Okay,been working on this 53 chevy bel air 210 coupe for the last 5 years..it's a full custom..anyway,I'm at the gl*** cutting stage and decided not to run the stainless trim on the front and rear windows..so I went and bought the front rubber for a 150 model since that particular has no stainless..but the 150 rear gl*** is different..so,my question is can I run a new rubber for 210 model with the access for stainless without any issues or must I use the stainless to keep the rear gl*** tight...hope I'm clear .
In '53 there was three different rear windows, only two in '54; The 1953 150 models had the small one similar (but definately not the same) to '52. The Club Coupes had stainless trim, all others did not. This window was not used in 1954. The 210 & Belair models had the big wrap around rear window, all had stainless. This window was also used on all 150 (no stainless), 210, and Belair models in 1954. Then there is the Hardtop. This window was used in '53 and '54 as well and all had stainless. Also, some people don't realize that the hardtop and convert windshields were different from the sedans/coupes. Same shape just 5/8" or 3/4" shorter. All three pics probably found their way into my computer via the HAMB, someday I'll be proud enough of my own '53 150 to post a pic of it... Jay
Wait- 302GMC is right. The '54 150 window gasket might not have the groove for the stainless trim. Steele Rubber's website also says it doesn't. Jay
How I never noticed this is a big Oh Wow moment. What about the 1/4 gl***? I totally brain farted, 54 didn't have a small 1/4 either?
150 rubber is different than Belair/210 rubber. But the gl*** fits the 150 also. The corner stainless covers the difference in the sheet metal. As long as we are talking sedans. Four door rear gl*** fits a Tudor sedan.
The car in question is painted already,I didn't have a current pic when I posted. But this picture shows the stainless trim I don't want,so....is there a rubber available minus the provision for stainless trim?if not,can I use the rubber in picture minus the trim and not have issues with gl*** sealing?
Is this a coupe or sedan? Not to disagree with @J53-thanks for the pics- BUT- are we talking about the differences between a coupe and a sedan roof/back gl***, or 150 and 210 roof/back gl***? Were there 210 and Bel Air 53 coupes, or only 150 coupes? If there were 210/BA coupes (53 was the last year for that body style, IIR), then did they have different roofs/rear windows? @J53 - is the black 53 with the different rear window a coupe (looks like it to me), or a sedan? While it may be moot, and I may be beating a dead horse, I think we are talking about the differences between body styles, coupe/sedan, rather than trim levels, BA, 210, and 150. I'll shut up now.
Black car is a coupe (Longer trunk lid - we can get into that too if needed) 1954; -Coupes and sedans, Belair or not all same rear gl*** -hard tops different 1953; -same as '54 except 150 models Both years 150 had no stainless There, clear as mud. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My 54 2 door 210 originally had the stainless in the windshield and rear window gasket. I wanted to use the gasket without the stainless. The front windshield was not a problem but the rear window required some work. The gasket for the stainless has a 90 degree corner at the top but the gasket without the trim does not. The corner is round. I had to form a rounded corner and weld it into that area to change the shape in order to make the gasket work. I do not know why they made it that way and did not make the gasket with the 90 degree corner but without the groove for the stainless. As a side note the rubber gasket without the stainless trim groove is nearly twice the cost of the more complex gasket for the stainless trim. John
Everyone just thinks it's the grille and the tail lights that separate the two but there are tons of little differences between '53 and '54 that a lot of people never realize. From the goofy rear window on the '53 150 down to the color of the turn signal indicators arrows on the dash, not to mention the mechanical changes under the hood. I think there was a thread on here years ago that listed many of them. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
What the corner looks like with the provision for the stainless trim. This is what mine looked like before I formed the metal and welded it in that area.
It is this that messed me up. Model over body style. Unrelated but near to this. Back gl*** gaskets 55 56 & 57. Now there's a cluster of minor stuff to remember in just the post models even when stainless is used on all three years.
@belair....Just to clear up your last question... the '53 150 came in; 2 door business coupe (no stainless rear window and long trunk lid) 2 door club coupe (stainless and long trunk lid) 2 door sedan (no stainless and short trunk lid) I don't remember if the 150 came in a 4 door in '53, have to look that up when I get to my owners manual.
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