Options on door weather stripping

[54belair]

Can anyone tell me the difference in thickness between the pinch on type and the glue on?

I purchased the Precision pinch on stripping and while the quality is excellent the stripping is way too thick. I'm barely able to force the door shut enough to engage the safety door latch. I know I can move the latch, but the door will stick out past the edge of the cab.

I'm not as worried about ease of installation nearly as much as I am the thickness of the weather stripping.
Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

[1968aj]

I have used both. every time my doors were hard to close.you can cut some holes or slits in them. sometimes that helps by letting air in them escape.

[rsgt]

I used the push on. I did adjust my latch out so I could close the door even though the door stuck out. But eventually I was able to adjust it in again.

[54belair]

I also read an old thread concerning door weather stripping where a member used the door seal from a Honda civic. I'm going to call my local pick an pull tomorrow to see if they have any of the Hondas. If they do Ill try to use an older set to see if and how they work, then if I have good results Ill order new ones and try them.

I spent hours getting the gaps set on these doors (including already setting the latch plate as far out as I possibly could and still keep the door skin flush with the cab and I'm not willing (yet) to move the plates out and let the doors gap open at the back. Seems like there should be a way to get OEM results with todays technology. Its hard to believe that with all the parts available for these trucks, oem weather stripping isn't available.

[leddzepp]

86-96 dodge Dakota seals work very well. Almost every junkyard on earth has them. Cheap, no mess press on.

This subject has been covered extensively, a search will reveal that people have had success with many different types. Gmc Paul and classic heartbeat even sells new press on style that have mitered corners like oem.

[54belair]

Thank you sir,, Ill look for the Dakota seals as well!!

[randy500]

The door seals are just a very poor design coupled with too little door to cab clearance. You can have doors that shut good or have doors that seal, make your choice. I just cut half the rubber bulb away where it fits to tight so the doors will shut. Dakota, Honda push on, nos, precision, none of that cures poor design with too little weatherstrip clearance

[rockyrivermark]

Originally Posted by randy500

The door seals are just a very poor design coupled with too little door to cab clearance. You can have doors that shut good or have doors that seal, make your choice. I just cut half the rubber bulb away where it fits to tight so the doors will shut. Dakota, Honda push on, nos, precision, none of that cures poor design with too little weatherstrip clearance

Amen.
Randy spot on as usual. I work at a university and we work on doors all the time. If a prof sees the slightest air gap in an exterior door seal they scream "energy loss, not green!" truth is those doors are opened a 1,000 times a day. Equivalent to
That gap at 30 years!
So we get them sealed tight. Of course then temp or humidity change and then we get a call at 3 am that the door isn't securing its own and we go cut the bulb off the seal and go back to bed.
My line "you can have it sealed or closing nicely. But not both"
Sorry for the rant!
Mark

[Robznob11]

I have the push on ones and they are a little tight but not to bad, if you crack the window they actually shut fairly easy! I found when installing to take a rubber mallet to seat them over the picnh weld, it helps them to sit better expecially in the tight corner of the front upper!

[54belair]

I agree with everyone so far--------------But, I also remember that when these trucks were new, the issues we have now weren't an issue then. My dad bought a new 68, I still remember, the doors always had a tinny sound when shut, But they never, even from the day he brought it home, seemed too tight or out of adjustment--just kind of tinny.
He was 65 at the time and that 68 was the first new truck he had ever owned---and he even commented on the way it sounded when you shut the doors.

[snipescastle2]

I found the door weatherstrips off a BMW 325 I work great, they fit the pinchwelds fine too. And the price was great too (pick n pull) $10
Ben

[Grumpy old man]

Why not just use what they came with ?, Yes it's more work but nobody said all this was easy ? at least they have the correct mitered corners .

http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...Category_ID=22

The later models used the pillar vents to help with closing the doors

http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...Category_ID=31

Or just install a set of vent shades and leave the window down a bit ,it will also keep the cab cooler and ease door closing

http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...&Category_ID=7

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

The later models used the pillar vents to help with closing the doors

http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...Category_ID=31

Wow! Never new that was the purpose of that vent. Learn something new every day I guess.

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by cericd

Wow! Never new that was the purpose of that vent. Learn something new every day I guess.

Some think it has something to do with EEC system or related to the fuel tank but it doesn't it's ment to relieve interior cab pressure to assist with closing the doors ,They are on the 68 ^ camaros for the same purpose .

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by 54belair

I agree with everyone so far--------------But, I also remember that when these trucks were new, the issues we have now weren't an issue then. My dad bought a new 68, I still remember, the doors always had a tinny sound when shut, But they never, even from the day he brought it home, seemed too tight or out of adjustment--just kind of tinny.
He was 65 at the time and that 68 was the first new truck he had ever owned---and he even commented on the way it sounded when you shut the doors.

My Dad has a 1970 CST/10 and the doors have always stuck out a tad. He has owned the truck since 1972, and he is the second owner. They stuck out back then too. drivers side worse than the passenger side. Heck even the rockers aren't welded in straight and the front edge near the fender on the passenger side is no where near lined up with anything. It rolled off the assembly line that way.

I just installed the push on seals made by Precision on my 1972 GMC. They have the mitered corners and fit extremely well onto the pinch weld. I have not installed my doors yet so I don't know how they will fit yet. But they also have little hidden holes on the backside of the round seal about every 18" to let air escape.

Gary