Waterproofing for hood - Fabsil?

[lotusflasherman]

Recently fitted a blue S2 hood that I bought from Douglas Valley Breakers in 2008 (I know.. I don't rush things ) After yesterday's torrential rain find I have wet seats and centre console. I haven't finished tweaking the screen and door window fitting on the passenger side so I expected a bit of water might get in but I didn't expect it to come through the material - looks like condensation on the underside of the hood and the inside of car is wet all over.

I had experienced something similar with a tent and solved that by reproofing with Fabsil and I happen to have an unopened 5 litre can of Fabsil in my shed and was wondering how that would work.
Have found a vid on Youtube...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5NniPlCh38 .. that suggests it should work..

Has anybody used Fabsil and how does it perform?

[Saltire]

Hi Phil, not used Fabsil on the Elan yet, as I haven't needed to. However, I have used it in the past on a Boxster RS60, an Alfa Spider, a Chimaera and an Elise. Excellent in all cases. Would thoroughly recommend it. Note that it won't help if the hood is discoloured or marked; in that case you may find one of the Renovo hood car products is a better bet.

Note to self: must spray my Elan's hood before winter comes.

Hope that helps.

[GeoffSmith]

Being a tight-wad, I used Renovo to re-colour and several coats of Fabsil to waterproof. Worked a treat and I've still got 4l left. Although surfboardfiller reckons there is an internal waterproof membrane, the Fabsil makes the rain bead and is a lot easier to knock off before putting the hood back.

[lotusflasherman]

Hi Phil, not used Fabsil on the Elan yet, as I haven't needed to. However, I have used it in the past on a Boxster Rs60, an Alfa Spider and and Elise. Excellent in all cases. Would thoroughly recommend it. Note that it won't help if the hood is discoloured or marked; I that case you may find one of the Renovo hood car products is a better bet.

Note to self: must spray my Elan's hood before winter comes.

Hope that helps.

That's for info Jonathan - I'll try it then. Mine is a nice even mid-blue that is similar tone to Pacific Blue, not faded, just leaks. Was talking to 'ShaunM' at the Norfolk meet last Monday and he showed my his hood. His blue had faded with some light patches so he used a colour restore product and it ended up navy blue and darker than he wanted. His is Norfolk Mustard so tone of blue not critical and it looks good but that dark wouldn't suit Pacific Blue.

By the way - have you finished the kitchen now? Made you a template for the header panel a while back and came across it this morning so only just posted it. You shouldn't have told me it wasn't urgent ...

& where on the Essex / Suffolk Borders will you be? There's a meet at The Queen Vic pub at Great Dunmow, Essex usually on the 1st Wednesday in the month.

[lotusflasherman]

Being a tight-wad, I used Renovo to re-colour and several coats of Fabsil to waterproof. Worked a treat and I've still got 4l left. Although surfboardfiller reckons there is an internal waterproof membrane, the Fabsil makes the rain bead and is a lot easier to knock off before putting the hood back.

Thanks Geoff, I'll Fabsil it with confidence now. I've experienced 3 black SE hoods with no leaks at all, apart from window adjustment/seal issues, but this blue S2 hood has a grey interior lining but it certainly isn't waterproof. I've also noticed the grey liner is worn through by the frame at the rear top corners so a bit of a refurb' needed there too before it gets to the blue outer. Meanwhile it will wear the 'raincap' when not in use. (Note to self - clear up the garage to make room for a car!)

[Saltire]

By the way - have you finished the kitchen now? Made you a template for the header panel a while back and came across it this morning so only just posted it. You shouldn't have told me it wasn't urgent ...

& where on the Essex / Suffolk Borders will you be? There's a meet at The Queen Vic pub at Great Dunmow, Essex usually on the 1st Wednesday in the month.

Kitchen going nicely thanks, although suffering from the domestic equivalent of Elan project creep cabinet fitters in this week, work tops the week after then floor - then I get to spend some money on the Lotus

Thanks for the template - funnily enough I thought about it this morning when rattling along with the old bits of hood rail still attached by gaffer tape.

My brother lives in Thaxted, but I don't know your neck of the woods, so have no idea how far that is from Dunmow

[lotusflasherman]

By the way - have you finished the kitchen now? Made you a template for the header panel a while back and came across it this morning so only just posted it. You shouldn't have told me it wasn't urgent ...

& where on the Essex / Suffolk Borders will you be? There's a meet at The Queen Vic pub at Great Dunmow, Essex usually on the 1st Wednesday in the month.

Kitchen going nicely thanks, although suffering from the domestic equivalent of Elan project creep cabinet fitters in this week, work tops the week after then floor - then I get to spend some money on the Lotus

Thanks for the template - funnily enough I thought about it this morning when rattling along with the old bits of hood rail still attached by gaffer tape.

My brother lives in Thaxted, but I don't know your neck of the woods, so have no idea how far that is from Dunmow

Glad my failure to post it promptly hasn't held up your Elan work then, sounds like you've got plenty to do with the kitchen still.

Thaxted is not far at all, it actually pops up on Google maps as "Thaxted, Dunmow, Essex" and shows about 7 miles to Queen Vic - it's 42 miles for me, so apologies for absence due to distance will not be accepted..

[muley]

Fabsil is fine and it works. But, the Autoglym product is a lot better.

I know because I ran out of Autoglym and finished the MX hood with Fabsil and it's beading effect is a lot less..

[lotusflasherman]

Fabsil is fine and it works. But, the Autoglym product is a lot better.

I know because I ran out of Autoglym and finished the MX hood with Fabsil and it's beading effect is a lot less..

Ah, but you've missed the most important point in my original post which is why I'm asking for experience of others ...."I happen to have an unopened 5 litre can of Fabsil in my shed"

On a cost/benefit analysis Fabsil wins hand down

[muley]

IMG_20150727_081649445.jpg

Sorry. To answer your original question..

Yes, but it's not as good as other products.

[lotusflasherman]

IMG_20150727_081649445.jpg

Sorry. To answer your original question..

Yes, but it's not as good as other products.

Damn! On that evidence it looks like the Fabsil stays unopened and I need to spend some money... thanks for the photo ..