1971 door seals

[Diseazd]

I'm looking to replace the door seals on my 71 restoration. Motorsports offers a one-piece seal. Has anyone used this door seal or do you have suggestions of what works best? Show me some pics if possible. Thanks Guy

[Arne]

The seals MSA sells are made by Precision. The door seals that come in the full kit are the later one-piece type. I am not totally happy with them on my '71. While they mostly look OK, the black scuff plate doesn't fit over them well, and it bothers me if I look at it.

Eventually I'll try to get the correct style seal, I kept the original welting for mine.

[Lazeum]

You might want to look at the following link.

Weatherstrip Rubber Kits on Hybridz.org

I had two alternatives. I choose to pick up some seals from a car at the junkyard, they work great, they are easy to install, no glue, no need to slam the door to close them anymore and they cost 20€ where I am (France)

You might want to give a try and find the good car...

I've posted another message on the same thread about a vendor in Europe selling the same kind of new seals. They are not made specificaly for the Z but they will work as good as the ones I bought.

I will be VERY surprized if you cannot find one in the states.

Edited October 21, 2008 by Lazeum

[Walter Moore]

Speaking of door seals, does anyone know if these will fit on the earlier cars? (70-73 240Z)

http://www.courtesyparts.com/driver-side-door-weather-strip-1974-1977-260z-280z-seater-p-568956.html?cPath=7724_7754&

They look pricey, but if they work it might be worth the expense.

(The door and hatch seals, along with a new windshield and seal, are my next winter time project.)

[tlorber]

Just tacking on to an old thread here, I just replaced my door seals with those from a junked Kia Sportage. Thanks to all who have provided info here I knew exactly what to look for and for $14.00 and some very easy labor my doors no longer rattle, and will presumably seal water out.

One thing I'll add is that I saw a car called a Kia Sephia at the junk yard. The weatherstriping had the same profile as the Sportage, but each piece had a pre formed 90* bend. If I had it to do over I'd get these only because they would perfectly coutour the the 90 on the driver's side door. Also, having a rubber mallet was very helpful for both collapsing the metal in the weatherstrip back down, and for installing the moulding.

Next, its on to the new noises that I am now able to hear.

[epsark]

tlorber:

Any chance of a picture of the 90° bend you got on yours? I am about to try installing a new set of Kia Sportage seals that I just got, hopefully this coming week. I plan on documenting the whole thing so that others can see what can be accomplished using these.

Thanks,

Eric

[tlorber]

I will try to take a pic once I get my camera (its in my office). Its not much to look at though. Since I did NOT get the pre formed 90, I just tried to bend the metal in the approximate area of the door jamb's 90. I then used a piece of wood and the afformentioned mallet to drive the weatherstripping into the corner as tightly as possible.

By the way, does anyone know of a non-OEM application for the hatch weatherstrip?

[nomad1968]

Is there a particular year for the KIA sportage seals?

I've given up on the precision set I have, way too thick.

[Diseazd]

I've heard that the Nissan 280Z (one piece seals) work great in the early cars........anyone tried those?

[nomad1968]

Found the thread with the info, for anyone searching in the future.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37308&highlight=kia+sportage

[Arne]

I've heard that the Nissan 280Z (one piece seals) work great in the early cars........anyone tried those?

Guy, the later one-piece seals are what the ones that come in the Precision kit are trying to replicate. As I noted above, the crimp part is too big to fit nicely under the black scuff plate. I don't know if original Nissan seals for the later cars would have the same issue.

[Diseazd]

I don't either Arne.....I just remember when I bid on a nice Texas Z a couple years ago, he mentioned that he had used the 280Z one piece seal with good results. I was wondering if anyone had tried the Nissan 280 seals( he said he had bought them from Nissan)? Guy