PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => General Pinto Talk => Topic started by: clsecmbt on September 01, 2020, 08:07:22 PM
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Greetings. Wondering if anyone has used the https://www.steelerubber.com/hatchback-weatherstrip-70-3561-84 on a '71 with the smallest back glass? We have a '71 hatch built on 06/02/71 at Metuchen and the hatch rubber is smashed flat. Looking at the Steele profile, I'm not sure if it will fit our car or not, so I'm curious if anyone has experience. Picture of our seal is attached.
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I was aware the seal is different on the later all glass hatch than the metal hatch. I was not aware that there is a difference on the early small window hatch seals. I will be following this to see what you find out.
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Update - it does NOT fit correctly and there are bad leaks around the top of the hatch. I called Steele Rubber and they were quite surprised by this. Eddie there asked for a cross section of the original seal, which I sent down to him. About a week later he called to say they don't have anything that matches that (in fact it looks most like a Hurst Olds T-top seal), but he's willing to sent me some samples to test out to see if we can find a solution.
Basically, the repop seal isn't "clocked" outward far enough to create a good seal at the top and corners. It works ok along the bottom and straight sides. It coud be inward more at the bottom. See photo.
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Well that is a bummer, please post if you find a solution.
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FYI their 1/4 window seals are not even close to fitting.
I have a topic here about them.....
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https://www.fordpinto.com/parts-resources-here-is-where-you-can-find-this-or-that/'74-window-felt/msg182082/#msg182082
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I received a package today from Eddie at Steele Rubber. He has kept my original seal for research purposes and sent me a package of samples of each kind of specialty seal they offer. I see a couple that might be workable, need to try them out on different areas of the hatch.
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Anything new with the hood hinge boots
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Eddie and I have traded phone calls for a while. I settled on four different push-on seal samples and he was kind enough to send me a longer piece so I can test each out on the sharp curves of the hatch. The area where we're getting the most water is in the hinge area and the top corners of the hatch. Hopefully have a solution soon.
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Well, I tried all the seals Steele Rubber could come up with, and then went to the junkyard, looked at dozens of seals and brought 4 home. None made the cut. Not sure what to do now except maybe try some adhesive seal on the hatch side itself to try and make up the gap between it and the Steel Rubber piece. We checked the latch adjustment and even considered spacing the hinges down. No solutions yet.
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i had same deal with hatch seal for my '80 model. leaked around the top and corners.i ended up putting weatherstrip tape around the top on inside of hatch.fixed problem and can't see it either.
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After getting a few recommendation s we went to the yard in search of a 1st generation 2-door Ford Focus. We found a 2005 and pulled both front door seals. They fit the hatch great. We had to hammer the pinch weld back towards the lower 1/3 of the sides, as it the seal is a bit wider than the factory piece. Now we are noticing that the hatch itself is warped, so it seals everywhere except the bottom corner on the passenger side.
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Here is a side by side comparison.
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I am facing the same issue with the second row windows for the Pinto wagon. Steele Rubber provided me seals for every window except for the second row pop-out windows. Every time I try to explain my needs, they keep referring me to the seals for cargo bay stationary windows. Please keep me posted as you work with Steele Rubber. Let them know that there are wagons with the same issue as the quarter pop out windows of hatchbacks and sedans. Your side cut representation looks similar to my wagon's.
Thanks and Happy Motoring!
Dan
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Pintos must be the only cars in the world with that weatherstrip profile because I can't find anything else exactly like it.
Although I haven't done any measuring yet, I can't help but wonder if the regular top-bulb universal profile (similar to this (https://www.steelerubber.com/trunk-weatherstrip-70-2743-84)) or something like it might work instead. There are some other Chevy-specific types from the same era that look like possible candidates.
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Not sure if they are the same as Pinto Doors but I was told that a certain range/style of Ford Rangers had a door seal that supposedly fit the rear hatch on the wagons. I spent HOURS at Pick Your Part and U-Pick Parts looking for anything that had a form of shape that seemed a possibility for the wagon rear hatch. I got a few that were close but in the end didn't work.
U-Pick Part folded about four years ago (they are now a Co-Part yard) but back then they only charged $3 for the seals. Pick Your Part probably wants $10-$15 a seal and that is too pricy for me to be guessing. So, I've never gotten around to confirming the Ranger seal works on the wagon hatch.
Not relevant to the Pinto (however, many of us own other older cars) but the first generation Mazda MPV vans had a profile very common on many 60's cars. I used them on my '64 Studebaker with much success (see image). The MPV seals are almost 25 years old but holding up well.