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Approximately 30 minutes (for one e.g., door, trunk, etc.)
Some examples may not apply to a Tri-5 Chevy; this is a general article on weatherstripping.
Varies depending on seals or number of seals
Tip: If you happen to break or lose a retainer during installation, try using 3M weatherstrip adhesive in its place. The glue is super tacky and forms a lasting, watertight seal.
A quiet, weatherproof interior and trunk
Whenever setting out on any restoration, we all know that new weatherstripping is a must. It can make the biggest difference in the look and feel of your interior. It also serves as a barrier to keep out the harsh outdoor elements. If you have ever driven a car home from the shop with absolutely no weatherstripping in it, you know what I mean. Unfortunately, the stuff is just old rubber and has no defense mechanisms against the sun, rain, or chemicals (not to mention time).
Lucky for us, replacing most weatherstripping is a walk in the park. The main items? Door seals, roofrail seals, window felts, quarter glass seals, vent window seals, and trunk seals. Most of these are readily available for just about any classic GM vehicle. Ecklers offers these seals and more in conveniently and discounted kits. What more can you ask for? You can literally replace every rubber seal and bumper on your car, all for a few hundred dollars (in most cases).
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The retainers in the seal are simply inserted into the factory-drilled holes in the door shell. Door seals are some of the most commonly abused and replaced of weatherstripping. On hardtop cars, they wrap around the body of the door in a large U shape form. Inside the seal are small retainers that line up to holes in the door frame. On both ends of the seal is a molded rubber head with removable retainers.
Starting at the front edge of the door towards the dash, insert the retainers through the seal and into the frame. As you move down the door, lock each retainer into its corresponding hole. You may need to stretch the seal in some areas for all of the retainers to line up. The seal will loop around the bottom of the door and back up to the other side of the window opening. Again, attach the head of the seal to the door frame, and you're done!
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The quarter glass weatherstrip slides right up into the track of the window. Quarter glass seals are even easier. This is a small, vertical strip of weatherstripping that measures approximately 12 inches in length. On one side of the seal is a molded groove and lip that is designed to slide up into the quarter glass window frame.
The chrome vertical molding that adorns most quarter glass windows houses the track in which the seal slides into. They basically slide in and slide out. However, they can put up a fight. If necessary, the seals and the track can be lubricated with grease, oil, or even hand soap. This will normally get them moving.
After the seal is fully installed to the top of the track, there may be excess length at the bottom that needs to be cut off. The seal has a rounded taper at the lower end to allow it to enter into the quarter when the window is rolled down. If you need to hack the bottom of the seal off, this taper can easily be made with a utility knife. The seal should sit firmly in the track and overlap behind the door glass.
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It's a good idea to lay a down a little adhesive behind the roofrails seals. The roofrail seals complete the door opening/side window weatherstripping. These seals are long, straight strips of rubber with molded channels in both the front and back sides of the seal. They install into the upper run channel that both the door glass and the quarter windows roll up into.
The channel starts in the forward opening of the door frame (just above where the front door seal head is installed). It follows the A-pillar upwards and along the roof to the rear of the quarter glass opening. The backside of the seal is channeled to mate with the roofrail track, whereas the front of the seal has a recessed groove to cover the tops of the windows.
Although the seal is held in by lips of the track, it is recommended to glue the seal with weatherstrip adhesive for added strength.
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When installing trunk weatherstripping, make sure the lip is facing outside the car. When it comes to the trunk, you'll want to make sure that any old weatherstripping or weatherstrip debris (such as old rubber that has adhered to the channel) is removed. You can use a tool and some weatherstrip remover to clean up that channel.
Once clean and dry, it's a good idea to test fit your weatherstrip before gluing. Wedge it into the track, making sure the two ends meet at the bottom center of the channel, near the trunk latch area. Trim if necessary. Apply a bead of weatherstrip adhesive (glue) around the entire channel, then insert the weatherstripping. You'll want to install the new rubber fairly quickly, before the glue sets up and starts to dry.
Be sure to install the new weatherstrip with the beveled edge (lip) facing outside the car. There is a good video online that shows how this is done: Watch Video
The look and design of weatherstripping will vary from car to car, but the overall approach is the same. Buy quality and take your time installing them. Obviously, you'll have some fresh, new protection from the elements. But, you'll also have a car that sounds vault-solid when you shut that door or trunk lid!