Is it possible to change the angle of the windows?

[stevieg8571]

Hi all,

I've just had a replacemant hood fitted (thanks Paul. P) and it appears that the trimmer doesn't know how to fit/adjust an elan hood properly, despite saying to the contrary.

The drivers door glass now rises just outside the seals (amongst other problems) and appears to need to be angled in towards the car slightly to fit the hood correctly.
Is it possible to change the angle of the glass/motor, or do I need to somehow move the hood to the right slightly?

All help appreciated, Steve

PS, Any other Elan owners near Preston at the moment?

[Doug]

there are pads that help with this angle of the glass -- you'd have to remove the entire c\door card to get to them and adjust them. I'd try to adjust the hood if able and certainly if it used to work fine with the old hood, then you can't say the window is to blame for the new hood not fitting, if you know what I mean = don't create another problem if you don't have to . . .

[Ekapol]

I have spent quite some time looking at the seals. Seems not to be able to stop myself from scratching my head when I look at them.

I think -- they were designed so that you have to lower the windows everytime you raise/lower the hood, or that you have to do that everytime after they designed them.

This also happen when we open and close the door when the window is at the top position. If you just open the door and close them, the top edge of the window will catch the seal on the outside. Then I have to lower the window and raise it again so the windows will go up, catch the seals in the middle, and properly seal them.

[stevieg8571]

I agree Ekapol, it doesn't seem to be the best system.

Ideally you'd be able to close the windows once the doors are shut, but this is a bit of a problem if you're not actually in the car!! Maybe remote controlled windows is the way ahead???

My car's going back to the garage Thurs morning as when I asked him how much adjustment they did his reply was 'there's very little you can do' so I'm going to print him the notes off her and see what he can do.

I'll be attempting to angle the door glass further in towards the car myself next week, just not looking forward to removing that door card again!!
Is there a picture anywhere of the pads that Doug mentioned that'll help me tilt it in more?

Thanks again for all the help guys,

Steve

[Ekapol]

Hi Steve,

Like what Doug pointed out. Did it work fine before? or after fitting the hood?

but this is a bit of a problem if you're not actually in the car!!

Remote window is a good idea. I'm already very happy my manual-electric windows work. If I really want to -- I would push the mirror on the top as I shut the door, not very graceful and probably not very good for the alignment in the long run but that's what I have to live with for now If it looks like it's going to rain, I'd just reach for the shower cap

[Gordon]

This whole thread really worries me, as I'm about to have my hood recovered... (with a genuine trim-tech hood - havent found anyone in the midlands to fit it yet though - open to offers!!)

Surely, if the window fits correctly to the A-Post seal (up the side of the windscreen), it's adjusted right? - the angle the glass leans in at is adjustable inside the door, but if you tilt it further in, it'll just press harder on the A-Post seal, and make no difference? (other than wearing out the A-Post seal...)

At the moment, my hood and seals are a good fit, allbeit worn... I need to strip my old hood and seals off the hood frame - Am I going to end up with nothing fitting right afterwards?...

My frame is quite rusty, so it needs stripping back, treating and painting, but it's otherwise in good order, and fits well... I cant find much info in the manuals about how to set the hood up for alignment, so I'm worried now that I'm heading for a mess...

I guess I'm back to looking for someone who knows what they're doing, to fit my new canvas & seals to my hood frame - birmingham or tamworth area - any offers?!

[paza1]

Try searching this Forum for Pete Randall (ex Trim Tech employee). I'm sure there is a thread stating he may be able to offer a service. He MAY be interested
Mark

[Gordon]

I've been trying to track Peter down ever since I picked up my Hood Kit.
As I only live in Tamworth, I thought I might be able to talk him into fitting it for me, but Trim Tech said they could no longer put me in touch with him...

I'm very cautious about letting any "Hoods'r'us" outfit do the job...

I hear a rumour that Peter's gone to work for Jag?, but the official line is that he's retired...

Anyone got any contact details for him - I've searched the fourums here, and found no evidence... I'd like to offer him the ca$h job, after all, he can only say no... he has to be the best man for the job!!

[chris.t]

The owners manual does say that the windows should not be fully up when putting the roof up

[jimbob]

Steve, you are certainly not alone with this problem

Ive tryed in vein to get both door glasses to press fully against roof seals especially at the rear

On the assumption everything lined up fine before your new hood was fitted, I'd be looking at the hood frame - a very complex delicate bit of kit, I'd strongly recommend leaving hood frame adjustments to a Lotus professional or at least someone who has done plenty of elan hoods.

Will be money well spent

[Monty]

I believe u can pack out the upper seals as when i put a new hood on Pinky one and replaced the seals there was long plastic spacer.

[a5gcd]

Steve/Jimbob

It is possible to alter the angle of the glass, look in the Service Manual section BK3 page 8 and 9.

I have also recently found out that you can adjust the top and rear seals. As Monty says the top seals can be adjusted by adding or subtracting the packing strips. The rear seals are attached to the frame by 2 screws, there are small slots in the seal carrier so that the seals can be slid in or out to adjust the pressure against the window glass. The back of the seal needs to be pulled forward to get at the screw heads.

Geoff

[mikeydude]

Yes I had to pack out the top seals on mine even after adjusting both class front and back height and angle. as well as adjusting the rear most window seal. but I found they still did not fit right at the top...maybe an age thing...so I stuffed bits of foam under the seal to pack it out! it worked and got rid of the last bit that had a gap between the seal and the glass!

I think the entire design is poor! if you look at any american car from the 50's they have straight up glass side windows with no angle and they make sure the hood material goes over the window so the water just drips past the windo onto the floor!. not into the car and onto your wrist....on most good hood designs the seals don't have to really ...well seal! at all other than to stop air noise, the hood materail does the rest! But the crazy Elan design has a window to roof seal right above your head on an angle with the hood material effectively too short to cover the class to seal join.

Just as a matter of interst, if you close the door using the glass window rather than the door, it bends the glass under the seal!!!