How To: Close the Gap on Triangle Window Seal Options

[bbrock]

When I was reassembling my bare metal restoration, I probably spent close to 80 hours installing and adjusting body seals and gaskets. I wanted to get the car as air tight as possible to control cabin noise and leaks. I'm happy to say that my car seals tight enough to feel that pressure bubble when you close a door with top on and windows up like you get with a new modern car.

However, my one trouble spot was the top of the side triangle window. The 914Rubber main front targa seal is nice, but the rubber on mine was just a little too stiff to let the triangle frame to bed in for a proper seal. No amount of adjustment to move the frame forward helped. I even tried wrapping a ratchet strap around the top of the triangle window and windshield frame to pull the frame into the rubber and left it for two weeks to see if it would take a set. It didn't. There was this gap that let water trip in and created significant wind noise in an otherwise suprisingly quiet top on, windows up, cabin.



Here is how I fixed it.

1. Clean the main targa seal, triangle window end cap, and top edge of the triangle window thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol.

2. Smear the triangle window end cap and a few inches of the top edge of the window with a generous, but smooth coat of petroleum jelly. This will act as a release agent for the silicone caulk you are about to apply.



3. Apply a thick bead of black silicone on the targa seal in the area where the gap needs to be filled. Don't worry about getting it smooth at this point. Don't overdo it or you will have more mess to clean up in the next step.



4. Close the door tight and use a lint free cloth soaked with isopropyl alcohol to clean up any silicone that oozes out on the inside. Be thorough with the clean up on this side.

5. Use your finger on the outside to force the silicone into the gap and smooth it out. I had to squirt in a bit more silicone to make sure it was completely filled.



6. When you are satisfied the gap is completely filled with silicone and it looks nice and smooth, carefully go over inside and out with a clean alcohol soaked cloth to tidy up any stray silicone. Much easier at this stage than after silicone has cured. Careful not wipe the petroleum jelly off the end cap though.

7. Leave the car alone for at least 12 hours to let the silicone cure. After the silicone has cured, open the door and clean off the petroleum jelly with alcohol.



You should have a perfect seal and nearly invisible repair. This picture was taken with a flash to better show the cured silicone.



And here is without flash which is more representative of how it looks in natural light.



The small amount of jagged slag is only noticeable if you are looking for it, and disappears when the door is closed, but I'll let the silicone cure a few more days and try to smooth it with some fine sandpaper.



Happy drip and whistle free motoring! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif)

[Mikey914]

SO, to comment on the production of these seals. 1st rubber will shrink over time and we are always playing guess the coefficient. It just so happens that this particular part didn't shrink as much as others did. We replicated the sample that I was able to obtain off my 75, unaware there were variations.
As to the pocket in the bottom of the channel we did mold it most of the way and it can be cut open, but we made it this way for 2 reasons.

1- the limitation of the tool we made.

2- no part fits into the "drain" created. It would allow any water to drain into the door.

Giver #1 we saw no reason to replicate that feature exactly when the end user can choose this option.

These are a difficult piece to install to begin with, this makes them a little more so.

The net result was yes they can be fitted to work properly, but will require additional pressure to do so. It makes the job easier if they are trimmed slightly.

These are the 2nd generation of these parts we have made.

We will be retooling on these to make them easier to install. We must complete our interior series 1st. In order, the pillars, the new dash top, the lower dash.

I will put these next on the list. As you know we typically don't raise prices on the parts as we gain efficiencies, maybe a bad business decision, but I think we owe it to our customers so pay back their support to allow us to make the things we do.