Rubber Weather Seals Restoration -- Not Thrilled

[launieg]

I have to add my two bits, so that the point is emphasized. No (smart) vendor should insist on using UPS to Canada. We end up getting ripped off by the UPS brokerage fee every time, regardless of the size of the shipment. I imagine it UPS is unavoidable for the largest of items, when USPS will not work, but otherwise...

Vick's is wise to this and entirely accommodating in my shipments. I was very pleased. I'm sure there are other vendors who deserve the same credit too.

[Jimb]

I have to add my two bits, so that the point is emphasized. No (smart) vendor should insist on using UPS to Canada. We end up getting ripped off by the UPS brokerage fee every time, regardless of the size of the shipment. I imagine it UPS is unavoidable for the largest of items, when USPS will not work, but otherwise...

Vick's is wise to this and entirely accommodating in my shipments. I was very pleased. I'm sure there are other vendors who deserve the same credit too.

I had 4 BBS 3 piece wheels shipped out from Germany last year via regular post with no problems....and also there are many other shippers like FedEx etc...so UPS can and should be avoided at all cost!

Jim

[SpiderJim]

I have no issue with IAP's customer service and the vast majority of parts in the past. They are following up on everything but it is the month's delay to my project that ticks me off. If the parts where actually the correct ones and not a poor substitute then I would be very happy with them and also have my car almost ready.

I also spread my money between IAP and Vicks and also purchased from the Germans with no issues. I think that IAP have the absolute best website for order picking and placement. IAP just informed me that they do now offer USPS to Canada and sent me a screen shot of a dummy order. I sent them a screen shot of shipping info from the website that clearly says Canada... UPS and nothing about another choice so I assumed I still had no other choice and did not see anything about a selection of shippers but then again I'm sure that I could be wrong. They said it came into effect late last year??? Still the parts where crap and I have now had to re-assemble everything with the old stuff to meet deadlines for car shows etc. In the end we still have to be thankful for the most part to these guys that stock parts and keep our cars going.

[htchevyii]

Ya, I'm used to dealing with older American cars that I can buy just about any part for that will perfectly replace the original. When it comes to the Fiats I've found than many parts work, but were actually made for a different application or later model Lada or something. I've also noticed lately, that it's getting harder and harder to buy quality parts even for modern cars. More and more inferior crap from China and India. Consumers need to stand up and demand a quality product or we'll be stuck with cheap garbage. There is a lot of crap air cooled VW parts out there, but I ran into a company that clearly stated if each part they sold was a economy part, premium part, nos part, etc. In some cases a inferior part as all that was available and it was clearly stated. I would prefer if all vendors did the same.

[Kingme2]

I'm a big Ebay'r... been known to just type "FIAT" to see what's avail in the first thousand items...(ps... this is not good for bank accounts!)

MANY times I'm looking at something that says "free shipping"... to the 50 states... Frequently pay MORE for shipping thant the item itself...

Think YOUR parts are expensive? Lol, try shipping to Canada. And, god help you if they only ship UPS

[jimincalif]

I want to replace the door rubber, mine is pretty tired and figure it will help reduce the door rattles too. Vicks has a package for $42.50 that says it is enough to do both sides. IAP sells the rubber molding for $36.50 per side.

Pretty big difference in price, anyone have experience with either of these moldings? Based on this thread it doesn't sound like either of them might fit very well.

Thanks,

Jim

[SpiderJim]

I want to replace the door rubber, mine is pretty tired and figure it will help reduce the door rattles too. Vicks has a package for $42.50 that says it is enough to do both sides. IAP sells the rubber molding for $36.50 per side.

Pretty big difference in price, anyone have experience with either of these moldings? Based on this thread it doesn't sound like either of them might fit very well.

Thanks,

Jim

The door moldings that I got from IAP fit perfectly and of high quality. It was just the qtr window seal kit and the trunk seal that did not fit that good. The vertical window glass felt in the door can be used if a spacer backing is used like the original. Once in it really is not noticeable.

Update. IAP's customer service is exceptional and they have stayed right on top of this issue without me having to chase them. Today I received credit for the bad parts. So except for the two week delay to my project everyone is happy and the issue is concluded for both parties.

[FatherFiat]

I can totally agree with the quality issue, and, except for the vent window gaskets (mine were pitiful), the remainder of the seals were of good quality, but poor fit, due to being almost universally oversized. I suspect that these parts were not manufactured specifically for the Fiat, but simply chosen from a vendor's stock as being "close enough". This is unfortunately a symptom of our "throw-away" economy. No one is willing to risk the capitol to invest in "correct", when "close-enough" will do. And we wonder why our auto makers are having trouble selling cars! I can't help but wonder if Fiat parts will become more available here once FIAT gets established in the US.

[kensmith]

I want to replace the door rubber, mine is pretty tired and figure it will help reduce the door rattles too. Vicks has a package for $42.50 that says it is enough to do both sides. IAP sells the rubber molding for $36.50 per side.

Pretty big difference in price, anyone have experience with either of these moldings? Based on this thread it doesn't sound like either of them might fit very well.

Thanks,

Jim

I would also like to know if Vicks is as good regarding the door weatherstrip as the IAP since I need to replace them on my 78.

[peggus]

I ordered my Door, trunk and hood seals from McMaster-Carr. They have a wide selection of bulb, tadpole and whatever else seals to choose from. You'll have to pick the right size yourself though.

[kensmith]

I ordered my Door, trunk and hood seals from McMaster-Carr. They have a wide selection of bulb, tadpole and whatever else seals to choose from. You'll have to pick the right size yourself though.

Where are they located?

[peggus]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#contact/=ayu6ip

[kensmith]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#contact/=ayu6ip

WOW.........too much to choose from. What did you use? Thanks!

[kensmith]

I haven't used the IAP rubber, but bought tail light gaskets and vent window gaskets from two other vendors and had the same experience. Really poor workmanship and poor fit. As you wrote, the vent gaskets don't allow the windows to close at all.
We sourced door and trunk weatherstrip directly from a mfg, and it works fine. I don't have an answer for the vent window rubber

Can you tell me which vendor you got the door rubber from?