I'm doing my Pontiac by side. I've got the fender and both doors off the driver's side. I have the door weatherstrips, but the glass run channels in the rear door are so brittle that they disintegrated when removed. I have found them for an 80-81, 4 dr sedan, but their text says they DO NOT fit wagons. What is the difference between a sedan door and a wagon door? Are they close enough that I can modify the one to fit the other? Also, the rubber for the small 1/4 window at the rear of the door is hard and brittle but intact. I can get by without removing them, unless I can find a source for them too, as they will also disintegrate during removal.
on my 59 chevy before the parts were available i was able to get the correct extrusions without the molded ends . with an exacto knife and miter box i was able to make the new gaskets. try restoration specialties , i think they are out of penn
Your car is 21 years older and not the same thing. They are not soft extrusions and they have stainless metal plates in the bottom and there are plastic clips that snap into the window glass that serve as guides. I've already searched and only found that A1 carries the sedan ones.
you are correct my car is older but as you see nothing is available specifically for your wagon so you have to find things you can work with to make what you need. but you keep looking for wagon specific parts for not very popular restoration candidates ,just don't hold your breath till you find what you need. and by the way i was able to remove the brackets from the old window channels and pop rivet them onto what was available at the time so i had something soft and flexible for my windows to travel in. been almost 13 yrs now so i guess i didnt do to bad "Also, the rubber for the small 1/4 window at the rear of the door is hard and brittle but intact. I can get by without removing them, unless I can find a source for them too, as they will also disintegrate during removal." exactly what happened to my 1/4 glass gaskets
I didn't just fall off the potato truck. I realize all that. That's the purpose of research. Wagon specific parts MAY be available but I haven't found them. Others might have a source I haven't found yet, but I've checked all the normal ones. So, if I have to make what I need, I'll use something as close as possible to factory. Since the 80's were the time of interchangeability among models, it only makes sense to start there. I found what I need offered in a 4 dr sedan model, and that seems like the logical place to start. That's why I asked the question, "How do sedan doors differ from wagon doors." That answer would provide valuable information that I need. Obviously you don't know and your response had nothing to do with my project so it provides me with no information. Don't we all? If NOS or replica parts are available, why would we try to fabricate something?
guess the potato truck doesn't have internet access for you to look up a pic of a sedan and a wagon and make the comparison yourself . all i was trying to do was offer you some friendly advice on what you might need to do . so in the future i will just ignore any questions or post 's from you and not have to be treated like an idiot from a know it all who doesn't know it all
Been there, done that. They look the same in pictures, therefore there must be some dimensional differences. Someone with knowledge of these models might be able to shed some light on that. Did you assume I didn't know what I might need to do? I've got 45 years of automotive experience, owned 2 shops for 35 of those, and was one of the first ASE certified mechanics in the country. Time and time again, people ask questions here and instead of answering the specific question asked, they get responses of "this is what I did" that have no bearing on the question asked. The old saying goes, "We are all friends until my cow gets into your garden." Then that person has to resort to name calling and denigration of the other person. That shows a lot about the maturity level of a person and their ability to control their emotions. Emotional maturity seems to be at an all time low in this country. That's why there is so much road rage and shootings over trivial things that don't mean **** in the grand scheme of things. Get over it......it don't mean nuthin.
I find it hard to believe that the glass channel of a sedan will not fit a wagon, as the doors themselves are exacty the same, and the window channel is part of the door, not the wagon body. I would order the sedan channel and see if it fits.
Jeff, I agree with you 100% but it says in bold print that it will not fit wagons. Was hoping someone had actual experience. I don't really care if there is some minor cosmetic difference. Also, the same set that fits 80-81 Pontiac is listed in the Chevy section as fitting 80-85 Impala. These differences raise questions in my mind. I'll go ahead and order a set. Then the next time someone asks the same question, I'll have an answer for them. They do list the weatherstrip for the tailgate which some have reported as hard to find.
so you dont think i can count to 21 ? my response might have been regarding the small window you were saying that the rubber would crumble if you removed it, never said i knew about your exact car was just offering some friendly advice before you commented about my mathematical ability.basically the same thing ,isn't it a fixed window just a different size. not trying to get into a pissing match with you . i'll just ignore your questions from now on and make my life less stressful
I went ahead and ordered rear outer window sweeps and rear door glass run channels they had listed for 4 dr. sedans, but said would not fit wagons. They arrived yesterday. The sweeps are several inches longer than mine, have the mounting holes in different places, and have cut-outs that mine don't. Also the exposed, polished metal bead on mine is around a 1/16th" while the replacements are about 1/4". However, with modification, I can make them work. The glass run channels are very close and will require a bit of cutting and splicing at the top and there is adequate extra material to do so. I bought these parts from AM-Autoparts and free shipping and a discount were included in the price. They have the same part number listings for other B body GM cars from 80-85. I believe the disparity in model listing is because they confuse "fit" with "correctness." The exposed brightwork on the rear doors will be wider than that on the front doors once installed. However, beggars can't be choosers.
Not right now. The rears were disintegrated and I bought them. Fronts are in better shape and I'm trying to work around them. Project on hold for winter, and I've only done the driver's side so far. Won't know until later if the passenger front is OK or not. Why, what have you got?
