flat, unstretched, and it's about 3" too long.

                              [ATTACH=CONFIG]49690[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]49691[/ATTACH]

                              Even if the new cut rubber is a shortened a little more than that I think it'll be fine.

                              More to come, likely next week when I get the new one from Mike @ CRC and do the same testing.

                              Rich

                              Those corners look nice. Get that slack out and I think you have a winner. Were you able to take an overall measurement?

                              Mine came today and I'm going to start "playing" with it tonight.......... Pictures later.

                              Tom
                              1958, 283/245, White/red - Top Flight, October 2016
                              1960, Black/black, 283/230 4sp
                              1966, Black/Red, 327/350 4sp w/AC
                              1967, 427/390, 4sp, Goodwood Green, Coupe
                              1971 LS5, 4sp, coupe, Bridgehampton Blue
                              2007 Z06, Lemans Blue

                              Newsletter Editor, Delaware Valley Chapter

                              Comment

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