Swami Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Parked outside in the rain for the first time and it's apparent that I should deal with the weatherstripping asap to keep this thing rust-free =) Someone here mentioned that the MSA weatherstrip kit has had mixed reviews. Anyone have some stories to share about successful or dodgy installs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Many posts on this subject. Search "door seals" and/or "weatherstrip" in the interior and body forums. My experience with MSA weather strip kits (2) was that the windshield seal had gaps in the upper corners, the hatch seal was malformed in one corner and the door seals were too thick to allow the doors to close. I used Nissan OEM winshield and hatch seals which fit perfectly. For door seals I used parts store materials. Search as all of these problems have been documented with solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Nissan still offers those seals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) I got mine here: http://www.courtesyparts.com/rear-hatch-glass-seal-1970-1978-240z-260z-280z-seater-p-568960.html?cPath=7724_7754& http://www.courtesyparts.com/windshield-weather-strip-1970-1978-240z-260z-280z-seater-p-568959.html?cPath=7724_7754& Edited September 25, 2014 by Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socorob Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Crap, wish I would have known that before I bought the black dragon stuff. Think its made by Nissan or they just getting it from the same supplier as everyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 The Courtesy weatherstrips are Nissan OEM parts. Call before ordering to confirm in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamo3 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) Me too. The MSA windshield seal had gaps in the upper corners. But cost of OEM one is $250 just for windshield.... I used KIA's one for door and hatch. Edited September 25, 2014 by tamo3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Has anyone tried the Couresy OEM door weatherstrips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Use the search function as there are many fixes: Search: "mcmaster weatherstripping" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 My stuff from "Black Dragon" was as Miles says: Gaps in the window corners (but sealed) and door seals thick and multi-piece crap....apparently they have fixed the door seals. These usually all come from the same place..with the same results. Oliver at Z Man of Washington had kits when nobody else did. Veritable information fountian there if you get him on the phone on the subject of what happened with the aftermarket seals available here in the USA these days. Nissan seals would have been the way I went if I was thinking.... my last weatherstrip replacement was in 1985, and those door seals did not hold up like the Nissan Pieces did for the first 22 years. Windshield and hatch never leaked, and the gaps are there up front... But they sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Hmm - I bought the MSA full weatherstrip kit when my car was repainted back in 1997. Still have them and they're mostly still in good shape. 17 years and 100,000 miles has taken it's toll on them to some degree. Replaced the windshield twice during that time-frame so not sure what I have in there now. Had the glass shop provide the seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) From my build notes: http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/83080-new-weatherstrip-alternative/page-1 The kits sold by MSA and Black Dragon were made by a company called "Precision". The fitment problems with the windshield, door and hatch glass were known for years, but MSA and Black Dragon continued to sell them. The two 240Z kits MSA sold me (12 years ago and 5 years ago) was actually for a 280Z so it had some extra parts in it that the 240Z does not need. I was was told that the 280Z door seals would work in the 240Z, but they were obviously too thick. I used cheap Pep Boys door seal instead. The above link gives a p/n for a McMaster pinch seal that works and is cheap. Except for the windshield, door and hatch fitment problems the rest of the Precision kit seals worked fine. There is another company (Vintage Rubber) that is making 240Z/280Z seals: http://www.vintagerubber.com/ Edited September 26, 2014 by Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 The story of the Precison Parts in Thailand is an interesting one, have Oliver tell it to you sometime.... it's endemic of MBA Corporate Mindset and how it affects product availability, and how cross-cultural miscues compound an issue to people with money on the brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 ^That story is a long story, Oliver sure is knowledgeable. I installed the MSA kit, had the same problems, echoing as above gaps in corners, but sealed from the inside, the customer service insisted it was the lack of the chrome trim, I added that to not much improvement still had gaps, ended up adding seam sealer to bridge the gaps. Rear hatch to body seal did not fit quite right, definitely deteriorating where the hinges are. Door seals were thick, so thick that I had to really force the door closed, hard enough that