TheSamba.com :: View topic - Grelland's Ghia project II

Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:25 pm

Hi All.

I am about to assemble my Ghia coupe, and I trial mounted the front hood seal today.

As you can see from this shot, the seal does not go all the way around the opening. Is this correct?

If so is the length of the seal correct?

One more question:

From the remainings of the original seal, it seems there were cut-outs in the seal where the drainage holes are: is this correct?

I assume there is a tube or something that will go into the holes.

One last question:
IS there a drainage hole in the bottom of the spare wheel well?

Thanks in advance

Roy

Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:42 pm

Your seal seems too short to me. I saw your other post, is it possible the you have the 2 seals reverse?

Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:18 pm

Seal is too short, for sure. There should be excess length
that needs cut off.
Seal is to be notched in the front corners above the drain holes.
A small rubber elbow gets installed in the drains and
water exits through a hole in the side bulkhead of the trunk.

Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:40 pm

I recently purchased a German seal from KGPR and it fit all the way around with notches for the drain holes. It was one continuous piece, I have a 60 Ghia.
Where did you buy this seal ?

Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:26 pm

Any chance a heat gun would stretch that seal or would that ruin the fit?
Nevermind I just noticed the top photo. That is quite a bit off.

Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:37 pm

72Ghia wrote: Any chance a heat gun would stretch that seal or would that ruin the fit?

I really doubt heat would do the trick.

IIRC there was a "run" of seals that were
simply manufactured too short some time ago.
I know for sure that I got at least one like that previously.
The vendor was buying them back and making
replacements available that fit. I think I remember
which vendor that was in question, but not 100% sure
so I'll have to keep my mouth shut for now. =;

Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:29 am

thanks, this is indeed the longest seals of the two I have, but the one for the engine lid is too long, so I may try to extend the front one

Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:53 am

That is strange. Have you tried it in the engine compartment to see how it fits there? Should only cover the lower half of that area. As mentioned, the hood seal should be too long, and you get to trim it. Same goes for most of the side window seals.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:16 am

The hood seal is a softer totally different type of material than a deck lid seal... I don't think you'd have much luck "swapping" them around.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:21 am

keifernet wrote: The hood seal is a softer totally different type of material than a deck lid seal... I don't think you'd have much luck "swapping" them around.

They are very different in both shape, length, and thickness.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:57 am

Kind of along these lines, I have used this stuff to install the rubber to the car. It works quite well.

http://www.drillspot.com/products/453667/3M_8008_Super_Weatherstrip_Adhesive

People refer to it as gorilla snot (the yellow version at least). If you use it, you will see why. It works very well bonding the seals to the car though.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:59 am

Icy wrote: keifernet wrote: The hood seal is a softer totally different type of material than a deck lid seal... I don't think you'd have much luck "swapping" them around.

They are very different in both shape, length, and thickness.

hmmm, I will have a look at mine again as I am quite sure they are very similar in both shape and material...

Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:30 am

You should definitely have some v shaped notches to go around the drain holes near the front of the car. One of these holes is visible in the pics you posted.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:31 am

grelland wrote: Icy wrote: keifernet wrote: The hood seal is a softer totally different type of material than a deck lid seal... I don't think you'd have much luck "swapping" them around.

They are very different in both shape, length, and thickness.

hmmm, I will have a look at mine again as I am quite sure they are very similar in both shape and material...

Someone sold you some odd/wrong stuff then. The deck lid seal is as Gary and I say is thicker/harder rubber and different shape than the front hood seal is.

Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:33 am

http://www.karmannghia.com/products.asp?strMasterCat=1086&strYear=&strBodyType=

Also if you look close, you will see these v notches in this pic.
http://www.karmannghia.com/viewDetail.asp?strMasterCat=1083&idproduct=1719

Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:09 am

Curious how long you had the parts before you installed them? Rubber will shrink although that seem way to short. I suppose the enviroment they are stored in plays a part. Measure the distance around the rim of the hood seal mount and when you get ready to order ask them to measure the seal before they send it. Maybe these things have sat for a while. Just a thought

Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:24 am

kingkarmann wrote: Curious how long you had the parts before you installed them? Rubber will shrink although that seem way to short. I suppose the enviroment they are stored in plays a part. Measure the distance around the rim of the hood seal mount and when you get ready to order ask them to measure the seal before they send it. Maybe these things have sat for a while. Just a thought

ehem... yes they have been on the shelf for a few years....

Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:27 am

I made some progress lately :)

Having spent most of the Holiday season in family parties, I started working on the car again, and figured that I should get the engine back together, and try to get it running as soon as possible, so that I have time to fix potential issues before spring comes. Then I can do the interior when the weather gets warmer.

So the engine is finally back where it belongs:

I painted all the tins/fan shrouds yesterday, so that will be next.

The dreaded startup is getting closer every day...

Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:27 am

Grelland:

Looks good. BTW I had a friend visit from Norway over the holidays. He lives north of Oslo. He was very interested in my car. I showed him the work you had done from the threads you posted.

He now has me looking for a Ghia to ship to him in Norway. He said the tax structure in Norway makes this lucrative and Ghias are quite rare and valuable there.

I have a couple of cars to look at over the weekend.

Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:51 am

cool, you can pm me his name, as I might know him, if he's already into VWs.