Softtop Weatherstrip

[VaCat33]

Hi All,

I have a question about the installation of the rubber weather strip between the front edge of the soft top and the windshield. At this year’s TE/AE United Concours, I was informed I had mine on backwards; that the weatherstrip should wrap around the leading edge of the soft top and be easily seen running along the top edge of the windshield frame.

I had just put on a soft top last winter and when we put on the weather strip it all just seemed to fit better the way we installed it. I do not have a close up photo available but here is a not too distant shot that if you blow up you can see no part of the weather strip is visible along the leading edge.

The weather strips from SS have a recess that seems to be for the soft top leading edge.

I would love some input and especially any photos that clearly show the weatherstrip correctly in place.

 

[michael-king]

Jim,

They are correct, the flap on the seal wraps over the face of the leading edge of the soft top and also partly over the screen. This gives a better seal and stops any wind noise from having a recess between the two surfaces,.. also looks crap.. but thats how rootes did it!

 

[65beam]

weather strip

it would be nice if the seals fit as Michael said but the problem is that the seals that have been sold for years do not fit that way. they are made with a much smaller flap so it does not fit over the front edge of the top. the wife's car has a seal that doug installed on her car when he restored it in 1995. it's too small also. we have not installed the top on the green car yet so I have two that I bought last summer. I checked them tonight and they are the same. the hard top has a different front seal and it has a flap that sets over the front of the top. it may fit the soft top. we also ran into a problem with the front hard top seal and rear corner pads not fitting right. I guess we learn to live with what is available.