These door w-strips are GARBAGE!!!!!!

Any one else had crappy weatherstrips? I bought the w-strip kit from AutoKrafters for my maverick, and the lower door weatherstrips are total junk. They do NOT resemble the factory ones at all. The ends are totally different, so different that I cant tell which side is which, and I doubt the door will even close once these are installed. My drivers door is very hard to shut with just the upper strips in place.....which BTW are crap also. Too bad ford quit making these items, because we cant count on AK or Dennis Carpenter to reproduce dog poop!

Sorry to rant and rave, but after spending 400 bucks for the set of weatherstripping, I am very dissapointed and will probably leave them off untill I can build something myself. Kinda went thru this on my 55 fords and t-birds, they were junk on those cars also.

 

I had issues with them on my car also from AK. The uppers fit OK except for the push pins at the A pillar. Had to move them in the rubber to line up with factory holes.
The lowers went on but were too long. We took out a section in the bottom so the push pins on either end lined up. The end that has a metal strip in it goes on the door hinge side. My body man told me not to glue the area with the strip in it near the push pin. Its needs to move a bit when closed.
My doors where near impossible to close until we shortened the lowers to locate the push pins correctly at either end.
The doors at least closed when we got them fit properly. By the next season the doors worked great.
I wasnt impressed with the rubbers at all and neither were the guys in our body shop. They werent surprised though and made them work good in the end. I guess they are used to the aftermarket fit on these old cars. I was furious when we tried to fit them.
Sounds like you have the same issues I had 2 years ago.
If you want some pics let me know. They will work.
I feel your frustration, believe me.

 

Had the same issues with Soft Seal products on a 81 Malibu. Everything seemed to be oversized and made things a bear to fit and doors hard to close.

 

What about Steele Rubber Products. Anyone have some insight on their products. Im glad to have read this thread; I have intentions on getting rubber from AK. After reading this I have reservations. I may not have a lot of choice unless someone has a better alternative.

 

I was wondering about Steele Products also. They claim to be top notch stuff. I did email them asking if they made their own stuff or if they used AK/Carpenter crap. Havent heard back yet. Another $80 down the money pit!

The ONLY part of the w-strip kit I got from AK was the door window cat whiskers. they were very nice, fit perfect,too bad the rest of the kit is junk.

 

While I had many of the same issues with the sets I have used, I have found in the end that they are very useable. Use Darren's advice. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again on a future Maverick/Comet project.

 

i cant speak for autokrafters (ive only ordered the front/back windshield weatherstrip from AK) but steele rubbers door weatherstripping for the 2 door fit well and was pretty much what the maverick came with.

does anyone know where i can get ahold of 4 door weatherstripping?
or am I gonna have to be crafty and rig up my own

 

as far as i've seen nobody makes door weatherstrip for a 4 door. you'll have to get creative.

 

so who has the best weather stripping??? i need a full set for my 2 door

 

They are all made by the same company. No matter where you buy them.
I had no issues at all, with the one's I bought from AK.

 

If it's anything other than Mopar it's limited. I have a friend that used their stuff on a 68 GTX and a 72 Challenger RT with great results. Unfortunately I don't thing they cover Mavericks. I'll have to find my catalog and check now.:16suspect

 

Then maybe they packaged it wrong, because I see trouble ahead if I try and install these strips.

Any one have close-up pics of their AK strips on the doors????

 

They "AK" do offer some Maverick stripping on their website. I check it yesterday.

 

I can get some tomorrow if nobody beats me to it.

 

Just called Steele Rubber and they buy from Carpenters, so that saves me some money, not gonna buy ANOTHER no-fit, poorly copied item. I guess I will just have to make my own.