New Parts for Our Cars June 04, 2008, 11:59:57 AM I was going to wait a little longer to share the news but the NATO guys have posted something about this, so now I will too.Currently I am in discussions with Steele Rubber Products about producing specific weatherstripping for the Fox Thunderbird/Cougar (1983-88). They want to cover as much of the car as possible. In theory this shouldn't be too much of a stretch, as similar w/s was used on the Fox Mustangs; they just weren't long enough for our cars. Now we would have specific-length rubber pieces, eliminating trial-and-error guesswork.Some of the parts that we have may be unique. I am not sure if they're going to reproduce the window runs; those varied depending upon the model year. There were two styles for 1983-86 (with vent windows, without vent windows) and one for 1987-88 (flush glass). The earlier cars would probably equate to the Mark VII window runs which would make reproduction more cost-effective. Also, inside the door in the A-pillar area, there is a clip-in welt that is probably also unique to our cars (and the Mark VII). These parts are unknowns at this time, as far as being candidates for reproduction. Virtually every other weatherstripping piece on the car (trunk, hood, door jamb, etc.) should be easily reproducable.In all fairness...anyone with a tape measure and some common sense can easily order most of the weatherstripping for these cars from JC Whitney right this very minute. It's not rocket science. However, I feel very optimistic that we would get quality reproduction-grade pieces from Steele Rubber and that, over time, they would hold up as well as OEM parts. I also like the fact that they came to us and are pouring over the details of the old OEM parts (via microfiche!) to get accurate representations. They plan on selling individual pieces as well as restoration kits. Essentially it will be one-stop shopping for weatherstripping, a huge boon for us.There is no set timeframe for launch of the products; the company is simply in the hunting-and-gathering phase right now. I will provide as much as I can in the way of info and even real samples. There may be instances where I'll need help from you, in which case I hope for seamless cooperation.Anyway, I just wanted to be the first to let you know. I'm going to help with the Cougar parts, and hopefully the NATO guys can step up for the more specific T-Bird/TC parts. I'll post any news in this thread when I get it.(P.S. The company hinted that they may be looking into MN12 weatherstripping as well). Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #1 – June 04, 2008, 12:59:25 PM Good job man! , Thanks for always looking out for us :) Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #2 – June 04, 2008, 01:01:14 PM Sweet! Thanks Eric!I know that I could use just about every piece due to sun damage, wear & tear and general shrinkage over time.Please let me know if I can help in some way! Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #3 – June 04, 2008, 01:33:16 PM Oh WOW! Steele, that's great. EVERYone in the antique car hobby knows what you mean when you say "steele rubber" they're great ya can't beat em for anything rubber for old cars. Cool! Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #5 – June 04, 2008, 01:41:09 PM I see that they actually have some of the parts already listed on their site:http://166.82.96.3/content.php?section=52Some of the model year info may be incorrect so if you're not sure, let me know and I'll verify the info. The company is having a little trouble separating the body styles and model years right now. I still have to school 'em. Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #6 – June 04, 2008, 01:41:58 PM Great news and I hope they go thru with it.although mine are in fairly good shape,the color is faded away...........brownish like. Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #7 – June 04, 2008, 01:47:41 PM Well, the best way to clean and protect rubber weatherstripping that I've ever found is to use a pure silicone spray. It keeps the rubber supple and flexible and inhibits cracking. A side benefit is that it deep cleans and also gives a nice, flat finish for a true OEM appearance. I cleaned up all the w/s in the '84 last spring with silicone spray and it looks like I unpackaged my NOS w/s and installed it. GM, Ford and most other automakers recommend silicone for their OEM rubber so you know it has to work. Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #8 – June 04, 2008, 02:09:58 PM Huh...imagine that...Mike not liking something... Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #9 – June 04, 2008, 02:54:48 PM Thanks Eric for pursuing new sources of aftermarket parts for our aging cars! Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #10 – June 04, 2008, 04:01:46 PM Well you know, Mike, normally I would ask for opinions about a product so that we, as a community, can make a fair assessment about it.But since you are, well, your typical self and blurted things out before anyone else here actually used their products (or even asked for an opinion at all), I guess we can see how "unbiased" your opinions really are. I personally have never really had any type of attitude with you and chose not to for several reasons. Unfortunately I remained neutral with you and your attitude for far too long, and it seems to have put a rift in our community here. Well, so much for that.Actually, it is not "my time". They came to US, buddy. They are asking to become part of our community. There's no gun to anyone's head here. I'm willing to help provide information and samples, simple as that. What exactly do you have against that? Do you mean to say that, if you still had aBM running, that you could do better? Seems to me that, had you wanted to, you could have done weatherstripping for us awhile ago. And yet you chose not to. Why is that, I wonder? Perhaps you were far too busy whoring out parts for our cars, I'm thinking.Do yourself a huge favor. I'm going to say this one time, and one time only.Take your opinions and STFU. Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #11 – June 04, 2008, 04:25:18 PM mmmm let's see... Eric.... steele... and rubber all in the same thread??nahhh... I better not say it. :D Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #12 – June 04, 2008, 04:42:00 PM QuoteIf it had been anybody else with the exact same words you'd actually listen.You're exactly right. :DQuoteI haven't had ABM for 4 months and you all still harbor resentment (funny though, considering I never got a bad mark from any actual customers...).Define 'you'. I've never said anything against your business. Only thing I ever bought from you was a decal for my center console..which was not correct and peeled off within months. Did I ever knock you for it? Hey, if all those people gave you the perception of being satisfied, more power to you. Keep on patting yourself on the back for all the "good work" you did for our community, Mike.Back on subject...thanks for the support, everyone else. Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #13 – June 04, 2008, 05:01:02 PM I must be lucky, living in the land of scarce sunshine, but all my weather stripping and even my dew wipes are all mint :hick: I suppose we need something to make up for the rust problems...The only weather/rubber issues my car has are the quarter windows have degraded. Unfortunately the whole frickin' window has to be replaced to fix it... Quote Selected
New Parts for Our Cars Reply #14 – June 04, 2008, 05:43:19 PM If needed, I might be able to lend a NOS "Front door Weatherstrip, Opening" (E8SZ-6320708-A) if I can locate it and if it stays in it's NOS condition. I might have a trunk one, too, but I'm not sure on that one. Quote Selected
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