<VV> VV 4 Door Seals (Lates)

[Alan and Clare Wesson]

This is interesting - the ones on my car look horrible and cracked and 
brittle, and have little chunks missing in places, but they don't leak or 
whistle at all.

I was intending to buy new ones, but perhaps I am better sticking with these 
ones?

Cheers

Alan

www.xtraspecialsevens.co.uk
Lotus 7 S2 and S3 spares and restoration specialists


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <jncmiller@mchsi.com>
To: <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 3:30 AM
Subject: <VV> VV 4 Door Seals (Lates)


>   It was my experience that the late model weatherstrip (upper window) 
> seals
> for the late model 4 door hardtop are not designed properly. I purchased 
> two
> "new" strips from two different vendors on opposite coasts and both leaked
> worse than the cracked and hardened  ones I removed from my car. I then
> contacted the manfacturer of these seals (this company supplied both 
> vendors)
> and they sent me a third weatherstrip which was better but still 
> incorrect.
>   I "fixed" the problem (frustrated by suppliers) by appling a chemical to
> soften and expand the seal which solved the problem to some extent. It 
> appears
> they made a flimsy double groove continuously down the strip which, on the
> original, was only grooved about 4 inches in the middle of the front and 
> rear
> doors. The original had a solid flap (not a double groove) about 3/16" on 
> the
> outside glass with a groove behind it for the window to drop into.
>  Also the original seal extended down nearly 3/16" more than the
> replacements. I believe this was to hold the larger glass area and 
> resulting
> air pressure against the seal of a four door. Coupes probably dont need 
> this
> type construction as the same seal works fine on those. I am not sure but
> perhaps they just lengthened the coupe seal (modified) to fit the 4 door. 
> I
> sent a cross section of my original to the manufacturer but havent heard 
> if
> they changed this or not
>   I see Clarks was trying to find a NOS 4 door seal  in the catalog
> supplemnts but am not sure if they succeeded.   And yes the windows did 
> not
> need to be adjusted up and the doors did not sag ! It was just a non 
> tested,
> non engineered part that was being sold. They did not whistle like Slim
> Whitman from the factory !
>   If anyone has an update on this I would appreciate hearing back.
>
>                                        John Miller
>                                        Iowa
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