tight seal on top (outside edge) of slider window

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The top of the front door in my 1965 13 window bus has a seal that contacts the door frame. It is the seal that slides into the slot around the top edge of the slider window. It is a West Coast Metric product. The old seal was in need of replacement. It was a good fit causing no problems but it looked old. I only changed the passenger side. I still have the one to change the drivers side.

I got a new one install with no problem. When I close the door now, it is too tight. The door hangs up so much that you have to push hard on the door to get it open. I thought that maybe the rubber would take shape after a few days so the door would open freely. Well I was wrong. I am contemplating a correction and would like to get your advice. What do you do in this kind of situation?
Thanks for your advice,
Dave in Monterey, California

[Lasse Mix]

Hi Dave
I had the same trouble when i restored my bus. for me it took a year or so before the rubber took shape by the sun and the heat. But i live in Sweden so the temperatures in the summer is not even close to yours in CA.
My Advice - let time cure your problem

[jpk]

Hi Dave,try some silicon spray on the rubber, it works!
JP

[j.pickens]

My bus does the same! It is so tight that I have to close the door by opening the slider window and yanking on the door frame. If I pulled on the door handle, I'm sure it would break off after 5 or 10 door openings. Anyway, I'll try the silicone spray suggestion and see if it helps, Thanks, Jpmannu

[j.pickens]

The weird thing about this is that on my bus, only the driver side door is tight, the passenger side behaves normally...go figure...

[rizzag]

i cant remember who said it but they said to use baby powder on the seal, i was having the same problem you are so i tried it and i'll be dammed if it didn't work like a champ