seals for doors and t-tops

Status
Not open for further replies.

john87442

Master Mechanic
Supporting Member
Mar 9, 2021
333
411
63
55
Geneva ohio
good evening everyone, I have a question that I'm not able to find information on and thought this would be the place for the best knowledge and recommendations. I'm starting to collect a inventory of parts before I strip down my 87 442 and was trying to find as close to factory seals for everything. Doors,t-tops, trunk, etc.. Now some kits look complete but then reviews say they don't fit well, so before I go and drop a chunk of change on it I'm just asking for any suggestions and recommendations. As always I know how valuable this group is, and I'm always amazed how some members even know all the original parts numbers, needless to say I appreciate everyone as I continue this project. Looking forward to getting to it after I finish the garage I built for it first... I hate drywalling! but it does make you appreciate that cold beer a little more.
 
good evening everyone, I have a question that I'm not able to find information on and thought this would be the place for the best knowledge and recommendations. I'm starting to collect a inventory of parts before I strip down my 87 442 and was trying to find as close to factory seals for everything. Doors,t-tops, trunk, etc.. Now some kits look complete but then reviews say they don't fit well, so before I go and drop a chunk of change on it I'm just asking for any suggestions and recommendations. As always I know how valuable this group is, and I'm always amazed how some members even know all the original parts numbers, needless to say I appreciate everyone as I continue this project. Looking forward to getting to it after I finish the garage I built for it first... I hate drywalling! but it does make you appreciate that cold beer a little more.
Your best bet is to search out OEM NOS stuff. Especially for the doors. The factory stuff has a piece of plastic in the ends where it ends at the top of the door where the window channel starts. Hard to explain but the aftermarket stuff doesnt have this piece of reinforcing plastic, and as you shut the door, the door jam actually folds the seal into itself at the top because if this.

NOS OEM is the best way to go.
 
Thanks for that info. I guess now i just have to source out NOS stuff, I'm sure it might take awhile just like the sheffield trim pieces I'm looking for.

Thanks
 
Honestly, did you expect finding sheffield gray dash/console pieces were going to be easy? After the first 87 442 left my possession when the first wife left my possession, I never had another until 2007, so I never had a need until then. So far I've scrounged up all the stuff except for the passenger dash vent panel.

GM seals are the BEST, hands down, for fitment and durability. But obviously, that's the rub. The newest ones are probably 15-20 years old or more. Some they haven't made in a good while.

I can tell you, when you bought seals from GM, if they came in a box, they were just twisted and crammed in there to fit because likely, they thought the box just needed to get to the dealership and the dealer would unpack them and put them on a car that need them. Same with the ones in the peel apart packages. Just fold them, seal them up, and send 'em. Because they don't ever consider Joe Customer would simply buy them for his own project 15 years or more later. So even if you find new GM seals (and usually you will pay dearly for them), there's a chance they're already screwed up. Not always, but there's a chance. Especially T-top seals. Sheesh. I've been pretty lucky so far in that all the seals I've got are still soft and supple. Again, it's a crapshoot.

As far as aftermarket seals, I don't know who makes good ones. Soff Seal I thought was a good seal, but they seem a bit too dense for me, and hard to "form" in order to seal well.

I've also heard of some aftermarket T-top glass seals to pillar seal contact areas come up a tad short leaving a friggin' gap! That's no good either. Oh, and at least at the beginning, one of the manufacturers were trying to use the wrong ends on the door seals for the Cutlass/Regal. I think they just tried to pass off Monte door seals, not sure.

I'm the last one to ask about aftermarket weatherstripping. I try real hard not to use that stuff.

81-88 Cutlass/442 GM part number listing:

Trunk seal- this comes in (maybe, I've seen a few them arrive unglued as well) one piece already glued together and has the paint dot that goes in center front to help with alignment, as well as the "cut your own" one long length of strip that you have to cut the female side of it at the back to the proper length, then glue the male tab into the female slot yourself. The one piece is ok, you just have to loop it over the trunk lid if you don't want to remove it. It will go. I used it on my 84 H/O (before reinstalling the spoiler, obviously).

1-piece- 20641957 superseded to 25558394
cut your own - 20490800

Interesting that the 20490800 was listed to fit the 70s Nova hatchbacks, etc., yet also listed to fit G-bodies as well. Weird things GM did.

Doors -
RH- 20201220
LH- 20201221

Belt reveal seal (along top of door) -
Thin bead outer
RH- 20674248
LH- 20674249

Wide molding belt reveal- comes with weatherstripping attached. (Not used on 442 in 1987)
RH- 20674292
LH- 20674293

Seal only- to fit wide anodized (chrome) molding:
RH- 20674276
LH- 20674277

Inner door belt seal, (on top of upper inner door panel) same for all G47 Cutlass
RH- 20363106
LH- 20363107

T-top -
RH- 20211820
LH- 20211821

T-top glass side seal -
RH- 20087982 superseded to 20217186
LH- 20087983 superseded to 20217187

Secondary T-top seals (stick on strips- aka "rattle strips". Usually come unglued and get missing)

Need 2- same part number- 20139617
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rktpwrd
Thanks for all that info. As usual it’s amazing how much history and tips you share. I have found all the trim except the center dash piece and the light switch trim plate and yeah I have paid a lot for it. It’s going to be a trick to find these seal’s. I have seen other aftermarket kits that leave gaps and I definitely don’t want to go that route. I’m going to drive it this summer and then do a frame off over the winter, so hopefully I can source these along with all the other items I need.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor