Lotus Elan Central

Many years ago, and I do mean 'many', I bought new window seals from Woolies for my 91 SE. window-weatherstrip
That car has been on SORN a few years because I bought a late'93 SE but window seals on that were just as bad, if not worse. The seals from Woolies were not quite deep enough so would need some fiddling about to make them work .... many threads on here about that ... so never got round to fitting them. Various threads about dismantling the doors to get at seals and remove fixing metal strip to glue / screw / bond new seals and re-attach, and re-assemble = major project..

Recently I had the windscreen top seal on the passenger side detach itself at speed so bought some Sikaflex to glue it back so I didn't have to drive with the hood up to keep it in place.

I'd fitted a HUD GPS speedo so was using GPS speedo on my phone to check calibration and phone says top seal blew off at 353 mph .. honest.. Here's proof..
(It's the M25 Holmesdale Tunnel that confuses GPS )

Anyway, I used Sikaflex to re-attach screen top seal using only a small proportion and thought this won't be any good in a few weeks, what else can I use it for... decided to see if i could fit the new window seals using it.
This what I started with ... very hard and cracked... and not sealing at all..
Cut all the rubber off with a 'Stanley Knife' to expose the bare metal strip... (amazing how dirty the glass is just behind that seal)
Used Sikaflex along the non-flocked side of the new seal and then put it in place and retained it with some plastic 'dividers' and wedges to force it to bond to the metal strip in the vertical plane..
(This is the bit you may have to improvise... being an engineer I never throw anything away, much to the annoyance of my wife - "that rubbish is my raw material". Small plastic sheets are dividers from 'organiser boxes' and the wedges are from timber floor panels. Wedges are also very useful to align headlamp pods when refitting.)
Only took 30 minutes but I left it for a while to have a cup of tea and let the Sikaflex cure .... and this is what it looked like afterwards ..

So pleased with the look, I did the driver's side even quicker using the same procedure. Second one is always easier...

Wake up Seal Wrangler... Competition!

This looks great.

Dead easy to do. Time will tell how long it lasts but if it comes unstuck, I'll stick it back.

I'll update this thread with how it performs ... good or bad...

Jim

I hope the window is not glued though

Giniw wrote::clap:
I hope the window is not glued though

No, windows are fine. Sikaflex can be cleaned off with wipes and Wyns Carb Cleaner until it cures, then nothing will shift it.
Was wearing 'forecourt diesel gloves' but Carb Cleaner ate them so I'm an honorary member of the Black Hand gang..
Tried Carb Cleaner, Swarfega , meths, white spirit, petrol ... a razor blade is the only thing that gets it off, with a layer of skin ..

You can have a go on mine at the campsite if you like ?

See if you can break your 30 minute record

Rambo wrote:You can have a go on mine at the campsite if you like ?

See if you can break your 30 minute record

Maybe when we get back from the pub just a few beers to steady the hand

I'm hoping Phil can do the job in between thunderstorms, preferably before he gets pissed

Rambo wrote:You can have a go on mine at the campsite if you like ?

See if you can break your 30 minute record

Sure to - but should have told me Sunday and I'd have shoved in the tools & Sikaflex. Left home for Slough Monday and won't be back till Friday after Combe. Provide all the stuff and I'll do it...

Phill.

Im probably not going to take advantage of your experience as, well... i did mine 2 days after your original post in a different way.

anyway my question is.. did you just "glue in" a new seal on top of the previous one ? or is the sikaflex itself "the seal" now ?

Had a few owners asking how my quick fix is doing.. pretty good, no change from when I did it 5 months ago.

Just an update to say I was just washing my Elan to remove the pigeon sh1t and noticed my 'quick fix window seals' that I did nearly 2 years ago, just before Castle Combe 2018, are still looking like I just did them.

If it's only the weatherstrip you need to replace a tube of black Sikaflex and 2 x 1m length of Woolies Window Weatherstrip (£7 each) is all you'll need, no pulling the door apart nor awkward screws to remove ..

Even if I was pulling the door apart for butterfly replacement etc I'd still do the weatherstrip replacement by this method .. so easy and it's lasting !

Phil, when you cut the old one out I assume you did it from the outside with the window lowered, and is there material between the metal strip and the door that needs to be removed? I have both the original strips and some woolies ones (need to check I have the right ones in the garage) which have been stored for installation for years awaiting a respray of the car which hasn't happened.
Thanks david

Update - October 2022 and still looking good. That Sikaflex is durable stuff!

Hi I know the post is some time ago now what did you do with the top of the door where the sponge usually sits ? Just above the door handle
Thanks