Thanks Chuck and also Jim Forbes and the others who responded to this
question.
As usual Jim was right on the money. I went back and checked the old seals
which I removed 2 years ago but threw in a garbage bag and stored away for
future reference and ...lo and behold.. they are round and plump just like
Jim described. Checking the door from the inside there is no sign of any
holes or screw points etc. so at least my 59 GMC never had the metal
retainer strips. I may call Steele to see about a new set of seals to the
later dimensions. I really don't like the thought of drilling holes in my
freshly painted and rustproofed door. I wonder if the older style seal which
I already installed will hold up without the retainer? I placed the butt
splice in the center of the bottom of the door and I glued a small wooden
rod into the seam with weather strip cement to keep it from spliting.
Eric A. St.Phillips
1959 GMC 100
Fairport, NY
-----Original Message-----
From: smithchuck@uswest.net <smithchuck@uswest.net>
To: oletrucks@autox.team.net <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Date: Sunday, January 02, 2000 9:27 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] DOOR STRIP RETAINERS
>Someone (I've deleted the letter) asked about the lower door
>metal retainers for weatherstrip. My 57 TF had them both
>sides. They were quite rusty and I replaced them both with
>parts from Carter. He shows two different part numbers, one
>for 47-55 and a different one for 55-59, so I imagine these
>years all had them. The ones he sent me were identical size
>and shape with my old ones. I believe that they are to
>control the weatherstrip seam at the bottom.
>The retaining screws were rusted tight. With three or four
>weeks of repeated soaking with Marvel Mystery oil and
>tapping and twisting I got all the right door screws out,
>but two of the left door ones would not budge and eventually
>I snapped them off with a pair of vise grips. These screws
>were very hard and I could not get a drill bit to bite into
>them so I ground them flat and moved over about 3/8 inch and
>drilled new holes for the replacement strip.
>It is possible that your doors have no holes because someone
>snapped the rusted screws off long ago. If so you may still
>be able to see the pointed ends sticking up into the inside
>of the door through the access panel with a mirror.
>Four additional tiny sheet metal retaining clips control the
>weatherstrip on the latch side of my TF truck doors wherever
>it bends sharply. They are about 1/2 inch square with
>little hooks on one side and each is held in place by a
>small sheet metal screw. I have seen two types, both with
>the same shape but stamped with either the letters BTC or
>MC. I have a jpeg of a sketch I made showing the location
>of these clips on the TF door that I will send to anyone who
>is interested.
>
>Chuck Smith
>
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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