Trunk weather strip
 

Hey guys, so seeing my weatherstrip has been on backwards for 20 some years, thought I would put some new stuff on..........was wondering do I need to bend up these tabs in the pic, to put the weatherstrip on right,

Tried using some of the goo be gone..........seems I have a better shot of dyeing before I get this stuff off.........any other brand of stuff should I be trying.

Last, looks like I have a little rust there, I do have some spare POR 15 laying around, can I just put that over the rust spot and call it a day.

Thanks

Rich

You should not need to bend those tabs at all to install new trunk rubber.
I use WD40 to remove adhesive.
On the corners i used weatherstrip adhesive to hold rubber in place. It had a tendency to curl up on the corners.

Hey Scott, the reason i asked about the tabs was i didnt try the new stuff yet, but i turned the old weatherstrip around and couldnt get it to fit under the tabs at all.........i mean i can get it under the tabs but the other end doesnt fit right

Rich

I had the same issue many years ago on my 66. When I removed the old weather strip, I had to clean off the old adhesive. It was problematic to say the least. I think I used either mineral spirits, or lacquer thinner.

But the worst spot was right where you have the rust in your photo. I actually had small pinholes through the metal into the trunk in this area. I had to weld, sand, prime, base and clear the trunk gutter area.

So when I installed the new weatherstrip, I did not want to create another "water trap", in the same area again. So I only used a sparingly amount of the weatherstrip adhesive along the top and both sides of the trunk gutter area. Along the area where I had the rust and pinholes, I used no adhesive. I also made sure my joint (both ends of the weather strip), met up in this area as well.

Now when I wash the car, and when I dry it off, I can open the trunk, peel back the weatherstrip to each lower corner, and then I can dry out and soak up the water in the lower trunk gutter. You would be surprised how much lays in there. When I am done, I just tuck the weather strip back in place. Nice and dry!

I have done this for the last 28 years, and my trunk gutter has no more rust!

Hey Steve, thanks for that tip..........took me 3hrs and 5 beers to get all that adhesive out, used that 3m remover, looks like I lost a little paint in the upper channel, no big deal.....

the rust i have had no pin holes, so I'm thinking of just throwing on some POR15 on it and just use a brush to put on some touch up paint...........thinking I'm gonna do what you been doing, that way i know i don"t have water sitting in there again.

Thanks

Rich

Rich, use some rust converter first. Then touch-up paint to cover it. You could also clear-coat it too.