How to Install Door Weatherstrips

To properly seal your car, you need quality parts, like we sell at SuperCar Specialty, and a correct installation. Time spent carefully following these instructions will help you achieve the "like new" results you're after!

General Hints:

1. Take your time! Hurrying, especially when working with adhesives, can cause you to damage your seals. Regarding adhesives, we recommend either Permatex or 3M Black Super Weathersrip Adhesive. They are body oem strength, and the black color is much more forgiving if you happen to get any of it on you or your car.

2. Check your packaging and invoice to confirm that the seals you are about to install are for your year, make, and model car.

3. Confirm that the clips that are inserted in the weatherstrip line up with the holes in your door edge before installing. Keep in mind that the seal will "flex" about 1/2 inch to make up for minor differences.

4. Don't remove both seals at once. Remove and replace 1 side at a time, starting with the passenger side which is the least often used.

5. Have the doors from this car been removed during a restoration? If so, make sure the gaps are set to factory specs. Almost every customer who has problems with fit has removed their doors.

A) Preparation:
Remove your old weatherstrip in one piece if possible. If necessary, remove old anchor plugs using a pliers, or push them through the hole if you cannot otherwise remove them.

B) Cleaning:
Clean the entire outer door surface. Remaining seal pieces or other debris can make the seal "stick out" further than it should, possibly causing the door to close hard.

 
C) Start At One End: On hardtops and convertibles, fasten one end (Figure 8A), placing a tiny amount of adhesive on the mounting side of the end and a small amount between pin anchors. On post sedans and trucks, start at the top center and apply a small bead of adhesive on the under side of the rubber between the two pins on either side. Then install the pins.
 



D) Then Continue:
Now simply place a small bit of adhesive to the rubber between the pins on the remaining weatherstrip, and push in any remaining pins as you gradually work your way around the door. (Figure 8B)


E) Finally:
On hardtops and convertibles, your strip should fit exactly. On post sedans and trucks, where 2 ends must be joined, carefully cut the ends squarely to match together, and allow about 1/4 inch overlap. Apply adhesive to the ends of the weatherstrip at this seam, and hold the ends together until the weatherstrip adhesive "tacks up", and the ends stay together on their own. Let the adhesive fully dry before shutting the door. If you accidentally tear the weatherstrip while installing it, SuperGlue can be used to repair the tear.

F) Afterwards:
The weatherstrip will conform to the irregularities of the door after about 1 week. Your door may shut harder than normal until this occurs.

All Done!