Re: Window rubber

[farna@xxxxxxx]

The hardtop has a slightly longer gasket, but should be the same contour. You'd probably have to cut it at two places and use a good black RTV or contact cement to put it back together. I've done this with other gaskets before. They tend to shrink a bit over the years -- I'd make the cut about 1/4" longer than necessary and squeeze it in. Makes it a little more difficult to get the gasket in, but won't open up a gap when it does shrink a little. Best place to make the cut is a couple inhes from a top corner. Less rain accumulates up top! I think the cuts would have to be made on the vertical length, since hardtop should have more slant, therefore a taller gasket. 

Check with Peter Stathes (www.amcrambler.com) first. He has all the door sweeps and seals you'd want also. Galvin's (www.ramblerparts.com) may also have them. The door seals can be matched from generic by-the-foot material also. J.C. Whitney carries it. If you cut yours and look at the profile you'll be able to match it easily. The JCW stuff is a perfect fit (generic mid 60s). It even fits in the grrove in the extruded aluminum -- work it in with a paint stirring paddle or thin plastic putty knife. Metal puty knife or screwdriver can pirce and/or tear the rubber (don't ask... it was a long time ago when I first did it though!! ;> ). 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)
			

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
> Date: Sun, 09 Jan 2005 14:02:41 -0500
> To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Window rubber
> 
> Jim,
> 
> For the rear window gasket, they are not being reproduced right now but 
> there are a couple of options. The first is try to find an NOS one. 
> Blaser's specializes in NOS parts. The second is to modify the hard top 
> gaskets to fit. Third is to have someone like Steele Rubber make you a new 
> one. I have no idea how expensive that is but since the gasket is fairly 
> simple (at least to my untrained eyes), it may not be too bad. I just sent 
> an inquiry to them and I'll report back what I find out. You should also be 
> aware that there are at least two different sedan rear window gaskets. I 
> have a 1967 and 1968 parts book and it lists one for base models and one 
> for 440's. I think the difference is that the 440 gasket has a slit for 
> trim in it. I don't know if there are two gaskets for 1969 or not.

>