I have a gap in the trunk between the weatther seal and the body panel. Someone put some silicone not sure what this is or if or should I try to fix it. I don't see the same gap on the driver side, only on the passenger but It does not look like anything is broke or damaged.

Full View


Lower side


Gap in upper corner



Weather Stripping pealed back

[This message has been edited by frockfiero (edited 03-29-2023).]

Some potential good news! And some bad news.

From the look of your pictures, I'm guessing you have a GT. What I saw in the last picture looked like the infamous plastic "D Plate" that Pontiac used to stop water from getting into the trunk on the GT.
As long as the trunk seal is around the metal edge and the lip of the seal is over that 'pocket' of the D plate (the thing where you can see that glob of silicone in it), and the D plate isn't cracked, your trunk should be okay.

Another possibility, there are two different trunk seals, you may have one for the Notchback. I have made this mistake. They definitely fit differently. Did you buy that trunk seal or did it come with the car? Is it original?

If the D plate is cracked, you're back to some bad news. They are plastic, and can get brittle over time. Mine are basically splinters (I picked up a few sets from another member on here to replace mine). You can try to repair them, I've had people suggest using things like flexseal spray and what not to seal up the cracks.

No it's not a non Fastback trunk seal, the notchback seal is physically ' longer', there would be an excess, and also the edges are rounded, not 90 degree corners. it's possible the OP's seal is old and shrunk or it's installed wrong. It's hard to explain, but it's like the opposite of a captured o-ring where you push it back into itsself, the trunk weatherstrip may be pulled apart when installing

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 03-29-2023).]

If it's a replacement trunk gasket, it may be on backwards. I purchased a replacement for one of my GTs and I had a gap similar to what your picture shows. I pulled it off and spun it 180 degrees and the gap went away. No guarantee it will work for you but it may be worth a try.

If it doesn't solve your problem, you can cut the weatherstrip in the middle of the long side closest to the engine. That will let you push the weatherstrip corners into the trunk corners. That should prevent water coming in from the sides and back. Also, you may be able to find a weatherstrip with the same profile that you can piece into the cut section and glue the section together with gasket cement / glue.

[This message has been edited by Mike in Sydney (edited 03-30-2023).]

The area where the glob of RTV is located helps to channel water to the back edge where it drains down behind the tail lights and rear fascia. My original seal had a glob of sealant on each corner where the seal fits over the sheet metal flange. Normally, the lip of the seal overlaps that gap as yours does on the left side. I didn't glue my replacement NOS gasket in place and sometimes when working in the engine bay, it will pull back from the corners as yours has on the right side. I just tuck it back into the corners before closing the deck lid.

I deliberately didn't glue it so that I could slip the gasket off its front body flange when I'm up in the trunk doing tune-ups etc. I rest my knees against where the gasket would be. That's how I damaged my original gasket which had spots of adhesive across its length.

I find that being able to pull the gasket back as you have, allows me to remove leaves, maple seeds, pine needles, and such from that area.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 03-30-2023).]

quote Originally posted by Mike in Sydney: If it's a replacement trunk gasket, it may be on backwards. I purchased a replacement for one of my GTs and I had a gap similar to what your picture shows. I pulled it off and spun it 180 degrees and the gap went away. No guarantee it will work for you but it may be worth a try.

This. I also bought a replacement gasket. I found that it was not symmetrical front to back. The front is ~3/8" wider.

Off topic, what is that plate on top of your strut towers?