How to Install Hardtop Roofrail 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, if any, line up with the holes in your body 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 your doors been removed during a restoration? If so, make sure the gaps are set to factory specs. Almost every problem regarding fit involves a customer who has either removed their doors, or re-adjusted the door or quarter glasses.

A) Preparation:
Remove the old strip, in one piece if possible, by extracting the black plastic anchor pins or screws at the molded end using a side cutter or screwdriver. Pull the rubber away from the channel, using a release agent to remove old glue if necessary. Clean and scrape the channel with a small wire brush, using masking tape to avoid scratching any surfaces.

B) Cleaning:
Clean the entire channel surface in the roofline. 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 The Front:
Starting at the front (see Figure 12A), install the black plastic anchor pins or screws in the molded end, putting a tiny bit of adhesive in the channel.


D) Install Seal:
Insert the main section into the roofline channel, working your way from the front to the back, using a hard plastic or rubber squeegee to lock the rubber into the edges of the channel (see Figure 12B).

E) Tuck Away:
Work your way to the end of the channel. Leave about two inches of excess rubber, using a knife to cut off the rest. Tuck those excess two inches into the roof and quarter panel area.  On models with two molded ends, work your way to the back and install the pins or screws, and you're done.

F) Finally:
Let adhesive dry before shutting doors. Use SuperGlue to repair any accidental tears.



G) Afterwards:
It usually takes about a week for the new roofrail weatherstrip to form itself to the upper glass edges. Until then, the doors may close harder than usual.


Job Finished!