I am restoring a 1968 Firebird Convertible, frame off Restoration. On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 I installed the weather strip OER Brand from Classic Industries on the trunk. It fit fine. I cleaned the chrome bracket for the pillar post weather strip and tried to figure out how to install it. I searched the internet for instructions, finally I emailed OER, the maker of the weather strip. I hoped they would send instructions. On Wednesday, February 20, 2013 I went to Rutledge Auto Service at 1:45 pm. I installed the weather strip on the left door, also OER Brand from Classic Industries. It was too thick. Dave tried it with the same result. We compared the old and new, the new was twice as thick. I called Classic Industries and they wouldn’t take the defective weatherstrips back. They aggravated me so bad I hung up on them. They called back and offered to exchange them for Silicone weatherstrips if I paid the difference, $120.00 difference; $54.00 for the defective set that doesn’t fit $174.00 for the silicone. I asked for time to think about it. It sounded like another rip off to me. I researched door weather strip. Everybody has the door weatherstrip pair for $55 to $80. The kits are much more. I called Classic Industries again and talked to Anthony. He was nice and professional. He said his Elcamino was like that and after a month it wore in, but he could close his door. He suggested applying heat, but if I destroyed it I would not get the $54 off the silicone set. And there is no guarantee the silicone will fit. I asked if I could get the $54.00 toward other merchandise. The answer was no. NO REFUND, NO CREDIT. I’M PISSED OFF!!! One thing I learned from this, when you are restoring a car Do Not plan ahead. Buy the parts you need for the following week, because when the crappy after-market parts (OER brand) don’t fit as advertised, they won’t refund you or even exchange it. Classic Industries (classicindustries.com) SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called Lutty Chevys 2385 Saxonburg Blvd., Cheswick, PA 15024, (724)265-2988. They had the weatherstrip in stock. They said they had two different manufacturers, neither was OER. On Thursday, February 21, 2013 I took the OER weatherstrip to Lutty and compared it to their two sets. I chose Soffseal brand because it felt the most like the original. It was soft and half as thick as the OER brand. I installed the Soffseal weatherstrip on both doors. It looks great and fit like the original. Soffseal Door Weatherstrip Kit was $66.00, that’s half the $120.00 “Discounted” price Classic Industries offered to rip me off (AGAIN!) with.