'59 Plymouth Forum

I’m a bit confused as to how the roof rail seal slides into its retainer - if that’s what the metal piece is called.

The grooves molded in the rubber aren’t shaped in a way that would allow it to slide into retainer.

I figure it’s one of three things: 1) I’ve got the wrong roof rail seal, 2) I’ve got the wrong metal retainer piece, or 3) the answer is obvious but I’m too oblivious or low-IQ to see it (likely).

Can anyone shed some light?

Are we talking about the weatherstrip that pops into the roof rail that screws into the roof, into which the windows roll up? On a previous occasion you post this pic:

Is #4 in this pic, the metal piece you are holding in your hand?

It doesn't look like mine - I can try to take some pix of mine when I replace the quarter window weatherstripping (my current ones are not flocked, and the window binds when sliding into place. I got flocked ones from Quirey). Perhaps tomorrow? I'll show you the cross section of my weatherstripping as well.

Dan

P.S. what's your name?

Hello Dan,

My name is Brian.

The metal piece I had in my hand is the 1st of the three in the photo (on the right side)

I have 3 metal pieces that look like they go around the roof opening. I do have a manual which shows this image, but I can’t really gleam enough from it to figure out how this weatherstripping installs.

The image of the cross-section of the seal is one of the two styles that came in the box. I’m guessing it’s for the 1/4 window since that doesn’t open and close with a door.

Anyway, yes, any images you have would be very helpful! Thanks so much!

Brian,

Here's a pic of my retainer strip in the car, with the door window weatherstripping pulled out - you'll notice that the reproduction weatherstripping is in two pieces, the front has a different shape than the rear (the originals were molded in a single piece). Where the quarter window comes in contact with the weatherstrip by moving up, the door window closes onto the weatherstripping:

Gary Goers used to make the reproduction weatherstripping; Quirey bought his operation, they now sell it - you can find their website here. In fact, I recently bought flocked quarter sections from them, something I couldn't get from Gary - the quarter window has a tendency to bind on the weatherstripping without flocking.

Here you can see the different profile of the front and rear weatherstripping - but note that, unlike yours, both of my sections have ears that latch into the grooves of the retainer:

Brian wrote:The image of the cross-section of the seal is one of the two styles that came in the box.

Which box - was it one that came with the car, or something you purchased? I believe they are incorrect for our application.

Dan

I believe you may be right. I attached a photo of the ends of both styles of weatherstrip that I have.

I bought these from Andy Bernbaum’s eBay store last November; they are listed as 1957-1959 Dodge/Plymouth 2 door hardtop roof rail weatherstrip. But they definitely differ from yours, so maybe I do have the wrong ones.

I’ll get in touch with Quirey’s this week and perhaps order new ones from them. I need to order some other odds and ends from them anyway.