<VV> (no subject)

[kaczmarek at charter.net]

> Greetings all;
> 
> DISCLAIMER---VENDORS PLEASE NOTE!!!!
> 
> This post is in no way intended to denigrate the seals that you sell, or the 
manufacturers you buy them from. 
> Nor is it my intention.
> This is merely a contrast/comparison done at the request of a CORSA member, 
With whom the 2 major vendors has likely discussed this matter with at some 
length previously.  
> 
> If you do not own a LM Corvair with AC, your Engine Compartment seals as 
purchased from the major vendors work fine in all respects. Continue reading 
only if you are interested in a very fine point of contention regarding LM's 
with the original Factory Condensors located in their original places. 
> 
>  I had a talk with a member recently who was concerned about the seal on the 
engine compartment LID on LM vairs with A/C. Apparently, the concern was that 
the reproduction
> Engine compartment LID seals offered by the 2 major vendors did not conform well 
to the GM Factory original. 
> 
>  The contention was that the shape (cross-section) of the repro seal differed 
from original, as well as the overall
> height of the seal. 
> 
> Apparently for owners of LM cars with A/C, the factory original LID seal also did 
not allow for a proper seal of the LID against the body, causing air leaks that 
disrupts the proper flow of air through the upper air plenum below the backlite 
and over the condensor, whether it is the 65 (mounted over the engine) or the 
66 and later
> (curved to fit in front of the plenum). 
> 
> Yesterday I recieved a box with sample cross-sections of a GM Factory 
original LM Engine Compartment LID seal, A Corvair Underground U-3110, and a 
Clark's Corvair C805RR. 
> 
> If the three cross sections are set side by side (this is IMO the only 
timewhen VV is a pain, you can't post pics with your post.), there are some 
differences, and I will briefly describe them
> 
> 1. The Walls and GM seals have a bit of a "dip" in the part that goes into 
the channel, where the Clark's piece is straight across. 
> 
> 2. height: the Clark's piece is the shortest height of the three,with Wall's 
next, and the GM being the tallest of the 3.
> This I believe, was the reason for the controversy in the first place. 
> 
> There are subtle differences in the overall shape of the rest of the cross 
sections of the Clark's and Wall's reproductions, but they are benign to the 
issue at hand IMO. 

Finally, in response to the last question by this member, The type of cell foam rubber used in the original GM Lid Seal, a composition used through the 60's and 70's, is no longer allowed to be produced in North America. By Who ya Ask????  The Thought Police of the Environment, the EPA. 

So, What to do???  Well, here's what I done did. (Louisiana talk so Swamp Rat don't feel lonely in East Red Stick Parish)

Our CEO looked at the profiles, and came up with a Trunk Weatherstrip that we sell for Mid-Size and Compact cars running from 57-Mid 70's. it has a near identical profile to the clark's part, but is taller, and thicker, and is also flat across the bottom like the Clark's part is. 

We sell it in a 15 foot strip, and the LM Engine compartment Body Channel for the lid strip is 13 feet. He gives it to me and says---"Try it on your car". 

Now, one of the advantages of owning a car previously titled by DeckRug Industries,INC....Is when it comes to weatherstripping, there are only 2 kinds available. 

"ULTRA"--minimum 40 years old, dry-rotted, and crumbling
OR
"ULTRA II"--also known as ---NOT THERE AT ALL!!!

The EUM just so happened to have an ULTRA II engine comp't
lid seal. SO ULTRA II, in fact, that the channel was spotlessly clean. 

So at about 6:30 this AM, I was out installing the test Lid Weatherstrip in the EUM. NO Adhesive yet, just a test fit, cut the excess off and butt the ends up. 

Considering my mechanical talents as journeyman at best, It took me about 10 minutes to get the strip in the channel,bend the hold tabs over in the corners just slightly to hold the seal in, cut the ends, and butt it up in the front above the License Plate. 

Now,due to IMO the height and freshness of the seal, if I hold the lid up about 6" and drop it, my NOS (someone messed up at the vendor when I ordered a used one) Lid latch engages, and fit and finish of the lid on all 3 sides is normal. However, If I lower it and just lightly press down, it won't latch. 

Next Step---Get out there tonight (it's darker than a coal mine in my front yard and carport after sundown--advantage of livin' in the boonies),Stick a tube light in the custom access hole over the left air door, and check for light leaks. Tomorrow the EUM goes to Steele for a check of this gasket's fit by the engineering department. 

If this gasket's fit meets muster with Engineering, there may be an alternative gasket with a new Steele number available for LM owners. Update to follow when available.

NEW EUM Project. Replacement of the "Ultra" roof rail
weatherstrips on the EUM. Engineering discovered that the
Roof rail W/S for the 1st Generation Riviera (63-64-65) is the exact same as for the Corvair. Now this won't save any Corvair people any money, but since the company wants some pics for its new website, As I document the removal of the ULTRA W/S, the prep of the roof rails and installation of the new W/S, two birds are killed with one stone. 1st, the last major water leak area is fixed on the EUM, and I get the Roof Rail W/S at no charge!!! Can't beat it with a stick. 

Regards
Hank