Killer Kong Mini Update: Weatherproofing In a Snap

Not everything on your classic muscle car is timeless. Sure, the long, sleek lines will survive the test of time, but certain things just are…well, pretty bad. We learned this the first week we picked up our ’69 Dodge Charger project car, Killer Kong. Climbing in behind the wheel, we mistakenly put our weight on our right hand, promptly punching it through the old, brittle plastic center console.

Our Charger's original weatherstripping was brittle, flaking and rotting apart. Obviously, it was high time to replace our old rubber with some new stuff.

Certain technologies have garnered us far better replacement parts than what the original factory equipment could provide, namely in the way of electronics, plastics and rubber compounds.

Today’s plastics and rubber is embedded with new age polymers that resist aging, cracking and discoloring far longer than those from over 40 years ago. These polymers also improve elasticity in softer contact points – like body bumpers and weatherstripping – and will maintain that pliability over the years.

While we 86’ed our center console years ago, much of our Charger’s interior is still made of ancient plastics, particularly our dashboard face. We’ll have a complete dash restoration feature article in the upcoming months, but it bears noting now that replacing each of our dash’s three-piece fascia is exorbitantly expensive, and unless these pieces are cracked, broken or beyond repair, it is worth investigating companies who offer restorative services.

For the meantime, we needed to seal up our Charger’s cabin from the outside elements – although we never keep the car anywhere but inside our snug single-car garage. Apart from the creature comfort of sealing the cabin from road noise and debris, weatherstripping also acts as a vibrational buffer, keeping doors, windows, your decklid and hood from rattling and chipping your paint.

While most weatherstripping will either come with plastic clips or fit snuggly into channels to hold the rubber into place, a good bead of 3M Weather Stripping Adhesive will keep out moisture, dust and debris.

When it came time to button up our Charger’s interior, we made a quick call to Classic Industries. Classic is no stranger to restoring vintage Detroit iron, but they are fresh on the scene when it comes to Dodge and Plymouths, having only launched their massive A, B, and E-Body Mopar line earlier this year. We snatched up a full set of weatherstripping and body bumpers and quickly went to work.

A tube of 3M weatherstripping adhesive and a roll of narrow painter’s tape (and some patience) were the only other tools we needed to get the job done in a couple of hours. Proper weatherstrip adhesive is applied in a two-part process, namely applying a thin bead on a clean surface and doing the same to the mating surface of the backside of the weatherstripping.

The weatherstrip adhesive works in a two-part process. First, apply a thin bead to a clean surface. Next, apply a second bead onto the rubber mating surface. 3M recommends waiting upwards to a minute before bonding the two together; the waiting period is to allow the oxygen-activated glue to 'kick.'

This is done the easiest on the door rubber, as the weatherstripping for ‘Kong came with a series of knurled plastic clips that lock the rubber in place. We glued as we clipped the weatherstripping in place. Once finished, simply closing the door helps apply pressure to complete the bond. Applying the trunk lid weatherstripping required a little more finesse – and painter’s tape – to keep the rubber liner in line.

Once our weatherstripping dried, we went about inserting the body bumpers. These act as bump stops for the doors, hood and trunk to protect your car’s paint from being chipped. They also serve as a final bit of panel alignment – particularly for our lift-off fiberglass hood. We adjusted our body bumpers accordingly to align our hood to align with the fenders and cowl.

All in all, it was a Saturday morning well spent. Now we can wash our Charger without fear of drowning our interior or having to mop out our trunk when we’re done! Best of all, we know these new weatherstrips will last a lot longer than the cracked and flaking rubber they replaced.

With both sides marked with the glue, we press them together. In the particular case, the end boot has holes for three screws. Tightening these down will help secure the bond. With a gentle cleaner, we wiped down any excess glue and residue. The 3M adhesive requires a few hours to fully bond, so closing the hood, trunk, doors and windows when you're done will help the glue dry faster.

About the author

Kevin Shaw

Kevin Shaw is a self-proclaimed "muscle car purist," preferring solid-lifter camshafts and mechanical double-pumpers over computer-controlled fuel injection and force-feeding power-adders. If you like dirt-under-your-fingernails tech and real street driven content, this is your guy.
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading