1970s Eldorado convertible power windows/weather strips problem

[Finndorado]

Hello Gentlemen !

In my 1973 Eldorado convertible the power windows are impossible to adjust
because of so stiff weather strips. You cannot run them when door is closed because
there`s too much friction just 2-3 inches before the window should close, and/or the window
upper end is pulled outwards (when I close the door after window fully pulled up first, before closing the door).
The power window motors were renewed last summer and my classic car garage guy
did everything he could with the adjustment, but the conclusion was to blame the bad
quality rubbers.
Now I am about to get a whole set of the top weather strips (Metro Moulded parts Convertible Top Roof Rail Kit-RR 1814).
I already purchased new pillar post rubbers, installed, very soft but didn`t fix the issue yet.
When checking the condition of the existing windshield top header seal, I noticed there is no !!!
No wonder I can stick my finger out from the wind shield upper outer corners.
I guess when the new pillar post rubber and the new top header seal meet in the upper corners
the gap will be closed and fine ?
The seal set costs over 1000 euros shipped to Finland and the garage guy takes another, so my actual question is,
has anyone else had the same issues and could give me any hints about the process.
I Would appreciate any advice, to avoid putting two grands and end up in the same situation,
power windows still not working properly.

Thanks in advance
Mika

[Roger Zimmermann]

Usually this weatherstrip at the top header can be ordered separately. Install it and the maybe your issue with the power windows will be solved.

[Finndorado]

Thanks Roger !
Yes, at least the gap in the corners.
But the old side rail seal and the pillar post seal pushes the window out.
Now I have new pillar post seals, but I guess
a totally new adjustment has to be done after renewing all rubbers.. or.. I don't know.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

What I found with my car when I replaced the weatherstrips with new ones was that when putting the door windows down, the friction between the glass and the rubber would pull the rubber down into the doors if I didn't have the doors open.

I am pretty sure that when the factory put these cars together when new, the rubbers had some sort of de-sticking solution on them. to stop this.   Otherwise none of the cars would have ever left the factory.

I replaced the Trunk Rubber in my '72, and now the trunk lid is extremely hard to close and get proper alignment.   It seems like the trunk weatherstrip is slightly oversize.   I know it closed perfectly before I took out the old stuff, which I cannot put back.   I have been tempted to remove the new rubber, and put it in a home-made frame, and with a sanding wheel, trim off about an 1/8th of an inch, and reinstall it.

Why can't the reproduction people make their reproduction parts the same as the originals?

Bruce.

[SaltLife97]

Yeah it's been a nightmare trying to adjust the windows on my 73 convertible. I have new strips too but I find the other issue might lie with the fact that the plastic guide on the front windows that run up and down the pole is worn down inside of it enough to cause slop in the window. Of course you can't get this part anymore (it is the one riveted into the metal assembly of the window regulator). Try using silicone lubricant on the rubber. But I have the same issue when the doors are closed, and no the Fisher body book is of NO help besides what bolt adjusts what on the window.

[TJ Hopland]

Hopefully Metro has got better than when I bought my set from them which was many years ago now.  The material seemed fine but the fit was terrible and several of the pieces seemed to have a splice in them that fell apart after a couple years.  Back when I did mine they were a local company that were active in local shows and such.  I actually went to their show room with my car and said I was having issues thinking perhaps they just didn't have a 73 to test fit on and they would maybe come out and look and or measure but the person just kinda just mumbled something about the warranty period and that was the end of the interaction. 

I don't know if a good manual has ever been written for the top and windows on these cars.  I'm thinking of something like the Cadillac Tim HVAC manuals that are a hybrid of factory and experience.  I have such a manual for a Fox Mustang and it was quite useful.  There are so many adjustments involved in the top and windows and they all only have a little bit of range in them and they all interact with each other so you really can just go in and start blindly adjusting things. The fox book gives you like 100 steps you must follow in sequence with measurements and reference points. It does have some notes that say if you cant get step 37 in range to go back to step 25 sort of thing. 

I have used I think a Teflon based lubricant on rubber and glass before where there seemed to be binding.  It seems to be slippery without collecting dust and I have never noticed getting it on me from touching the surfaces its on.   

[Finndorado]

Thanks guys !

So I understand there are about a thousand
things that affect whether I will succeed at all.
That's what I was looking for.
Maybe I'll just keep opening the doors and spend
that money on gasoline.

Br
Mika