While at the salvage yard today getting parts for my wife's GTP, I happened to glance at the car sitting next to the Grand Prix. It was a mid 90s Firebird. Has anyone tried using dew wipes from these cars? I searched the forum but didn't find any threads.
I've tried making my own replacement wipes but the lip won't seal over the door skin.
When I saw the dew wipe on the Firebird today a light bulb went off. The Firebird/Camaro wipe is huge, both in length and width, so there's plenty of material to cut down. They're attached to the door with clips.
I'll have to take my doors apart to make sure, but here's what the Firebird/Camaro sweep looks like on one of my salvage yard door skins.
The Firebird sweep is on the left, the new Fiero sweep material is on the right. The rubber flange on the Fiero material sticks out more horizontally than the Firebird sweep, but that could because the Firebird sweep is 20 years old.
The Firebird/Camaro sweep is a better design, in my opinion, because it doesn't have the channel that would catch water. It’s one continuous slope from the window over the top of the door skin. I probably won’t be able to take the door apart and do a test fit until next weekend.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 11-25-2018).]
------------------ Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.
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I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!
I believe that most of us will replace the dew wipes only once. I would say make the investment and buy the new ones advertised in the Mall or go to the Fiero store. Saving the glass with new wipes is IMO the best idea.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I believe that most of us will replace the dew wipes only once. I would say make the investment and buy the new ones advertised in the Mall or go to the Fiero store. Saving the glass with new wipes is IMO the best idea.
I hear you, Dennis, but after buying two separate kits and neither one of them working, I'm a little gun shy. I like the look of these wipes better than the Fiero ones because, in my opinion, they're a better design.
The Fiero raw material I bought cost $40 for two 4-foot sections, plus shipping which was 15 bucks the first time and 20 the second.
If you follow the link you'll see photos of what the wipes look like. Again, I think it's a better design because there's no channel between the lip and the rubber sweep.
I'll try to get over to the shop this week to cut down one of the salvage yard wipes and take one of my doors apart to see how it fits. Chances are there's some kind of issue that will prevent them from working, but we won't know without a little experimentation.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 11-26-2018).]
I hear you, Dennis, but after buying two separate kits and neither one of them working, I'm a little gun shy. I like the look of these wipes better than the Fiero ones because, in my opinion, they're a better design.
The Fiero Store dew wipes fit perfectly as do the ones formerly made by forum member seajai. If you are buying eBay product it may of may not fit. If you are using old junkyard rubber wipes its just a mater of time before they get brittle, break apart and/or possibly damage your glass. Not telling you what to do but IMO not worth the savings.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I spent some time in the shop this afternoon and the results were positive. As I mentioned, the Firebird/Camaro wipe is much wider than the Fiero wipe.
That's the Fiero wipe on the right:
I discovered GM used at least two different designs for the Firebird/Camaro wipes. One design has the felt inserts like the Fiero's (although there are three of them instead of just two, probably because the wipe is a foot longer than the Fiero's). The other design has the felt as part of the wipe and runs the entire length:
All week I'd been expecting to have to cut the Firebird wipe lengthwise to match the width of the Fiero wipe. I cut the Firebird wipe to length, then test fit it on one my salvage yard doors. There's plenty of room in the door for the wider wipe.
The Firebird wipe is attached to the door with these clips. They pry off easily.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 12-01-2018).]
After cutting two wipes to the correct Fiero length, I then washed them carefully with soapy water. The result is two wipes that are supple and look almost new. I removed my second attempt at a DIY Fiero wipe from my passenger door, transferred the mirror mount over to the Firebird wipe, then test fit it on the Fiero:
Kudos to you man! I think your innovation on this is fantastic and keep up the process. It's guys like you that help keep the whole Fiero fantasy alive and I for one appreciate reading about new ideas like this. Kudos!!
Kudos to you man! I think your innovation on this is fantastic and keep up the process. It's guys like you that help keep the whole Fiero fantasy alive and I for one appreciate reading about new ideas like this. Kudos!!
Thank you. Dennis brings up some good points, but I think this may be a good alternative.
I don't remember which vehicles the different types of Firebird/Camaro wipes came from, but I bet the integral felt ones are a later design. Tempted to go back to the salvage to try to find a set.
Here's some more documentation of the process. The Firebird/Camaro wipes are attached to the door by several clips. It's easy to pry them off:
Here's a view of the preferred type of wipe. It has a felt strip that runs the whole length, eliminating the need for the two felt inserts that are riveted to the Fiero wipe, as well as the two curved felt plates at either end.
I somehow managed to get home from the salvage with four F/C wipes, but only one of them had this strip. I can't remember if I got my wipes off of two cars or three, but I will plan to get to the salvage later in the week to find another one with the long felt strip.
Unexpected problem #1. The long felt strip at the bottom of the F/C wipe is a tight fit for the hole punch.
So tight, in fact, that the punch rubbed off some of the felt. The solution to this is to use a Dremel to make the holes.
[This message has been edited by Quad Raider (edited 12-03-2018).]
I had to adjust the screw holes several times, but finally got the F/C wipe installed in the door. The long felt strip makes it a very tight fit to get the window back in the door. The strip actually caught the bottom of the window a couple of times but by using a screw driver I guided into place. I ran out of time to get the window bolted in and to check the lowering and raising operation, but so far so good:
I installed the dew wipes on both doors and they work and look great.
After I took this photo I trimmed the front of the wipe so it would fit around plastic triangle. I'm very happy with the results. I've now moved on to painting the car.
Few questions. Are the Firebird wipes long enough to extend the rubber all the way to the front of the door under the triangle(top of wipe trimmed)? Do you know if the aftermarket/Firebirdcentral F-body wipes come with the lower felt bar? couldn't tell from their pics. If they have the lower felt bar, Do the stock felt pads need to be installed? With the 4th gen F-bodies being produced in larger numbers, I'm wondering if the bulk strips are not available somewhere. It isn't that I wouldn't spend the money for new wipes, it's more like I don't have the money to spend on them. I have been considering making my own from http://stores.restorationspecialties.com/ymr260x , but if the F-body type is somehow available, I'd rather make them from them. Anyway to get a hold of Firebirdcentral, to find out where they are getting their bulk strips? Being that we would have to modify them anyway. Would you post some pics of how you are removing installing your window? I do like the better water repealing design of this. Also they look better the way they they cover the skin.
Yes, the Firebird wipes are long enough to stretch the whole length of the Fiero door. They’re about a foot longer than the Fiero wipes. Once I got mine installed I thought about redoing them and making them the length of the door, but the plastic triangle fits too closely on my driver’s side door.
I ditched the square felts and the felt inserts. I’m not an expert, but I don’t think they’re needed with the Firebird wipes that have the felt strip. The Firebird wipes don’t have them and the Firebird window is bigger than the Fiero window.
The windows install the same way they did with the Fiero wipes, but you have to be careful not to catch the felt strip with the glass as you’re sliding it into the door. I ended up drilling the mounting holes on the wipes about a quarter-inch lower on the wipe than on the Fiero ones, because the lip holds the wipe higher on the door.
