Weatherstrip options, Vendor recommendations Options

[SWH]

Both of my new weatherstrips provided by a well known supplier for my front and rear trunks do not fit well. These parts have been on for months. Both stand too high and do not allow either lid to close to align with fenders. Looking for people in this group that can recommend vendors that you have used to your satisfaction. Thanks in advance.

[JamesM]

Front Trunk seals
Rear Trunk seals
Triangle window seals
Main Targa seal

I always insist on seals directly from Porsche for these areas specifically on any restoration. The current 914rubber parts are serviceable but have some minor issues for these applications. The few URO main targa seals I have attempted were just unusable.

Triangle window seals, any non Porsche seals I have used here wound up cracking within a year.

Windshield trim clips, those absolutely have to be Porsche as well.


False economy not to if your time has any value at all.

[Matty900]

Front Trunk seals
Rear Trunk seals
Triangle window seals
Main Targa seal

I always insist on seals directly from Porsche for these areas specifically on any restoration. The current 914rubber parts are serviceable but have some minor issues for these applications. The few URO main targa seals I have attempted were just unusable.

Triangle window seals, any non Porsche seals I have used here wound up cracking within a year.

Windshield trim clips, those absolutely have to be Porsche as well.


False economy not to if your time has any value at all.

I have had our seals on my car since the build-off in 2017 with none of these issues, so they were not on my radar for looking into. Now I will add them to the re-evaluation list. It would be great if you could DM me the details on the dates of purchase for any parts that you had an issue with, so I can try to track things down internally on production runs.

[Superhawk996]

Front Trunk seals
Rear Trunk seals
Triangle window seals
Main Targa seal

I always insist on seals directly from Porsche for these areas specifically on any restoration. The current 914rubber parts are serviceable but have some minor issues for these applications. The few URO main targa seals I have attempted were just unusable.

Triangle window seals, any non Porsche seals I have used here wound up cracking within a year.

Windshield trim clips, those absolutely have to be Porsche as well.


False economy not to if your time has any value at all.

I have had our seals on my car since the build-off in 2017 with none of these issues, so they were not on my radar for looking into. Now I will add them to the revaluation list. It would be great if you could DM me the details on the dates of purchase for any parts that you had an issue with, so I can try to track things down internally on production runs.

Agree with all issues JamesM noted - purchased whole car seal kit in 2018 era

Need to stop assuming so much rubber shrinkage and upsizing seals way beyond what OEM was.

Here is example of window seal of what I’m talking about.

OEM On top (torn - base only that goes into extruded aluminum channel)
Reproduction below note width and section thickness differences.

You are spot on about what was previously OK for a $2500 car no longer being acceptable when cars are trading hands at $20k+.

I don’t want to come across as ungrateful, having some part is better than no part but there are a lot of seals in my kit that don’t fit, had wrong durometer, or wrong profile / size vs OEM.

[JamesM]

I don’t want to come across as ungrateful, having some part is better than no part but there are a lot of seals in my kit that don’t fit, had wrong durometer, or wrong profile / size vs OEM.

Definitely 2nd that sentiment about being grateful. Very grateful you are in the business and even more so that you are looking to improve products.

I have had our seals on my car since the build-off in 2017 with none of these issues, so they were not on my radar for looking into. Now I will add them to the re-evaluation list. It would be great if you could DM me the details on the dates of purchase for any parts that you had an issue with, so I can try to track things down internally on production runs.

Being the 914 nut job that I am it is possible that I have used more 914rubber product than anyone else out there, between 4 of my personal cars that are almost entirely 914rubber seals in addition to the restorations and repairs I oversaw at PMB. Due to the sheer volume of product I have purchased and used I don't think I could say with any level of confidence which specific part came from which invoice/production run. Definitely have seen improvements in some products over the various production runs.


Dealing with high dollar restorations and having to manage labor costs of techs installing the stuff also puts me in somewhat of a unique position that most hobbyists probably wont ever be concerned with. At home tinkering on your own projects allows for a lot more leeway in the time it takes to make a part work vs a production environment where time matters and the end result is expected to be perfect.


I've used every product you offer, in most cases many times over, as well as competitors products and OE Porsche stuff for the same applications. If you want specific notes on anything let me know.



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