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Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:02 pm

I just cannot figure out what is going on here. I have these safaris and they don't look like they fit. I believe they are Izzy's (came with the bus when i bought it - but not installed). I first tried what i believe are izzy's seals, but i had gaps all over where the safari missed the seals - especially in the corners (not helped by the fact the the formed corners on the seals collapse in on themselves. So then I went and ordered a roll of generic seal from McMasterCarr - this is the exact seal someone else had mentioned they used in the "safari discussion thread" (this is the seal in the photos below). I still have gaps. Is it me or does it just look like the window isn't the right size? I don't know what is going on. Pulled tight with the McMasterCarr seal, it just about touches the inner edge of the seal... Opposite corners of the window are barely touching the seal... i don't think any amount of adjusting is going to fix that... HELP! PLEASE! I've been fussing with these stupid things, and I'm ready to toss them!

Photos:
Seals: Both the formed corner seal (Izzy's?) and the roll seal...

Close up of the bad corners...

New seal from McMasterCarr...

Safari Window Size:
Measurement across the bottom of the pass side window...

Measurement across the top...

Here is how it looks on the bus... All shots are of the drivers side window... I cut 4 pieces of the seal about 8 inches long and fit them in each corner, so that i could fit the window in its proper place and mark the screw locations for the hinge...

Top outer corner...

Top inner corner...

Bottom outer corner...

Bottom inner corner...

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:09 pm

Usually you would use the oblong holes in the hinge to adjust the window side to side, but that fit looks really bad. From the pictures it doesn't look like you have that option.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:26 am

safaris are a huge pain in the ass. they leak they take forever to install but they look so damn good. mine took me about 4 hours each to install. i was having the same problem. mine came from wolfgang, if you start with the end screw only on each side of the hinge and make sure the holes are a little oversized, you can just move it around until all 4 corners compress evenly. you just have to play around with it. i'm sure there are some good instructions on here somewhere.

Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:11 am

Someone on here did post some good safari install instructions on here a month or so ago... I'm following that, and i also have a set of instructions from wolfgang...

Somehow i just can't believe the size of the gap around the edge. I can actually pull the window past the seal. I think I need some major oversize seal for these to work (I'm browsing all of the seals from McMasterCarr.com)... i don't know... I know i could make it seal by welding a new lip around the window frame to bring the seal in a 1/4" all the way around, but that is a hack I shouldn't need to do, and a big PITA! Maybe if i put some of that metal edging that goes under stationary glass seals, under the safari seal?

All front windows are supposed to be the same size right? Man oh man, why can't these work the same as beetle rear pop-outs? (Big seal on the edge of the glass - and they never leak!)

Anyone have a measurement of the size of the safaris, or a measurement of the bus' window opening?

Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:50 am

http://bhayne.googlepages.com/safariinstallationinstructions

Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:03 am

Yes... those are the instructions i was referring to... I have them printed out, along with the wolfgang instructions (they were kind enough to send me)...

Well, I ordered another roll of seal with a little wider bulb... going to give that a shot... if it still doesn't work, I'll probably be looking for a set a fixed windows :cry: