Window and door rubbers

[bobnotch]

Last summer I bought some window rubber from Simon Kelley. This year I finally got to a point where I could install it in my 64 T-34. I've noticed a few differences between it and the old "hard as a rock" original pieces. The window seals themselves seem to be off a little, in that there's more rubber on the body side of the opening, and not really enough on the glass side. While it does bother me, that's not really my problem (it's more of an observation).
My problem is the side window and 1/4 window glass seals. The 1/4 window rubber is close to OE (but a little thicker at the bottom forcing the glass up), but the doors are a completely different seal. My old seals were more of a tube shape (for lack of a better description), while the new seal is multi-lipped. This is causing me some fitting issues with the door glass, and wing window. Has anyone else used these seals and had a similar result? If so, what is the solution? Or am I the first person to actually use these seals from him? I think I saw in Andy Holmes's blog that he had a similar issue, but his car is a 62.
Thank you for any help you can offer on this. Right now, I'm in stop mode until I can find a solution.

[bobnotch]

Since I'm not having any luck with trying to get some answers, I'll post some pics of the issues I'm dealing with. The first couple are of the right side. I re-installed the old seals to check the fit.


These still appear to seal, but are very dried out.
These are of the left side with the "new" seals.


As you can see, they don't seal up the glass (with it forced out at the top), and you can't roll up the window with the door closed.
These are a comparison shot of the seals. My old seals are of a "tube" shape (for lack of a better description), while the "new" seals are of a "flap" design. My biggest issue is where the door glass and the 1/4 window meet, as the glass is riding on top of the seal.



Is this a case of me needing regular early t-14 coupe seals to fix this problem, or is it something else. Right now I can see that the "new" seals aren't going to work. Thanks for any help, as it's much appreciated.

[Carsten Klein]

can´t help i am sorry ... i try to use the old ones ... no one with any experience with that repro stuff ?

[bobnotch]

Apparently not. Can anyone tell me if there was a previous part number for; 343 845 211B and 343 845 212B? If the numbers follow the "normal" VW part number system, then there should be either an "A" version, or one without a letter suffix. Can this be confirmed? My parts book only lists the later numbers (above). Thanks for the help Carsten.

[Kharon]

Quick googling didn't find either "343 845 211A" or "343 845 211", but it's quite obvious, like you said, that those once have existed.

On the hand, in VW naming system parts with same part number with or without letters are interchangeable.

Not necessarily similar but the same function. That's the idea of the part number and VW often has produced almost similar parts with different part numbers so they aren't afraid of introducing new ones.

It is very possible that those earlier versions never made into production.

See also my parts-page discussion about having repros done.