Hoping this might help someone.
Just finished installing new weather seals on the
hardtop from my 1956 T-Bird. The outer seal, as you no doubt have read is the most challenging.
On the outer seal that goes into the U-shaped channel on the outside of the
hardtop, I attempted to use the plastic spudger (trim tool) mentioned in this thread with limited success.
Here's my approach:
I worked on the top sitting on a
body panel support stand that I purchased at Eastwood. So the
hardtop is upside down.
Remove the original seal, note the orientation. The square
part of the inserted section of the seal goes towards the inside of the
hardtop.
Clean up the channel with brake clean, and I used an aluminum bristle brush and pick tool. Try and get as much of the old seal out as possible. It will make the installation that much easier
After cleaning the channel, time to install the new seal, oriented correctly as note above. Leave about 4 inches of the seal hanging out of the channel (at least for the seal that came from Concours
Parts)
Initially, I proceeded to spend about 2 hours working with my trim tool and small screwdriver only to advance to the first curve. Note the curves are the most challenging. The remaining
part of the seal was installed in about 40 minutes using a machinist metal rule. (See the attached photo). The rule is thin metal, but rigid, so that you can insert the rule into the outer
part of the channel to insert the
part of the seal that holds it in place. Use the curved end of the rule to minimize the chance of damaging the seal. Press on the top of the seal (this is the
part that will contact the bodywork) while using the rule to insert the seal. The ability to insert the rule into the channel along with the seal insures that you can get the seal inserted correctly.
The two curves are the most challenging, because the radius will not accommodate the metal rule. Here I had better success with a thin flat head screwdriver.
After your done trim the excess to the edge of the
hardtop.
I'm a big fan of something called
Gummi Pflege. Works really well to moisturize seals. I applied some to the new seals to protect them.
You are done.
Hope this helps someone.
