72 Charger All Gaskets/ Door Seals/ Cat Whiskers

[72Charger72]

Im doing a frame up restore of a 72 Charger. Im not sure what all the terminology is for the gaskets, windows seals, cat whiskers, trunk seals,/bumpers, trim clips etc are or where to get them at a decent price. Basically I will need everything from the frame up? Is there somewhere that has a definitive list of items required for this?
I have most the chrome molding etc....basically anything rubber needs replacing.Thanks!

[69bfan]

If at all possible, try to reuse as much as possible of the door seals and roofrail seals if possible.  I have been selling parts for well over 25 years and the factory pieces all fit much better than the reproduction seals.  If you are careful, these pieces can be removed without destroying them so that they can be reused.  I had much rather replace the door clips for $10.00 and have a much better seal and save yourself $75.00.  Also look at trying to reuse the U-Jamb and seals that that goes at the end of the door seals.  Originally, these pieces had a brass insert in them which the rubber was bonded which helped them to maintain their shape.  Now the cheaper ones are just molded in thick rubber which will not conform to the desired shape and you will end up having to grind rubber off of them and possibly gluing them in place.  Also, if you should have to purchase the U-Jamb, door end seals and the seal that goes on the front of the door, you will be looking at close to $200 for those pieces.  The best pieces on these pieces are made by Steele Rubber.  The door seals will probably be either a Soft Seal or a Metro Rubber piece.  Most retailers for 71 to 74 B-Bodies will be selling the Metro line.  There is also the quarter glass seals that seals the glass between the front and quarter glass once the door is closed and the glass is rolled up.  Both Steele and Metro offer these pieces.  For the door window felts, specify the Top Cat brand.  Dave and I worked on perfecting these over twenty years ago and they are the most correct and best fitting ones on the market.  That will take care of your doors.  Moving onto the hood, you have a hood to radiator seal that can most of the time be reused simply by cleaning it up.  The rear hood to cowl seal is next to impossible to remove without tearing the clips up.  Whatever you do, purchase the hood to cowl seal that already has the clips installed.  You will also have seals within the front inner fenders that keeps the dirt and debris from the headlight and door hinge areas.  The trunk seal is pretty straight forward.  I prefer the trunk seal that Restoration Specialties made up years ago off of NOS samples that I provided.  I personally feel that most of the trunk seal out on the market is too dense and thick and will end up not allowing the trunk to close down to the body lines.  The rubber body bumpers are pretty straight forward.    The question I always get is do you have a complete kit for the weatherstripping.  Yes I can put together a kit, but as I have outlined above, they always say they do not need this or that, so I just basically sell everything separately as I consider our pricing as good as for $300 as it is for a $1000 purchase.  On top of that, you can start to add in a firewall gasket kit, a paint gasket kit, a heater gasket rebuild kit, the firewall insulation, under dash insulation and a wire strap kit and you will be quickly exceeding $1000.00.  Check around with the various vendors as prices can be all over the place.  Like anything, you pay for what you get.  Saving yourself a $100 may not be a good savings when the parts do not fit or you have to spend hours just trying to get the doors or trunk lid to close again.  Hope that this helps.  If you are coming to the Indy Swap Meet next weekend, stop by and I can show you the product line.  One more thing to consider is that I assume that this is for a 72 model car and that prices for this car will be more than say for a 69 Road Runner and most vendors do not keep a tremendous amount of inventory in stock for the 72 model line.  Good luck on the project and if you should have any questions, drop me a message.

[72Charger72]

Thanks 69bfan 
unfortunately most of the seals are dry rotted I can save the door jamb seals...and possibly the door seals themselves but the trunk and hood and most of the felts/quarter glass seals are gone. Im willing to pay 200 to keep the newly restored body from leaking 
I will make an inventory of whats good and whats bad. Just figured when it came to seals replacing all with new was the way to go.

[72Charger72]

Is there a difference between 72 Charger and 72 Charger SE weather stripping. My issue is I am not really sure weather my car is an SE or standard.
I bought it from a junk yard bare body and frame but no title? Is there some body stamp or something I can look for to determine the model?

[Nacho-RT74]

72SE gets concelead headlights, full vinyl top and a special quarter glass treatment as part of the package. VIN begins with WP29



Talking about catwiskers, the diff is just the quarter glass pieces.

Best brand for these is TOP CATWISKERS by far from the rest

[Nacho-RT74]

The concelead headlights were part of the package on some other special trim models offered allong the year, like the Topper. Also optional on some others, but the quarter glass shape and VIN are definitelly which determines if is an SE or not

[72Charger72]

The concelead headlights were part of the package on some other special trim models offered allong the year, like the Topper. Also optional on some others, but the quarter glass shape and VIN are definitelly which determines if is an SE or not

Thanks Nacho we determined from the Door plate and firewall it is not an SE which sucks because I have the hideaways and the SE door panels.
Might have to make it a mixed build oh well I will just be happy having one back on the road again.

[72Charger72]

72SE gets concelead headlights, full vinyl top and a special quarter glass treatment as part of the package. VIN begins with WP29



Talking about catwiskers, the diff is just the quarter glass pieces.

Best brand for these is TOP CATWISKERS by far from the rest

Seems the Topcats are getting hard to find this is all I could find http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-1972-DODGE-CHARGER-R-T-TOP-CATWHISKERS-WINDOW-FELT-KIT-SWEEPS-TRIM-FUZZIES-/221883333981

[polywideblock]

being in Australia I have to buy everything online, and find tamraz's ebay site has most. so far everything has fit relatively well(mostly metro)

         ebay search for 72 weatherstrips  

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X72+charger+weather+strips+.TRS0&_nkw=72+charger+weather+strips+&_sacat=0

[CDN72SE]

Looks like Dixie Restorations carries Top Cat.
http://www.dixierestorationparts.com/products.cfm?ci=407E7D97-E490-FD61-C9272A123C514582

[Nacho-RT74]

Seems the Topcats are getting hard to find this is all I could find http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-1972-DODGE-CHARGER-R-T-TOP-CATWHISKERS-WINDOW-FELT-KIT-SWEEPS-TRIM-FUZZIES-/221883333981

Dixie restorations got them, same as manufacturer... ( I can't find the manufacturer link right now )

[Nacho-RT74]

Looks like Dixie Restorations carries Top Cat.
http://www.dixierestorationparts.com/products.cfm?ci=407E7D97-E490-FD61-C9272A123C514582

LOL, didn't read this post before post my reply

[CDN72SE]

Got them from Dixie Restorations, nice quality.

[72Charger72]

Got them from Dixie Restorations, nice quality.

CDN72SE do you have a link to where you gots these. Nachos is giving a 404 error.
Thanks

[CDN72SE]

Here you go http://www.dixierestorationparts.com/shop-now.html

[72Charger72]

Here you go http://www.dixierestorationparts.com/shop-now.html