Crew Cab third door seal

[70Crew]

Does anyone know of a source for a replacement door seal for the 3rd door on a bay window crew cab? If not, has anyone had any luck adapting a universal seal or cargo door seal?

[stevo]

wcm? check out item number 180016219675 - split crew door seal

[70Crew]

Thanks, I saw several vendors with the split window seal but figured they would say if it fit a bay window too. Anyone used a split window 3rd door seal on a bay? I'll also call one of the vendors to get their thoughts.

[70Crew]

Just spoke to 1-800 tech support at WCM. He said he had a customer try a 58-67 seal on a bay window 3rd door a couple years ago and he ended up ripping it out because the door wouldn't shut right.

I saved the original seal, intact and in 1 piece. I have an e-mail in to a manufacturer to see what my options are - universal, close match, or even limited run production using the original as a template. I'll post their response when I get it.

[70Crew]

I just got off the phone with an engineer at Soffseal (www.soffseal.com). To reproduce the seal I have, which I saved intact, would be (i) +/- $2,000 to set up the tooling, and (ii) a minimum of 60 seals at +/- $125 per seal. If I only ordered the minimum number, that would equate to a cost of about $160 per seal with tooling. Even if I sold them at cost, I can't imagine too many bay crew owners out there willing to fork over $160 for one seal.

I plan on cutting the seal I removed with a razor and faxing Soffseal an image of the profile, in case they have a stock seal with a similar profile. I'll let everyone know if that pans out.

So what is everyone else out there doing when their 3rd door seal goes bad? I can't believe I am the only one who has had to deal with this issue, seeing how the bay crew cabs are all at least 35 years old now. Any suppliers out there who are considering making this part?

[stevo]

[70Crew]

Thanks - good suggestion. Actually, I have a good friend who came from Germany who owes me a favor, I think I will turn her loose on the web and see what she comes up with.

Believe me, I didn't want to remove it before securing a replacement, but I have rust repair to deal with and that is the only way I could access the metal. Which is why I spent a half hour scraping it off in 1 piece - in case I have to reuse it.

[VWMIKE76]

not sure where the past owner got the seal for mine but its a tight sweet fit. I would imagine its just a search and see what is available for what price. as for having someone fab them at 125 a seal if there were enough of us that would purchase one for current use or to have one to hang onto for future use we could push the cost down

[70Crew]

For those of you watching this thread and still looking for a decent 3rd door seal, here's an update.

These are some photos of a seal I just purchased off of paruzzi.com, part # 27531, compared to the OEM seal I took off. The molding profile appears to be identical to the original seal, but the details are off. The 4 corners are mitered and glued (original was molded). there are also small channels cut on the top and bottom of the original which are missing on the replacement.

If I don't find a better solution by next year this one will probably work fine, although I will probably separate the 4 corners, clean up the cuts, and re-glue them on installation. I was also kind of disappointed that it didn't include the separate bottom seal like the originals did - the way the part # was listed I was optimistic it would.

The invoice was 57,82 euros total - 37,82 for the part and 20,00 for shipping - which is about $75.00 USD at the current exchange rate. At that price, I think there is still a good opportunity for someone to make a good replacement (hint hint).

Chris (MiOdy81)

PS - Lesson learned - access the site through paruzzi.com, not volksrepairs.nl. Trying to order using a translation utility is no fun (don't ask me how I know).

[VWMIKE76]

Thanks for the pics of the differences, when a good one is found I'll be getting a spare to have!

[stevo]

that's optimistic and applaude the effort. you seem like the kind of guy who should get himself a satisfactory or better seal. doing the right thing,,otoh in parts of euroland the seal shown might be considered a bargain..
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When you cross an Irishman, they never forget. I mean, never.

[70Crew]

I don't want to leave anyone with the wrong impression based on my comments in my last post. Even though the door seal I bought leaves something to be desired, I really should mention the fact that the folks at paruzzi.com did a nice job with customer service. They responded to my e-mails in a timely fashion, put up with my language translation woes, and got the part to me within a week of ordering it. I've been really frustrated in the past trying to correspond with/order from a couple of other European on-line retailers, so this was a pleasant surprise. I'd order from them again.

Chris (MiOdy81)

[70Crew]

A quick update, I received an email recently from Custom and Commercial in the UK saying that they were now carrying Vewib seals and that Vewib has been actively acquiring the original tooling for OEM seals. I emailed them to suggest that the 3rd door crew cab seal would be a good seller based on how long it has been NLA. Their response: "Hello Chris I will talk to Vewib German, I'm sure we did talk about this before and I think the tooling was being looked for, I will let you know if we have any luck." One can only hope.... that would make for a nice Christmas present.
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1970 Crew Cab

[Wasted youth]

Thanks for stepping up to the plate on this! I need at least two of those, considering the rarity, I would guess $150-200 per seal (if quality made) would be appropriate for such a niche market. Please keep us posted.

[420GOAT]

at times i recomend the slider door seal lots of material to work with, the profile looks like the rear cargo seal.
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once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine

[70Crew]

Just a quick update on my never-ending search for the elusive 3rd door seal. I just joined a Facebook group called VW Baywindow Pickups that has about 1,500 members worldwide. I saw a discussion about a manufacturer in South Africa who was producing a seal. One of the FB members said they installed the seal and it fits well. Unless it is ridiculously expensive I'm going to play guinea pig and order one. It may be a waste of good money but I am happy to take one for the team. To be continued....
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1970 Crew Cab

[jtauxe]

Wow -- that almost makes me want to join Facebook!

If this works, please let us know. With my 4-door crew cab, I'll be looking for 2 new seals. Now I gotta think... are the left hand door seals different from the right-hand doors?
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[Wasted youth]

Maybe one day I will actually get to my DC... but please do post your outcome as I would like to get one also.

[70Crew]

[jtauxe]

I do have an original unused one, lined up for installation on my DC after paint, but I would be very reluctant to send it anywhere, much less overseas.
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD