The Importance of Weather Stripping

With summer approaching, the spring-like moderate days will warm up to the point you are going to depend on your classic car's air conditioning system to keep you cool. You have already upgraded or tuned-up your AC system and possibly tinted your windows. What else can you do to insure you are getting the most efficiency out of your factory AC system?

One area that gets neglected is weather stripping. On modern cars, there may be two layers of weather stripping that help insulate the interior and provide a nice solid seal when closing the door. Most classic and muscle cars typically came with one layer of weatherstipping. When your car came from the factory, the doors and windows were lined with weather stripping made from rubber. Over the years, the rubber will deteriorate from conditions such as rain, snow, ice, UV rays, heat cycles and dirt. The rubber can get hard and lose its ability to seal effectively, or it will start to break apart leaving gaps and making it difficult to insulate the cabin. Additionally, this may lead to extra moisture getting into the cabin that can lead to a musty or moldy smell that can damage the interior.

Weatherstripping is an insulator - it helps keep the cold A/C air in while keeping the heat and humidity out of the cabin. There are several aftermarket companies that make replacement weather stripping for classic cars and worth the investment. So put this on your to do list and be sure the check your weather stripping in the door jams, and get down low and check under the doors as that is wear typically most of the damage to weather stripping occurs.

Some tips to consider for weather stripping repair and replacement:

• Use only the recommended amount of weatherstripping that is designed and made for your vehicle’s specific application. Too much and you may encounter issues closing doors and windows.
• The old weatherstripping may still be usable. If the rubber is still pliable, it may be reworked with some extra adhesive filler. Also, it may be best as the OEM part may not be available.
• Make sure the new matches the old. Check all mount points, width, length to insure a perfect fit.
• Plan for some shrinkage. Plan to leave a 1/4 to 1/2 inch of weather stripping to allow for shrinkage after installation and weather acclimation.
• Begin the installation and gluing process in the center of the lowest portion of each seal, as this is where water typically gathers.

Have you had your weather stripping replaced on your car? Was it difficult to find weather stripping for your classic car?