1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

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1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

April 16, 2017, 05:22:24 PM

Good Afternoon !

I am attempting (Heavy Emphasis) to replace the Window Sweeps / Dew Wipes on CougarGal's (my Lovely Wife) '86 Turbo Cougar.
That being said ... I've found a link that offers a Full Set of Wipes for an '86 T-Bird.

My Question:
Is there anyone, here, that can tell me if I can make a Direct Swap between these two ?
(Fully aware some alterations may be needed)

http://www.classiquecars.com/ort8086tbrubcart.htm

THANKS !!

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #1 – April 16, 2017, 06:14:29 PM

The doors are identicle on 83- 86 doors between cougars and tbirds.

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #2 – April 16, 2017, 06:31:34 PM

Quote from: Haystack;460346

The doors are identicle on 83- 86 doors between cougars and tbirds.

So... this set of Wipes will Work on the Cougar ??

... just want to Make Certain..

Thanks, again

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #3 – April 16, 2017, 06:40:46 PM

Quote from: Haystack;460346

The doors are identicle on 83- 86 doors between cougars and tbirds.

Hey Haystack! I've been told time and time again that nobody has made aftermarket dew wipes for the 83 - 86 cars and have seen several posts where others have been trying to figure out what other cars wipes might interchange for our cars because none are available that are direct fit. Do the ones that Alabamawildman linked to look right to you? I hate to spend that much money if they aren't going to fit right :(

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #4 – April 16, 2017, 08:05:00 PM

Holy cow, that's not inexpensive...sheesh.

Let me help clear up some things:

- The outer dew wipes on 1983-86 Cougars and Thunderbirds are the same kind. Some cars had vent windows so those have a different trim cut.

- Steele Rubber has had new dew wipes for our cars for several years now. However, they are not cheap. And I'm taking a wild stab that this Classique Cars site is likely a reseller for Steele, so there could be a markup on top of that. Also, I don't know if they are the "technically correct" style or the "universal" style (see below).

- That being said, I've used universal stuff from JCWhitney on the '86 with no ill effects. A LOT cheaper too. Side note: the part numbers change for them, so no, I can't really provide the part numbers. That's a JCW thing.

- There is an article here that may help everyone: http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=251748#Post251748. In that article there is a way to use a different kind of universal dew wipes from RockAuto.

Now, technically our stock dew wipes are sort of T-shaped and I haven't found an exact replacement of that yet...however, the universal stuff still works the same way. On a budget, that's the best deal going.

I will try to get some photos of everything this week, if time permits, so that everyone can see what I'm talking about, all the differences, and maybe some solutions. I'll put everything in a new thread so we can make it sticky.

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #5 – April 17, 2017, 04:16:41 AM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;460350

Holy cow, that's not inexpensive...sheesh.

Let me help clear up some things:

Thank you Eric! ANY and ALL help is GREATLY appreciated! Someone sold me a set of outer wipes from an 87 and assured me that they would fit my 86 with some tpuppies and a bit of jerry-rigging. Hah! The top of the doors, we discovered are different and there's no way these things will work on my 86! (I have a REALLY nice set of 87 outers if anyone is in the market for a set :)

Anyone got a link to either the JC Whitney or the Steele Rubber ones for an 86? If not, I'll see if I can find them when I get back near a computer.

Thanks again!

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #6 – April 17, 2017, 08:30:56 AM

Steele Rubber link for the dew wipes (it's listed under Mark VII, same difference):
http://www.steelerubber.com/wfelt-84-90-lincoln-mark-vii-o-80-0685-57

They do appear to be correct for our cars also.

All other Cougar/Thunderbird weatherstripping parts:
http://www.steelerubber.com/search?year=1985&make=ford&model=thunderbird&style=2-door-sedan&ps=50

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #7 – April 17, 2017, 09:09:59 AM

Potentially silly question - do we attached (via rivets?) these felts to the OEM metal piece and, if yes, do they have to have notches or anything cut out of them or do they work as is?

THANKS AGAIN ERIC!!!

