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I have just replaced one of my quarterlight window seals on my 1965 FHC after a bit of a struggle. The seal fits into a dovetail channel around the window aperture, but the replacement seal (from Barretts) was a tight fit into the dovetail. I initially planned to push the seal all the way round the channel starting from the top where the dovetail is cut away near the window hinge, but the seal only went a couple of inches and then jammed. In the end I started at the bottom with the outer lip pushed into place and then forced the inner lip of the rubber into the dovetail with help from a piece of plastic card and some Johnsons baby oil ! My technique improved as I worked around the window aperture, but I can’t see why it needs to be this tight a fit. Another case of oversize seals I guess.

I have the seal on the other side of the car to do next. Has anyone else replaced one and have an easier method ?

Hi Nick

I did exactly the same as you to get my seals in. I couldn't see any other way. It took about an evening for me to do both seals. I don't think it was so bad but I'd like to know how it was done in the factory.

It is a scary experience after you've just paid a fortune for a respray and you're so worried about scratching the paint but the finished job was great.

Believe me, door seals are worse. That's probably why you see so many cars without both sets of seals.

Regards
Stuart

Thanks Stuart,

I'm a bit happier knowing we're all struggling together ! Talking to other people it seems the replacement rubber is stiffer than was originally fitted. Luckily I don't have the door seals to do (for the time being !).

Have you finished the restoration work on your car ?

Nick

Hi Nick

No, its a long way off being finished but it is mainly a matter of re-assembly and re-trim. I'm the third person to own the project. It was imported from USA in 1989 and has been in pieces pretty much ever since. I bought it in 2001 and started making good progress until we moved house in 2003 and that did for the project.

Just starting to get back on with it. Target is the Le Mans Classic next year and my Daughter's wedding if she ever names the day!

It occured to me after I wrote my last message that I fitted those seals into brand new seal retainers, which were fitted after the car was painted, so they didn't have any paint build up. They need to be tight though to stop water penetration.

Worst job so far has probably been fitting the quarterlight frames onto the glass after re-chroming. I used old inner tubes for the seal material and trimmed off the excess with a scalpel afterwards. It took time but the results were good.

Regards
Stuart

Just an update on this topic. I went to the March CMC day arranged by the E-type Club. CMC advised the use of door seals by SC parts as they were the softest. I asked about rear window seals, and the advice was 'keep the old ones', there being no replacement ones that match the original design.

The old seals have a cellular body with a solid outer skin. The replacements are solid rubber in the dovetail area- hardly surprising that they won't go into the rail easily.

CMC advised using Silicone spray (Halfords) or glycerine on door/window seals occasionally to keep the rubber soft.

Nick