Hello!
I'm new to the forum, but not to cars and restorations. Just picked up an 86 5.0 Elan and love it:D!
The dew wipes on the drivers door are missing material and are very brittle. These doors have no vent window. I've reviewed some of the threads on this subject, but it appears that the only replacements available are for the vent window style doors.
Am I missing something? How are others addressing this issue?
No one has really addressed this issue. I called the company that use to make them for the Lincoln Mark VII and they could not verify if they ever did make them and didn't sound like they would be willing to make more. The company was called Fairchild http://www.automotivefairchild.com/ (http://"http://www.automotivefairchild.com/") You're most likely going to have to fabricate your own or try to locate a parts car with good dew wipes, Lincoln Mark VII or T-bird/Cougar.
edit: If someone has the belt weatherstrips off for measuring we could try to match it up to this page. http://afproducts.automotivefairchild.com/viewitems/standard-weatherstrip-trim-seal-products/belt-weatherstrips? (http://"http://afproducts.automotivefairchild.com/viewitems/standard-weatherstrip-trim-seal-products/belt-weatherstrips?")
Dew wipes:
http://www.steelerubber.com/door-weatherstrip-70-2720-73
All 1983-86 rubber:
http://www.steelerubber.com/search?year=1984&make=ford&model=thunderbird&style=2-door-sedan
Expensive, but when there's no other alternative...I'll take it! :D
Yeah, Steele is known for their, er, pricing but they do make their own stuff, and from what I can tell, their customer service seems pretty solid.
I'd love to know what can be done for 1987-88 owners. That molded-in dew wipe on the window trim can't be pretty to fix.
I don't see any dew wipes on their site. I see all the other door rubber pieces tho.
The steele rubber link shows these dimensions. Those are not dew wipes at all but instead the piece that mounts on the door itself by the upper a-frame. dew wipes are not available for purchuse anymore.
(http://d163axztg8am2h.cloudfront.net/static/img/39/60/766baadb67d02247c69255db69f9.jpg)
http://www.steelerubber.com/wfelt-84-90-lincoln-mark-vii-o-80-0685-57
From what I gather, vent windows can use '92-'93 Topaz dew wipes or the equivalent from JC Whitney. However, JC Whitney plays musical chairs with their part numbers and the current PN isn't known.
If you have non-vent windows, the Topaz/JC Whitney dew wipes are too short and you're SOL.
'83-'86 Window Weatherstripping (http://"foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?8969-83-86-Window-Weatherstripping")
The only solution for non-vent windows is from '84-'90 Mark VIIs or that part from Steele Rubber.
'87-'88 owners are all SOL.
Is the above an accurately assessment of the state of dew wipes?
The Mark VII part number is 80-0685-57.
Has anyone used these on an 86 Bird?
Curious on the fit of the Mark dew wipes as well. I need every piece of rubber on the doors, and if these fit, I'll only need to source a good window channel replacement.
This is a new item. This is great news as now I can have a good set on both my birds. They also have a set for both inner & outers.