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #8 – April 17, 2017, 09:43:41 AM

Quote from: CougarGal;460356

Potentially silly question - do we attached (via rivets?) these felts to the OEM metal piece and, if yes, do they have to have notches or anything cut out of them or do they work as is?

It looks like the Steele ones are identical to stock, so that means removing the factory staples from your old dew wipes to remove them. Reattaching them is not really feasible with staples so you'd have to drill holes in them, and in the corresponding metal trim, and then pop-rivet them in. But that kind of future-proofs things for you if you ever need to replace them again. Not a big deal.

All the universal dew wipes will need pop-riveted. There is no other way LOL.

I have universal stuff on the convertible because when the factory door was chopped, the factory dew wipes didn't go back far enough to cover where the B-pillar frame area was on the door itself. There's actually a small spacer piece of metal in there, and then the dew wipe goes all the way back to cover it. There's really no way for me to use factory-style dew wipes on that particular car. It was pop-riveted on so that's very easy to change out (which I did, once). The convertibles are enigmas...they're just too different, as far as all the weatherstripping goes, so we have to treat them accordingly. But what I learned on that car can certainly apply to "normal" coupes provided that the material is good enough. I really like the Steele ones but cheesus they are not affordable for a daily driver. So...being pragmatic, universal stuff it is.

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #9 – April 17, 2017, 10:32:04 AM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;460358

All the universal dew wipes will need pop-riveted. There is no other way LOL.

Thank you once again!! I'm at a computer now and I've searched and searched JC Whitney for universal ones and can't find ANY. I've tried dew wipes, window felt(s), weatherstrip, belt molding and weather strip and can't get a darned thing to show up :(

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #10 – April 17, 2017, 11:56:43 AM

That's the problem I've always had with JCW. Every catalog I would get in the mail would contain different part numbers for the SAME PRODUCT, month after month. I don't know if they even mail out catalogs anymore...it's been years since I've gotten one. Maybe their customer service would help...?

In any case...in the NATO link above, the poster mentions universal stuff (Fairchild) from RockAuto.com. Here is the direct link to that product:
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3415263&jsn=518

I can confirm that it appears to be 100% to what was offered at JCW. That's the exact same universal style I used on the convertible. The illustration cinched it. JCW used to carry it cheaper, that's why I was hoping to get some kind of link or part number over there, but ~$30 US for a pair still isn't bad through Rock Auto.

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #11 – April 17, 2017, 12:18:27 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats;460360

That's the problem I've always had with JCW. Every catalog I would get in the mail would contain different part numbers for the SAME PRODUCT, month after month. I don't know if they even mail out catalogs anymore...it's been years since I've gotten one. Maybe their customer service would help...?

In any case...in the NATO link above, the poster mentions universal stuff (Fairchild) from RockAuto.com. Here is the direct link to that product:
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3415263&jsn=518

I can confirm that it appears to be 100% to what was offered at JCW. That's the exact same universal style I used on the convertible. The illustration cinched it. JCW used to carry it cheaper, that's why I was hoping to get some kind of link or part number over there, but ~$30 US for a pair still isn't bad through Rock Auto.

My HERO!! You just saved my bacon!! My husband already has one of my doors torn apart and then we discovered that the wipes I had bought wouldn't work :( I will get these on the way to pr0nto!!!

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #12 – April 18, 2017, 08:56:30 AM

My outers are shot again and the inners are not far behind so I am seriously considering the inner and outer package Steele has (P/N 80-0684-57). They only show them for the Mark VII's so will the inners and outers both work for our 83-86 cars?

1986 Dew Wipe Replacements

Reply #13 – April 18, 2017, 11:11:28 AM

Quote from: Aerocoupe;460367

My outers are shot again and the inners are not far behind so I am seriously considering the inner and outer package Steele has (P/N 80-0684-57). They only show them for the Mark VII's so will the inners and outers both work for our 83-86 cars?

The 85/86 T-Birds, Cougar and Mark VIIs were all pretty much the same car with the same door so they should work just fine. I just purchased the ones from Rock Auto (that were a LOT less expensive) and they are supposed to be delivered on Thursday.