It happens to all old cars. That once-watertight weatherstripping finally goes the way of all rubber trim pieces and, before you know it, you're taking on water like the Edmund Fitzgerald. While this might mean little in the drier western states, here in Florida it rains more often than some of our staff members shower. (Of course, that may not be saying a lot.) So, what's a person to do when they find their car's carpet a little soggy? In the case of Editor Jay's '96 and its sieve-like rear hatch, the answer was simple: replace the offending rubber.
With a quick order placed to Corvette Central, one need set aside only a little time on the weekend to remove and replace this tube-shape piece of rubber. The installation takes a couple of hours if done correctly and is well within the capability of any competent do-it-yourselfer. This includes temporarily removing the hatch's gas struts. Some people bypass this step by making a simple incision in the rubber, but we ask, "What's the point?" If you want a good seal, take the extra few steps and do it the right way.
Read ahead to see how we accomplished our mission.
Corvette Central's rear-hatch weatherstripping is available under PN 634581 and fits all C4 model years. PN 631515 is for black adhesive (PN 631520 for yellow), PN 631518 is for a release agent should you require it, and PN 634588 is for removal and installation tools. | 
The rear-hatch seal on Jay's '96 had long since fallen prey to the withering Florida heat. Another problem was found in this corner, behind the B-pillar. The last time this piece was removed or replaced, someone made an incision here to aid installation. With the rubber broken, water had been continuously dripping inside. | 
All inner surrounds came out or were loosened first followed by the removal of the old rubber. We used a set of job-specific tools from Corvette Central, which helped considerably. |
All inner surrounds came out or were loosened first followed by the removal of the old rubber. We used a set of job-specific tools from Corvette Central, which helped considerably. | 
All inner surrounds came out or were loosened first followed by the removal of the old rubber. We used a set of job-specific tools from Corvette Central, which helped considerably. | 
The only other tool you may need is a screwdriver. As we mentioned earlier, if you're going to do this job, do it right. By temporarily removing the hatch struts, we were able to feed the new weatherstripping into the hatch without cutting it, leaving the seal intact. |
Installation is simple. Coat the hatch's inner lip and the inside of the weatherstripping (where it contacts the lip) with adhesive. Let the adhesive cure, then give the weatherstripping one more go-around with the sticky stuff before you install it. Doing this helps ensure that your seal is tight the first time around. | 
It may take a little work to get it all lined up, but keep at it-you'll have a seal that will last for years to come. | 
With the project complete and the glue cured, the hatch now sits watertight. See you again in 10 years! |