A Pillar seals, Rubber alternative found!.

[chrisP]

My friend has a 2003 Astra convertible, I will have a word. I have some Calibra door seals at home but they are for the entire top half of the door from A-pillar to B-pillar.
I will have a look at the cross section at the weekend, but I don't think they are a match.

[Jamie N]

Chris, I have looked at the Astra seals and they are definitely not these mate.

I have been doing the falling pillar on the nearside over the weekend and it truly is a bit of a mission, there is a different sized gap between the hood and the glass on each side so in order to get the lip working properly I had to make a different design to the retaining bracket and some modding to the seal as well, getting close to finished now though so I will get some pics when its done, hopefully with some sunlight on them, its been miserable as hell on Scotland's east coast the past few days!.

I have put a pair of A pillar seals with the fold over lip on feebay if anyone is interested, I was going to post them here but 1, I don't know what would be a fair price and 2 it gives everyone a fair chance instead of just the first person to see them posted.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-A- ... 1e89879e08

Jamie.

[novacaine]

Your going to get a lot of bids

I'd still like to try and get strips of this seal made, it would be perfect for a hardtop

[Jamie N]

I have managed to complete the hood seals Folks, doing it with the "lipped" seals I can honestly say is an absolute nightmare, constructing the 6 of those was just incredibly time consuming, by far the hardest part is the curve on the falling pillar seal followed by the front section that sits on top of the A pillar, then there is the critical lining them up precisely with the glass and in relation to each other, unless you have bags of time and love a challenge I would not recommend the job to anyone, I think the lipped seals are just too difficult for the hood, in spite of the fact that the sealing aspect when done is outstanding it really is just too much.

I think there will be a better alternative for the hood seals out there somewhere so I will keep a look out for that, im on a mission now to find something that will be easy enough to work and be a superior alternative to the rotten sponges .

As for the A pillar seals they are a breeze to fit, work exceptionally well and look fantastic, so they are still worth pursuing, I was surprised how much they made but I think they are well worth that considering the price of spongebobs , I have another 2 pairs of them if anyone is interested plus I also have a couple of pairs of the first ones I posted on this thread, they are excellent seals as well but don't have the folding lip, although there is a lip on them , surely worth 60 quid a pair .

Also if anyone is going to Bo'ness next week and is interested in them I can pop along, only 15 minutes from me, and 1 minute to fit .

I will get some pics of the hood tomorrow if the suns out 'cos I know some of you will be desperate to see the mission job!.

Jamie.

[novacaine]

I'm still interested in the lipped a pillar seal.

I'd still like to try and find someone to make strips of that lipped seal, would be nice to fit to the hard top I'm making

[Jamie N]

I'm still interested in the lipped a pillar seal.

I'd still like to try and find someone to make strips of that lipped seal, would be nice to fit to the hard top I'm making

I don't think the lipped seal would be the one for the hardtop mate as It just doesn't do sharpish curves at all, I have tried all manner of techniques to curve it and nothing works, it will only do gentle curves ,if you try bending it round the corner of the side glass it just distorts and goes way out of shape, I have seen something in one of the yards that might be useful to you, I will check it out again next couple of days and let you know.

[novacaine]

I don't think the lipped seal would be the one for the hardtop mate as It just doesn't do sharpish curves at all, I have tried all manner of techniques to curve it and nothing works, it will only do gentle curves ,if you try bending it round the corner of the side glass it just distorts and goes way out of shape, I have seen something in one of the yards that might be useful to you, I will check it out again next couple of days and let you know.

I had an idea "mold" my own corner for the pillar seal and join 2 lengths of that seal to it. But if you think you've seen something better that would be great

[Jamie N]

Some pics of the hood seals, the glass tucks underneath all of these into the lip, it seems like the hood has contracted over the years as there is more seal showing on the left side at the top but it does not look like I can adjust the hood to cover more of the seal unless anyone knows a way?.

Be under no illusion though, if anyone is determined to take this job on get some stress relief pills first as you are going to need them .









This is a neat wee feature ive incorporated into the base of the falling pillar seal,the door goes under it
as it shuts and it leads water away over the door rather than into it, it also covers the shabby looking
sponge rubbish that always makes that area look a mess.


Looking down onto the top hood seal showing the glass tucked right under the lip.


The remarkably suave looking A pillar rubber goodness




Once I find a simpler way to do the curve I could certainly make up a few sets of these if anyone
is interested.
Jamie.

[Steve A]

Nice job

[Lotus54]

I have new A pillar seals, but the rest are totally shot.

Did you ever figure out what car those seals come from?

I'm Definately interested.
Mark
( States)

[lotusgirlmarie]

Very interested as well. Brilliant job!!!

[ovi]

I've had a look at some cars in the car park and its not an SLK (mk 2), BMW M3 convertible (E46), BMW Z4, Audi TT convertible (mk 2), or a Renault Megane convertible (Mk 1) as far as I can see....... And I want a set of these seals to play with

Chris

The seals off a MGF or TF look almost the same!

[Jamie N]

[/quote]The seals off a MGF or TF look almost the same![/quote]

MGF seals are no use, the local yard has 3 and I got a set to experiment with but they are useless for the Elan, also they have a different type of rubber compound, a lot harder and not easy to mold, they don't have the fold over lip either.

[dermotbell]

Hi,
I'd be really interested to have a look. I normally live in middle east but I'm at parents in Fife for another day (go back Wednesday), are you around Tuesday night or day?
I have just bought a new hood and need some seals. I have set of deck seals I purchased ages ago but need the rest.

My parents are in Leslie so are central to most of Fife.

Cheers

[Peter B]

Has anybody tried these people for hood seals etc. I have been given their details by a gent I know in the trade.
Address :- Woolies,(I & C Woolstenholmes Ltd) Whitley Way,Northfields Ind Est,Market Deeping,Pereborough,PE6 8AR.Tel 01778 347347. Or www.woolies-trim.co.uk. They advertise themselves as "Trim and Upholstery for vintage and classic motor enthusiasts worldwide. Their booklet is very comprehensive .

[dermotbell]

Has anybody tried these people for hood seals etc. I have been given their details by a gent I know in the trade.
Address :- Woolies,(I & C Woolstenholmes Ltd) Whitley Way,Northfields Ind Est,Market Deeping,Pereborough,PE6 8AR.Tel 01778 347347. Or http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk. They advertise themselves as "Trim and Upholstery for vintage and classic motor enthusiasts worldwide. Their booklet is very comprehensive .

I used them for interior trim for an Elite I once had, they were very good for this but I'd be surprised if they had hood seals. From what I remember it was all interior stuff. Very good company though.

[Scott J]

Jamie, I 'll be at Boness this wednesday. Very interested in looking at your seals. I think Rambo and Alan Head also coming so 4 x M100s' Check the Boness thread.

Cheers, Scott

[Jamie N]

The Wife has been using the Elan this afternoon in some fairly hefty rain over Central Scotland and has reported back submarine status has been granted no drips inside the car at all, absolutely bone dry!, she is chuffed to bits with her first Lotus!, although she did say she got a wave from an Elise and a dirty look from a woman in an MX5.

Dermot, sent you a PM bud.

Jamie.

[Jamie N]

Jamie, I 'll be at Boness this wednesday. Very interested in looking at your seals. I think Rambo and Alan Head also coming so 4 x M100s' Check the Boness thread.

Cheers, Scott

Should manage along Scott, work permitting.

[chrisP]

It does look very similar to seals from a Calibra in cross section... I think a trip to Car Giant or similar to look at lots of cars might be in order!?