Vannin' Home Forums Dodge General Discussion Metro rubber needs input

I posted this on the Dodge van forum, but wanted to post it here too!! The more exposure and replies the better.

I found the top header rubber for the side and rear doors on my '75 Dodge B200 at Metro Rubber so I decided to ask about the door seals and such. Well I got an e mail back;

Thanks for the inquiry. We are aware of our lack of parts for these vans,
and I agree it would probably be a good project to consider. However, we
have not received much in the way of interest and I have yet to find any OEM
or gently used parts to assess. If this is something you or your club could
help us with, I'd be willing to look some parts over and determine the
feasibility of adding replacement parts to this line. Thanks for your
interest in Metro Moulded Parts and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
Mike Hinshaw
New Product Development Manager
Metro Moulded Parts, Inc.
11610 Jay Street, P.O. Box 48130
Minneapolis, MN 55448
Direct Phone: (763) 231-7836
FAX: (763) 757-7228
E-mail: mikeh@metrommp.com


So if we all e mail Mike we might get what we want. Lets do this!!

Richard

This is GREAT. Maybe this should be posted in the Ford and Chevy sections also. They may be able to help those van owners also.

Would the weatherstrips for mid Dodges be the same as 79-up? I would be interested in all weatherstripping for 79-up vans, doors, windows, side and rear doors, triangle vent windows, everything.

I believe that '79 and up is still available. I think the numbers supersede to newer ones. The '71-'77 are the hard ones. No one makes much for these. Only front door rubber is reproduced and NOS parts are getting, if not impossible to find!

As for Ford and Chevy since I don't own one I don't know their parts situation. From what I have heard from others the parts were easier to get then for the mid Dodges. So if the case is that they are in the same boat heck why not ask about them too!! wouldn't hurt. We are all vanner brothers no matter what van we drive.


Richard

The profile and shape of the later rubber is the same, but the pin location is different.

Someone on the B-van site used the later rubber on a mid by gluing and says it works fine.

I am all for this. I have been in contact with a company called restoration specialties about re-popping them and they need a complete NOS to decide if the tooling is worth it. If I do run across a set, I am half-minded to do it myself. Ever since I bought mine and discovered how few parts are available, I have been tossing around the idea to start making (or having made) some of these parts and see if it turns into a viable company.

I need something to do with all of my spare time and I could use my next van as a deduction.

I have a NOS ( part #'s match the originals on there now)set of rear door rubber in great shape (I am still trying to live without an arm and a leg)I would be willing to send them if we get enough interested and if someone has the side cargo doors and are willing to send them too!! That way if and when they make them we wouldn't have to use the NOS ones and everyone else wins.


Richard

I bought what I was told was one of the last three sets in the dealer parts system of side cargo door weatherstrip for my brother's 83 Dodge van about three years ago. I doubt the side and rear cargo door weatherstrip is still available new. I haven't found any aftermarket suppliers for it. Front doors, yeah, side and rear? Nope.

I don't think finding interest is a problem. The problem has been getting a set of strips for the manufacturers to make a mold of. I'll be emailing them.

do they make stuff for an astro too?