'64 and older vent window seal

[thomas.]

I was wondering if anyone has past experience putting one of these gems in.This is as far as I got last night and out of frustration called it quits for the night.I know you have to make a cut in the lower part of the rubber where the latch is and I did that .What I was wondering do you have to make cuts in the curved part.The one I took off has these relief cuts in the curve.When I wash it with a high pressure wash it was leaking.Don't know if the cuts contributed to the leak.

[Ellis' Bug]

We're in the process of putting our 63 rag together after it was painted, and we just finished one door. Look on youtube for videos from a guy in New York. He details door assembly and the videos are very helpful. We purchased one of his video on installing a ragtop headliner but he has a three part vid on youtube covering what you want.
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74 Super drag car
63 Bus, work in progress
65 Bug project
63/64 Ragtop
2006 Beck 356

[mybug]

[mybug]

[wayne1230cars]

X2 on the video. It can definitely be a frustrating experience. I installed a set on my '60. I did not have to make any relief cuts. Seems to me I had to "shave" some rubber off the bottom of the seal near where the latch is.

I bought my seals from Wolfsburg West. Warming up the seal may help. Some talc powder may help as well. Take your time. I found installing the second vent seal took about half the time as the first one did. Best of luck.
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1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible

[mattbug]

I also have recently replaced my window seals in my '63. The first vent seal was a PITA and required alot of patience but once you get them in and know how to work the rubber it makes it easier. You only need to cut the rubber where the latch pops up through the seal. Silicone spray helps get the rubber in the channel. Make sure you mask around door to stop scratches.

Heres the vid that make it all sound simple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7RIkCQnLP0
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1963 Beetle
1600 SP

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[Joey]

[youngnstudly]

I've done them at least 2 or 3 times on my '63 doors over the years and I used soap (most of the time) for lube as I never seem to have talc powder on hand. Multiple glass sticks are used to work the seal into place. I put one glass stick on one side of the seal (say the interior side), and another on the opposite side. Then I carefully push the seal into the channel, working both sides at the same time to force the bulk of the seal down into the channel. It's been a few years since I last did mine so I'm going from memory here. I've done them different ways in the past, but found the way that I think works well.

I prefer to do mine with the top of the chrome post fastened in place so I know exactly where to start the top of the seal. Once I have both ends located correctly (vent post secured on both ends at that point) and I've worked my way to the center, I do the heaviest part of the curve last, then close the vent window. Once it has pressure on it, I usually take a glass stick, slip it under the lip of the seal and drag it along as I spray water (from a spray bottle) between the seal and metal door to get rid of the soap residue. This is also a good time to check that your seal hasn't popped out of the door at any place. You can then wipe it with a dry clean rag.

There are a few ways to install these seals, but none of them seem to be that much quicker than the other ways I've tried. The job is NOT one of my favorite ones to do! Also, I do NOT notch the seal at any place, unless the seal I have needs to be slit for the upper wing window pivot bracket to pass though.

These seals are from another company besides Wolfsburg West, and I am not totally happy with their fit. I don't plan to replace them anytime soon though as these doors aren't the permanent ones for my car. The "good" doors are still sitting in the shop in final prime waiting for me to decide on a color so we can buy the paint and materials and "jam the insides of them out." Too many other things going on though!

Andy

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Vintage Volkswagens: When you're not swearing by them, you're swearing at them

[RareAir]

Those serrated cuts are found on original seals.

Are they needed? No. Do they help on install? YES! Onlytoolyou need are some strong thumbs. But besides those plastic scraper tools shown by youngnstudly, you can use a flat head screwdriver with some tape wrapped on the blade
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1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241

[thomas.]

Thanks for all replies.I finally got it installed.It's really tight though. I might just have to live with the old driver side seals for a while though.

[OldSchoolVW's]

Just waking up this discussion to share yet another technique for getting these rubber seals installed and fully seated.

I applied a thin film of Super Lube synthetic grease on the part of the seal that is supposed to seat in the door channel, then took a strip of clear plastic wrap (the kitchen product also called Saran Wrap or Cling Wrap) and placed it on the greased part of the seal. The grease keeps the plastic wrap attached to the rubber seal, but allows it to slide around. Starting at the bottom rear end of the seal, I used a plastic pry tool and worked the exterior side of the seal into the channel then pressed the interior side in with the same tool until it just caught the channel. I then used a 5mm nut driver to press down on the seal from the glass channel until it I heard that satisfying "thunk" and the seal lip spread onto the surface of the door. I did about 3 inch segments at a time. When I got to where the upper pivot attaches to the door, I stopped and installed the vent window, then finished the top portion of the seal. Any exposed plastic wrap can be cut back under the seal lip with a razor.

After reading how everyone really struggles with getting these seals in and fighting with it myself for a whole afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the plastic wrap worked. I got the idea to try it when I recalled how using a plastic trash bag made it much easier when I put upholstery on the front seat backs. Hope this helps make this task more manageable for those tackling door rubber replacement.
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Tom

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'63 Beetle Sedan
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