A Pillar seal alternatives? *FOUND*!!!!!!.

[Jamie N]

Has anyone tried fitting another type of convertibles seals to the Elan?,surely there must be something thats usable and in better/cheaper supply.

Currently ive cut out whats left of the foam on mine and have offered up the seal from a Honda del sol crx,other than the part that meets the hood, it fits in the groove nicely and the best part is the finish on the outer that runs alongside the screen is so much better than the originals.

If i can get the top part trimmed and fitting/sealing properly then im gonna go the whole way and sikaflex them on,in the meantime i will have a look round some breakers yards and see if there is anything that may be even better.

Anyone been down this route?.

[Sy V]

No, I think you're the 'Arnie Saccnuson' for this one.

[Jamie N]

No, I think you're the 'Arnie Saccnuson' for this one.

Well someones gotta be,il keep you posted how the lone adventurer fares.

[GeoffSmith]

If it works, you might not be alone for long!

[Jamie N]

Cant see anything on that link Geoff .

[GeoffSmith]

Cant see anything ...

Have you tried listening?

[Elanlover]

Anyone look into the KIA Elan's seals, etc.????

[carryondentist]

oh yes...

http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/v ... php?t=7559

[Jamie N]

These are much better looking than the originals,and im sure they will last the lifetime of the car ,they have been on a vehicle since the early nineties and still look as fresh as the day they were made .

I trawled through a lot of cars before i found these.They need a bit of trimming at the top and bottom but the seal itself fits the channel so perfectly its as if they were made for the Elan .

Ive done the water test and its 100% waterproof ,mine are both now fitted,the door shuts perfectly and there are no issues that i can see.Ive used sikaflex to mold the top part,just need to smooth it and make it look tidy now.

With the door and roof closed it looks so much tidier an neat,im not sure what type of rubber it is but it is hollow,unlike the original which is foam, and traps moisture(rotting the screws underneath ).

Here are the pics(hopefully)


[/img]
Original above.
[img][img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealsbelow.jpg[/img]
The underside which fits in the channel.
[/img]IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealfittingin.jpg[/IMG]
Fitting in.
[img][img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealfittedfront.jpg[/img]
Fitted.
[/img]
Door closed and sealing,just to tidy the sikaflex at the top.
[img][img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealbelowfitted.jpg[/img]
Underside.
[/img]
Looks like a chrome strip but its just the sun hitting the rubber.
[img][img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealremovedchannel.jpg[/img]
Make the channel clean and free of old nasty foam.
[/img]

Never in a million years would i dream of parting with hundreds of pounds for two scabby bits of foam.

[img]IMG]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/dromong/sealfittingin.jpg[/img][/img]

[GeoffSmith]

Never in a million years would i dream of parting with hundreds of pounds for two scabby bits of foam.

Tight git! Gary would be proud.

So, where do people get them from?

[johnny]

Never in a million years would i dream of parting with hundreds of pounds for two scabby bits of foam.

Tight git! Gary would be proud.

So, where do people get them from?

Good job DROMONG.

As Geoff says, Where? my near N/S needs doing. Badly.

[Enright]

Good skills sir!

I think your post might need editing again though because the coding for one or two of the pics looks to be slightly wrong and they haven't displayed.

Do you have a pic of the bottom of the seal where it disappears down by the mirror? I'd like to see how you finished it off, and also how the top looked after being tidied up a bit.

This will almost certainly have to be done.

[GeoffSmith]

Here's a missing one:

[theelanman]

any chance of a bit of a write up to go with the pics....

Im a bit of an expert with the birmingham screwdriver but thats about it... ...I can see one in the pic that geoff's posted....

did you tack the carriers off the a post with the original seals???
did you put them back?.....or how did you get the seal off leaving the carrier in place and then how did you fix the new seal.....
sorry I'm a bit stupid at this end....
cheers
Gareth

ps very good find by the way.....

[Sy V]

Well, I can't see any of the pictures (including Geoff's).

[Enright]

I agree - they've all gone now.
But if they subsequently re-appear then perhaps you'd be good enough to delete this post.

[Russc]

Strange becuase i can still see them all.

[DeeAitch]

DROMONG, If it is as good as you say I vote you go straight to God status
Your first post suggests the seal is from a Honda CRX - is that the case? Part numbers would be good

[theelanman]

I agree - they've all gone now.
But if they subsequently re-appear then perhaps you'd be good enough to delete this post.

erm.....neil I hope you just mean your posting.......

the pics are still there for me

cheers
G

[Jamie N]

DROMONG, If it is as good as you say I vote you go straight to God status

Dave that sounds like a very good idea,considering how im looking into lots of alternatives for the Elan .

Make me a God and i'l spill the beans.

Enright,il get pics of how the base is finished,its good!.