Eric 96

Hey guys, I just bought a '93 Vette and have to change the Outer Door Window Seals....the ones that run from the side view mirror to the back of the door. I believe they are riveted on.....can anyone give me directions on replacing these? Is this something I can do myself?

AGENT 86

It's an easy project.
Remove door panel. Window down.
Loosen the 2 adjustable felt bumpers
remove screws from door weatherstrip (both ends)
Carefully drill out rivets on window seal
Remove old one
Work the new on, from one end to the other. Before you do this check to see that all the little tabs actually line up with the holes. I bought G.M. pieces and had to break one tab off because the hole location was behind the glass and could not remedy.
Once installed and your happy with the fit, install the rivets. If memory is correct, I left one out because the glass was in the way. Not sure though
Reverse the order and your done.

MrRenoman

If you do this, I can only caution you. BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU DRILL THE RIVETS OUT. I have heard several horror stories of drilling through the outside panel. There is very little room behind the rivet. I think what happens is they are able to remove the strip but what is left is a remnent of the rivet still in the door. When that gets drilled out to the original size hole the drill can suddenly punch through and go right through the outside panel.

Art

randy814u

Yup, and thank god I had to paint the car anyway. If you have a deep chuck on the drill, or a short drill bit, you will be better off. Have the smallest amount of bit sticking out as you need.

VenkmanP

I always use a much larger drill bit than the rivet and just drill off the head. Then pop the body of the rivet out with a punch. Most of the time the body falls out by itself when you drill the head off.

Getting the old ones off is pretty easy. Getting the new ones on right was a PITA. Don't do it on a day when you're short of patience.

JCD

I took the windows out when doing mine, it's what the factory manual said (they always tell you to remove too much), and I didn't want to be drilling near the glass. I managed to break a window anyway, but it was purely operator error.

Taking the windows out probably remedies the problem of too many tabs that AGENT_86 had, I got my strips from eckler's and had no problems on the install.

Eric 96

What did you guys use to install the rivets? Will any pop rivet hand gun work? Do I need any particular size? Will this work:http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=7356

VenkmanP

That should probably be fine. Mine is like that but without the 90o bend.

I think that there were a couple rivets that were a little hard to line up right, but it's been a while since I did it so my memory is fuzzy. A rivet gun with a narrower nose might make it easier to line them all up.

cicch95

Eric,
Let us know how you make out.....I have to do this job too!

-Rick

96 Collector Edition

Eric, I assume the car was delivered

Blue 92

Works every time.

CentralCoaster

If you order from Ecklers, theyll send you the rivets but they'll be the wrong size. I think you need some 3/8" long ones... I dont recall what guage.

scofolo

I did not even use rivets. I screwed it in on each end and it holds fine. I did this job 3 weeks ago. It started off being a pain, but got easier. I followed the 2 tech tips that were written up on this subject. I did not take the door panels off and did not have a problem. good luck.

Mr Mojo

DON'T ORDER FROM ECKLERS!!!!!

Spend the extra $10 and get them from www.tld-corvette.com

I put the Ecklers on and the fit and finish is horrible. The oversize rivets are needed to make them stay on.

Also be careful, the seals bend very easily(you'll see when you remove the old ones).

I didn't drill out the rivets, used a chisel and knocked the heads off.

You can use a standard rivet gun, you just have to get into some funny angles. There is a cut out in the door to make room for the gun for the rivet near the mirror.

I did have to loosen the felts to make room.

Like others said if you have no patience, save it for another day. That was my experience with the repro pieces, TLD sells the GM stuff which I would hope would be better.

onetrackmind

I wish i new this earlier, I have them on back order from eklers..

BamaVette87

Regarding the rivets, my experience was that Mid-America provided steel ones and the cheap rivet gun that I have jammed because they would not pull all the way through the tool. I went to the local Ace hardware store and bought some aluminum rivets and they worked great!

P.S. You can use a magnet to tell aluminum from steel.

JCD

You have to double clutch the included rivets; you basically pull the rivet, then open the riveter back up, push it to the stop again, and pop it a 2nd time.

Mojo is right about the tight angles, I didn't get one rivet flush and now I have a nice grey streak in my new window (I have fixed the offender with a chisel and hamer). dammit.

dndrsn

When i did my drivers door i used aluminum rivets and an Arrow rivet gun i bought at home depot. The rivet gun swivels around at all angles.


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Red Tornado

Don't do this either, they're $35 each + outrageous shipping.

Instead, order from Chris May at Superior Chevrolet, cost will be $59.99 (for both) + very reasonable shipping for the GM seals:

http://www.superchevyperformance.com/

myscx

I have the aftermarket ones on from Ecklers, work fine ,look good ,had the local body shop install them