I ended up shattering my driver side window. I bought the Kia Sportage stuff from a junkyard for the doors for I think 10$? Closes much easier. Car still leaks if left out in the rain too long, have not installed the bottom door seals and such so I can't blame the kit quite yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) "Door seals were thick, so thick that I had to really force the door closed, hard enough that I ended up shattering my driver side window." You Too? Mine happened at MSA Auto-X one year after the seals were in for quite some time and numerous adjustments of hinges and latches just couldn't overcome it. Tried to close the door quietly several times, then finally SLAM-CRASH! Guy walking by gave me the classic "WTF's your problem, bud?" look thinking I was somehow P.O. and slammed the door so hard ON PURPOSE that I shattered it... Edited September 26, 2014 by Tony D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgsheen Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 We had a '75 280Z here several months ago. It was driven 4500 miles by it's Datsun Dealership Owner owner and then put in a Museum. It's the most complete / original Z Car I've ever seen. I'd never really seen original weatherstipping so we were all over it, checking out the seals. It's amazing how good the original door seals were AND how wrong Precision got the reproduction part... (the 280 doors closed with a finger, the seals were soft and pliable...) I too checked out the Kia door seals years ago and found they're actually just a "side bulb" type seal that you can buy new at a slew of places. The Kia seals do have a 90 degree corner molded in - not quite as tight as the 90 degree on the Z, but close. With the "side bulb" I just make them start and finish at that tight 90 degree corner and cut the two ends at a 45 to mate with each other. There are 3 or 4 stores nearby that carry this type of weatherstrip. It's very common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 I was rather lucky with my MSA kit. I bought it 8 years ago and just go around to installing it in February 2014 after the car was painted. My door seals are a little thick but nothing like what I am hearing from seattlejester or Tony. The rear glass and inner hatch strip are fine as are the quarter window panels. I do have a gap with the front windshield gasket on the upper corner of the passenger side. Other than that they worked out very well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Guy walking by gave me the classic "WTF's your problem, bud?" look thinking I was somehow P.O. and slammed the door so hard ON PURPOSE that I shattered it... Had something very similar happen, first time parking on the street, late at night, decided I didn't want to leave the windows down as I saw people walking by. Rolled them up, got a good windup and threw the door as I usually did, then realized, I hadn't tried with the windows up, started reaching for it, but too late, slam, smash. The people walking by just kind of shook their heads. Probably thought I had a bad day. According to Ollie, there was an internal shift, so the precision kits made from a while ago are good, the new kits not so good as they changed suppliers, he said he tests the kits for precision as they are trying to get back to selling good kits instead of restructuring etc, and if you can get them just absolutely perfect, it has the best seal and the most satisfying of closing actions as it just catches. He said it takes roughly 4 hours to install the rear hatch seal and adjust the stops and the hinges to give an estimate of how long it takes to get perfection. Definitely concur, for the door and hatch seals, I would consider the weatherstripping from mcmaster carr or somewhere of the like, Vintage Rubber apparently has better fitting gaskets, but they are very pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZGhost623 Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Funny... I was just alerted to this thread. I installed both the Precision kit from ZCarSource on my hatch and doors. (I bought the complete kit). The hatch is definately thick but closes and seals fine. The tail light seals are real good as well. The door seals not so good nor the quarter glass seals. http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/119765-door-opening-weather-strip/?p=1121911 You can see the door strip pops the door out a bit and its a tough to close it. Im hoping that it just needs to be compressed for a while, and then it will be fine. I read some reviews and some people have said that after a week or so they were fine. Otherwise Ill pull them out and go down the kia route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceVance Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Im hoping that it just needs to be compressed for a while, and then it will be fine. I read some reviews and some people have said that after a week or so they were fine. Otherwise Ill pull them out and go down the kia route. Old hotrodders trick to accelerate this was to remove the door cover panels and use a ratcheting strap to pull the doors inward. Haven't done it with the Z, but perhaps you could give it a go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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