is there weather stripping in the drip rail?

[Youngbuck7072]

i have a drip rail on my 70 and i chisled a hole bunch of crap out of it with a flathead and a hammer. is it weatherstripping? Is there supposed to be weather stripping in the drip rail?

[Boog]

The factory used Drip Check to seal that area. You can pick it up at the parts stores. I used 3M brand.

[jwalk]

It's a seam sealer. Theres all different kinds of seam sealer that can go back in there. Check your local O'Riellys... I prefer two part seam sealers.

[lrader99]

from someone who has restored several of GM's definitely use a 2 part seam sealer...GM loved that stuff. They were very very liberal with its use. most 2 parts dry fairly quickly and will accept paint much better and not crack when it dries.

[Youngbuck7072]

k. the drip rail is the piece of metal that goes around the top of the cab above the wind shield and above the windows and down the back roof pillars to keep water from getting in the window seals, right?

-oh, and Lradar99, you need to change your avatar

[lrader99]

yes, that is the drip rail....and what would you prefer my avatar to be?

[Youngbuck7072]

Originally Posted by lrader99

yes, that is the drip rail....and what would you prefer my avatar to be?

i pic of one of your chevys man

[Youngbuck7072]

should i run the seam sealer in the drip rail? if so, how should i install it (before or after paint)

[lrader99]

just run a nice smooth bead. do it before paint.

[AirSpeed]

Dont put it in too thick! I learned this the hard way! Use just enough to cover the seam in the bottom of the channel. I made the mistake of using to much and it eventually cracks. When mine went to hell I looked at every seam on every truck I saw, all the trucks that had a thin layer looked perfect, all the ones that used a lot were cracked and and looked horrible.
Once you lay it in try not to work it too much, I notice that it smooths itself out after a few minutes.
I painted my truck last winter and my seam sealer went to hell this summer, I had to dig it all out down to bare steel, trying not to destroy the paint on the outside of the rail while doing so. I eventually had to use a wire wheel to clean out the gutter. I replaced the sealer last week and now I have to repaint the inside of the gutter. It has not been fun!

[Youngbuck7072]

Hmm...do i need seam sealer? what will happen if i dont and just clean up the drip rails and primer them??

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Youngbuck7072

Hmm...do i need seam sealer? what will happen if i dont and just clean up the drip rails and primer them??

You definately need the sealer, without it you will get a lot of leaks and rust will build up all around your windshield. It really isnt that difficult to install, just buy some quality sealer and make sure you have the gutter as clean as possible, even the smallest amount of rust will cause problems down the road.
Taking your time with it will really pay off later.

[seafoam68]

Hey guys, I was wandering the same thing. My truck is not a daily driver and should never be in the rain. I had thought about just smoothing in a little bondo and painting it. Will this suffice in my case?

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by seafoam68

Hey guys, I was wandering the same thing. My truck is not a daily driver and should never be in the rain. I had thought about just smoothing in a little bondo and painting it. Will this suffice in my case?

I would use the sealer, it's more flexible than bondo, the drip rail is going to expand and contract all the time since its thin and sticks out all by itself, it will eventually crack the bondo. I wouldn't want to take that chance.
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[seafoam68]

Ahhh, good thinking. Thanks for the advice.