I get a little trickle of water in the rain with my top up (I know-I do put
it up sometimes-when the rain is too fast to out run!)-but, compared with my
old spitfire, it's really so little. I think of it as a badge of pride.
Laura G. and Nigel
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Norway <examiner@scci.net>
To: Rick Gregory <rick_gregory@yahoo.com>
Cc: spitfires@autox.team.net <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Date: Sunday, March 14, 1999 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: Leaking Top
>
>
>
>Rick Gregory wrote:
>
>> Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone (or soon to be):
>>
>> Some of you may be aware Central Florida (where I live) has been
>> experiencing drought-like conditions for the past several months. This
>> is also the time period I've been driving my newly-rebuilt '77 Spit.
>> Today marked the first real storm of the year foreshadowing the up and
>> coming rainy season. And I do mean rainy, we get lots of heavy
>> thunderstorms around here almost daily during the late spring/summer
>> when the southern heat/humidity builds. Today also brought about an
>> education in what a leaking top can be like...
>>
>> I was driving home from a friend's house when I ran into a downpour. I
>> had my top up and tightly secured and I've fully tested the wipers so
>> I expected no problems... Ha! I was rather surprised when my
>> windshield transformed into a waterfall within seconds. This is really
>> surprising to me because the top on my Spit is only about 2 years old
>> and is in very good condition.
>>
>> When I got home (UNDER THE CARPORT!!!) I popped up the top and looked
>> at the front. There is strip of rubber that runs the length of the
>> front that looks like it should seal. Obviousily it isn't doing the
>> job. It does look crushed somewhat.
>>
>> Are there any tricks for preventing this leakage? A new seal? (or
>> should I just wear a wet suit and scuba gear?)
>>
>> --Rick
>>
>>
>>
>
>Rick,
>
>Welcome to the wonderful, wet world of Spits in Florida...lol. Seriously,
>the problem is the chrome cap on your windshield. The water is coming in
>between it and the top of the windshield. I ran a small bead of sealant
>(after I got tired of running a strip of duct tape) along that joint and
>it helped alot. Part of the problem are the holes in the top piece for
>both the latches and the bolts for the hardtop. When the pressure is great
>enough (ie. rained being driven into the seal because of forward car speed
>and wind effects) water will seep in to those holes and drip on you from
>there, too.
>
>BTW, Joe Curry, this could be a TIP for your web site, eh?
>
>Cheers
>
>--
>Bob Norway
>Rockledge, Florida
>Home Page http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/5953/mypage.html
>ICQ# 3752712
>***************************
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>http://www.seacoast.com/~jsweet/brotherh/index.html
>Udorn RTAFB Nov'70 - Nov'71
>432 AMS/Autopilot
>***************************
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>1976 Triumph Spitfire 1500
>FM43376UO - Daily Driver
>***************************
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>
>
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