bonnet rubbers seal replacement

28 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 3 Nov 2009, 10:54 am

#744954

I am getting to the end of my patience with these rubber mouldings. not only have i lifted the new paintwork on the fenders thanks to over sticky masking tape, but i can't get the rubbers to sit inside the channels.
Is there a trick to this like like using a silicone spray or something ?

Anyone out there struggled with this and won ?

All advice welcome

Cheers,

Scott

1970 - 1500 single port typ 1
Yarraville

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Nov 2009, 11:12 am

#744962

scotlander wrote:I am getting to the end of my patience with these rubber mouldings. not only have i lifted the new paintwork on the fenders thanks to over sticky masking tape, but i can't get the rubbers to sit inside the channels.
Is there a trick to this like like using a silicone spray or something ?

Anyone out there struggled with this and won ?

All advice welcome

Cheers,

Scott

Hi Scott
More info needed...
are We talking about door rubbers??

the bonnet rubber....
Well I took all the channels OFF mine when it was getting ready for painting.. so I don't have those channels...

and I used clip on Mexican rubbers - that clip onto the bonnet
and i glued a piece of EVA foam rubber across the top..

You can use the mexican rubbers on the engine lid too..
which I have done... clips onto the lid lip...

I bought the Mexican rubber from Vintage Vee Dub in Sydney...

otherwise soapy water is usually used with rubber...

there was the story of the fellow who used Armorall on His window rubbers... He slammed the door and the two rear windows popped out....

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Yogie Moderator Custom Title Time!

1,608 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 3 Nov 2009, 8:06 pm

#745043

Really soapy water should do it but make sure the channels are clean as well.

Yogie

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Nov 2009, 8:11 pm

#745045

Best video You can see, is at a VW factory back in the 50s and VW workers putting together beetles...
they had no trouble doing anything....
HOW did they do it ???? lol

[imagine putting in two small rear windows...!!]

In My opinion they are the hardest car to work on.... lol

assembling doors... YIKES

and putting windows in.... rear window... YIKES

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Nov 2009, 8:14 pm

#745047

Oh I forgot to mention....

the more you do the better you get at it.... lol

I used to find the engine sealing rubber almost impossible to fit

Now I have little tricks that really make it easy....l lol

one other thing, its much easier to fit the early type engine sealing rubber than the later ones...
[I have the later one at the moment... the last one didn't last long either..]

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

scotlander Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 4 Nov 2009, 8:48 am

#745153

Thanks lee, I bought new mexican rubbers for the complete car, the first one i tried was the bonnet, i will give it another go with some soapy water.

I guess that you start at the top under the front window and then work your way down ?

I will post some images soon.

Cheers,

Scotlander

1970 - 1500 single port typ 1
Yarraville

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 4 Nov 2009, 6:59 pm

#745276

I wrote a blog about this when I did mine.

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=51000&page=1#pid476160

EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

scotlander Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 5 Nov 2009, 7:13 am

#745337

brilliant,

I had seen this post a while ago but couldn't remember whether it was here or the luft site. I will attack the car at the weekend with some soapy water and a spare pair of hands.

Cheers,

Scott

1970 - 1500 single port typ 1
Yarraville

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 5 Nov 2009, 8:26 am

#745347

scotlander wrote:I am getting to the end of my patience with these rubber mouldings. not only have i lifted the new paintwork on the fenders thanks to over sticky masking tape, but i can't get the rubbers to sit inside the channels.
Is there a trick to this like like using a silicone spray or something ?

Anyone out there struggled with this and won ?

All advice welcome

Cheers,

Scott

Hi Scott,

Having fitted many bonnet seals over the last 50 or so years I can relate to your frustration. Firstly, make sure that the steel retaining strip is not crushed or too close too the body. Lift strip slightly at windscreen end so that rubber fits under, then press strip firmly down onto rubber to hold in place. Rub Glycerine (will not hurt paint, washes off later) onto rubber seal, then - starting from clamped end - stretch the rubber, which makes it thinner, and push under the retaining strip with your thumb. Do a small section at a time and don't cut the excess rubber until it has 'shrunk' back to normal length - could take a day or two. Hope this is clear enough, and good luck!

Cheers, Greg

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

scotlander Casual Dubber

28 posts · joined Oct 2009 · 9 Nov 2009, 5:37 am

#746234

Thanks Greg, All done, the soapy water and stretching seemed to make it easier, although i was still scraping out old glue or rubber as i went. all up it took about 1 1/2 hours to do the bonnet, I will tackle the engine cover when the sun goes away-its just too bloody hot !

1970 - 1500 single port typ 1
Yarraville

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Nov 2009, 3:13 pm

#746298

scotlander wrote:Thanks lee, I bought new mexican rubbers for the complete car, the first one i tried was the bonnet, i will give it another go with some soapy water.

I guess that you start at the top under the front window and then work your way down ?

I will post some images soon.

Cheers,

Scotlander

THE Mexican rubbers just push on to the lip on the bonnet and the engine lid...
You don't use or need the channels on the body....

these are what was used on the 2000+> mexican beetles..

I bought mine from vintage vee dub

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---