Weather stripping is a really tough one
that I am particularly unhappy about. I have yet to find a really
successful solution so if the water leaks are not yet causing rust or other
damage live with it. Take full confidence in the fact that the weatherstripping
leaks on almost all rovers--probably even when new--though I am not old
enough to remember.
2
General Types:
Currently I am aware of two general types
of weather stripping, the glue on type and the more original pop rivet
type. There is a substantial cost difference between the two and
thus decisions need to be made. I assumed it would be difficult to
bend the weatherstriiping along that Rover side curve and even messier
to hold it in place with the glue set. Thus not being one for the
Elephant Snot Glue I went with the more original stuff.
Regardless you need to drill out all the pop rivets holding the original in. I tend to drill it 1/2 way out from the rubber side and then punch the pop rivet heads out with a nail punch. This prevents me from slipping off center and drilling the rover -- a drill bit slightly smaller than 3/16 or .1875 can also be used.
Then you need to install the new stuff. Good luck with the glue, go read someone else’s web site for that. I have not mastered this technique yet.
For the pop rivet stuff the sad fact of
the matter is that the weatherstripping I bought fit terribly.
Lengths were not cut right and the holes don't line up. Test fit
the pieces first and remember the overlapping order before you remove the
old pieces. I suggest drilling the weather stripping to match the
car and not vice versa though this would be much easier. I clamped
it in place to help as I went along. In the end, I got it installed
fairly well only to find that the weatherstipping did not fold back on
itself well enough. People said it would "take a set" and lay flat
but mine still really hasn't. In fact the door still doesn't really
close that well even after readjusting the hinges and latch. The
weather stripping form a very open U instead of a C and actually tends
to fold flat open at the inside of the door. I’ll update you all
later if any changes appear.
Good Luck. All I can say is that I remind you of my cardinal Rover rule:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
(And when I mean broke, I mean not running
broke.)