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.

Interesting. I used OER when I replaced the door jamb weatherstrip on my '68 'vert. It fit fine. But that was 5 years ago.

I agree about Classic though. I ONLY buy from them when I abosolutly HAVE to. (as in noone else has the part I need)

Sorry about your hassle with CI. If you search here will find we have a lot of complaints. The 3 biggest are hocking Camaro parts that don't fit as Firebird parts, insane shipping costs, and sales that seem to never apply to the parts we want to buy.

Ames Performance Engineering is my supplier of choice for an FGF. Performance Years is also up there. You will also find useful editorial comments in Ames catalogs about what fits and what does not.

PS, my wife is from Jeanette, PA down the road from you. I have been in that area a few times.

I've bought all my weatherstrip from Ames. Don't recall if it was OER. They have all fit fine.

I would say I buy 99% of my stuff from Ames. I can honestly say so far the only things I haven't been able to get from Ames was the rear mounted antenna base plate and ground plate.

And for me they are local. So I order today, have it tomorrow.

PY now carries the chrome rear antenna base. Just got them in stock about a month ago after a four year wait.

Now if they would just bring in both the walnut and burlwood covered ashtrays that they have had listed as "Winter of 2010"

Patience grasshopper! These things take time to perfect!

I think I have an xtra one of each of these if you need one.

Sorry to heard all about this.... I agreed with you about classic industries company. I' been looked for right side lower firewall (outside by heater box) replacement panel in 1967-'02 Firebird Classic Industries Catalog... never been found there.... Finally, I found out in the '67 Camaro Catalog and they have more new panels, I downloaded both of them... I'm upset of that C.I did hidden new Camaro parts from the Firebird Catalog.... I think because of Camaro company told them not to sharing new parts for our 1st Generation Firebirds... shame on Classic Industries and Camaro company!!! So, I ordered a different '67 Firebird and '67 Camaro Catalogs from Ames and others - can't finding in which is one is the best Catalog.... still looking for it online. I've been checked on "Year One"... there's no longer Catalog, why?? Oh, well... I'll going to the Swap Meets when they're comes out this Spring till Fall....

UPDATED:

I forgot to let you know I've used this Frank's Pontiac Parts & Auto Dismantling that I recommended his site, I bought some original '68 Firebird body parts into my ex '68 one since 2002-'05. He's a great guy to deals with, will do in business with him in the future.

67BlueBird400 and ClayT if you can't find what you are looking for on-line at Ames or in the Ames catalog don't be shy to just call them. They are Pontiac only and very willing to take questions/phone calls.

They are in business to make money, but they are not Classic Ind.

I sent the same post to Classic Industries. A manager called me today, and although I had already replaced their defective part, he made it right by giving me a refund $55.00 for the defective OER part. It was alot of work and frustration, but at least they stepped up. I have gotten a bunch of good stuff from Classic industries

dam1960,

Thanks for let me know but I'm Deaf since I was born, can't hear to the phone well with the Hearing Aids on... I used e-mails. Hope Ames have e-mail to contact him... I used TTY phone with keyboard on TX Relay Agent but they're always lazy to typing misspelled words wrong, missed letters, typed together sentence with shift keys and used abbreviates that always confusing me... I'll try it... BTW, I edited my post above, I've been ordered some very good used parts from Frank's Pontaic Parts site thru e-mails and I'm glad he accept the Postal money orders.

ClayT,

I'm glad they're fixed their problems and replaced your parts, I agreed with you that's very difficult to deals with Classic Industries company....

I'm getting ready to buy a lot of parts, who is PY?

Performance years

http://performanceyears.com/

I had the thing with CI, ordered a trunk dress up kit for a 69. They sent a kit for a 67 or 68. The package had 67 thru 69. It did not work at all, an I was not going to pay to have it shipped back. Sent them an email but have not heard one word from them. So hell with them , I now order my parts from PY, NPD or ames.

I was also told to use heat on the OER strips, but that didn't help and took a lot of time!

I used Steele Rubber Products pieces, and they worked great! Much softer and alignment was much easier.