Topic: 1970 Mustang fastback, roof rail weather stripping.

[RHarden]

I am the original owner of a 70 Mach 1. I decided to replace the roof rail weather stripping rubber several years ago. I soon found out that the replacement weather strips I bought did not fit well. I lived with them, but ordered another set from a different supplier about a year later. These were "Ford approved", made by Dennis Carpenter. They are made well, but don't fit like the originals either. The real problem is the way they are designed. The end of the rubber molding that goes around the side, flip out window, does not fit well in the door jamb. It is too small and thin to make a seal when the doors are shut. I can drop a pencil down the opening. Also, the rear seat side interior panels don't match up well to the interior side of the rubber, next to the flip out window. The rubber is supposed to extend over the top of the interior panel, but it doesn't. It's just not correct. I called Dennis Carpenter Company and told them of the poor fit and design, but they seemed to believe they were just like the originals Ford had made. I told them they were not the same. I was also told that Dennis Carpenter is the only company that makes these moldings and these are sold to other suppliers, who attach their name to the product. Has anyone encountered this problem when you replaced the weather stripping and what did you do? I have talked to several Mustang restoration shops and I get different answers. Some tell me they just live with the poor fit, and others only install NOS roof rail weather strips. I can't even find a set of 69-70 fastback roof rail moldings. Does anyone have any suggestions, thought or ideas about the roof rail moldings? Thanks.   

[Brian Conway]

     I have not replaced any of the original door/window weatherstripping on my 69 because of the poor fitment reports.  I have replaced the vertical rubber on the Left & Right door windows and they do fit/perform nicely.  Over the years I have replaced the rubbers on several 65-66 mustangs and was never satisfied with the end result.  Always seem to be chasing wind whistles, continually making adjustments and slamming doors.  When it came to my 69 I decided to leave well enough alone based on my previous experience's.  While the weatherstripping looks pretty old and worn it still functions well and I know better than to try and improve the looks.  I have heard that Carpenter makes the best product and sorry to hear you opinion.  To be fair I don't think Ford's original quarter window rubber's were all that great either.  This is a picture of the OE product on my car and yes quite a large gap.   Brian

[RHarden]

Thanks for the reply Brian. My brother owns a 70 Shelby GT 350 and it has the original roof rail rubber moldings. They are close to your red Mustang, maybe a little bit fresher looking. His car is a low miles car and hasn't been out much. I told him to leave his originals on the car. I just don't understand why someone making these replacement parts doesn't do a better job at getting the design and fit better and closer to the originals.

[cobrajetchris]

I can attest you can spend a lifetime trying to get 69-70 doors & glass to fit correct without having to slam the doors or put up with air & water leaks. In my opinion this is the worst part of restoring a 69-70 model car. I have one N.O.S roof rail strip on the rt. side of my car and it is pretty good. The lt. side is reproduction and it's OK but the N.O.S is better. On the other hand I have found the N.O.S door weather strips are junk and the Dennis carpenter reproductions are much better as they are softer and you don't have to slam the doors. Aligning doors and glass has been a challenge since these cars were new. There is so many adjustments and each adjustment may fix one problem and cause another. I was able to get mine very good but not perfect and spent many hours to achieve this. I feel your pain!

[RHarden]

I bought my Mach 1 new in early 1970 from the home town Ford dealer. I ordered the car because I wanted certain options and color. The drivers door glass never did fit well from day one. It's like the roof was too high at the left "A" pillar post. There was a good size gap between the top, front of the door glass and the weather seal. The dealer tried adjusting the door glass, then replaced the door glass, thinking the glass was made wrong, installed a new roof rail weather seal, and finally built the stainless steel channel out, using black body putty as a filler. It sealed, better, but looked like crap. Ford wouldn't do anything other than that. A body shop man said the front, left corner of the roof had been assembled too high when the car was built. He took measurements and the left side is taller than the right side. Ford didn't have the quality control they have today. Anything was good enough back in those days. I guess there was a reason car manufacturers went robotic.   

[7Lscjracer]

When shopping for NOS roof rail and door weatherstripping, choose the Ford boxed as opposed to the Ford paper wrapped.
After all these years the paper wrapped are invariably folded/creased/kinked lacking the protection and proper circular coiling of weatherstrips that are boxed.
First hand experience here.