Topic: Door window felt / weatherstrip

[Angela]

I noticed that NPD sells the "Repops" brand window felt kits (yellow box) and lists them as "concours approved" (NPD #21455-2A $42.50). I've heard good comments about this brand but don't yet have personal experience with them.

I also notice that NPD sells what they call "Chrome bead" felt kits for the same window application, at 3X the price of the concours option. What's the difference? What does "chrome bead" mean? What are you guys using, if not NOS felt? I would like to know if the repops kit is sufficient or if there really is a need for the tremendously more expensive kit (NPD #21455-2D $133.50)

Lastly, do the felt pieces need to be installed BEFORE the windows are installed, or can they be installed AFTER the glass is inside the doors?

[Oz390]

Not sure, but if the more expensive is the Dale's Manufacturing stuff I'd pay the difference (I did and do).  Had to throw out 3 sets of repops, refused to stay in place, after hours of tweaking.  Dale's popped right in and never looked back.

The glass has to be in and dropped below the lip as with the felts in place there is not enough room to get it out.  Or at least that is what I have found.  May be "possible" to get it in and out with them in place, but its a tight fit.

[DTruitt]

You should be able to remove the rubber window stop in the bottom of the door to get the glass low enough to remove the rubber and felts; but it has been a while for me.  I do not like the re-pops quality and have searched for NOS on my cars.  I have never used the other brand.

Danny

[Oz390]

Yep, meant the the stop needed to be out to drop the glass low enough... thanks for clarifying.

[Angela]

Thanks for the info. They are indeed Dale's manufacturing..... I didn't know those were found to fit a lot better. That's good info to have.  Have other folks found that to be true... Dale's are worth the 3X cost because they fit better???

[drummingrocks]

Thanks for the info. They are indeed Dale's manufacturing..... I didn't know those were found to fit a lot better. That's good info to have.  Have other folks found that to be true... Dale's are worth the 3X cost because they fit better???

I can't speak for others' experiences, but 3 of my Mustangs have Repops brand on them.  And all three cars are very sparingly driven, maybe twice every 3 months.  All three cars have the same problem where the felt is already pulling away from the bead.  I had no idea there was another alternative out there, but I would definitely stay away from the Repops if I had it to do over again.

[Oz390]

Look at how much you are spending on your car. 

The added cost of Dale's is peanuts... do it once, do it right, and you may end up spending more with multiple sets of Repops.  Let along the time and frustration factor... and the possibility that every time you change them out you may bend the lip and the new ones won't fit flush, or scratch your paint.... 

Mine have been on the convertible for about 7 years and still look fantastic, an occasional fair-weather car, always garaged.

[TLea]

Dale's are worth the 3X cost because they fit better???

Yes 100%. I informed NPD of the Dales brand about 7-8 years ago after finding them because of frustration with the repops brand.
The other thing to make sure of is that the holes in the door are peened over nice and flat. Too often harsh removal of old will cause the holes to be distorted and no brand will stay put.

[J_Speegle]

................. The other thing to make sure of is that the holes in the door are peened over nice and flat. Too often harsh removal of old will cause the holes to be distorted and no brand will stay put.

+1  and don't wait till after you've got the car painted !!!   

[dkknab]

Old topic but I'm trying to identify the screw at the end of the window felt weatherstrip.  It's listed as 380922-S2.  I know one of my screws must be wrong because it's white.  It's there in the first picture attached just to the left of the glass. The second picture is what I believe it should be. Is that correct? Is there a correct picture or source for these?

[Bob Gaines]

Old topic but I'm trying to identify the screw at the end of the window felt weatherstrip.  It's listed as 380922-S2.  I know one of my screws must be wrong because it's white.  It's there in the first picture attached just to the left of the glass. The second picture is what I believe it should be. Is that correct? Is there a correct picture or source for these?

You should buy AMK guide to fasteners. You look up the number and on the page along with size specifications it will show a typical picture of the fastener. Most of the large Mustang parts vendors sell it.

[jwc66k]

You should buy AMK guide to fasteners. You look up the number and on the page along with size specifications it will show a typical picture of the fastener.

Plus you could use this forums library and, depending on the Mustang's year, look up the description by Ford part number in "Mustang Hardware Spreadsheet xx-xx" (xx = insert years). The spreadsheet also calls out the page in the "AMK Products Guide To Ford Fasteners".
Jim

[dkknab]

Guess I need to get the guide.  Thank you for the suggestions.

[J_Speegle]

Did look to see if I could confirm that the outer belt line weather strip rear retaining screw shown in your picture is the same as other 68 NJ cars but didn't find any clear examples in my collection. Just wanted you to know that I tried to help out but failed this time  

[dkknab]

Thanks Jeff for checking. Maybe someone else has a car they can confirm the screw.