[Healeys] Slight leak at hood

Sat Apr 29 09:14:44 MDT 2023

Simon, Gary expressed exactly what I went through, but more succinctly!

I attached some photos including one of my old seal, which I believe to be original, and the seal that I eventually used after a few trials with different thicknesses.  As I noted in our off-line thread, Martin MacGregor at MacGregor British Car Parts is an excellent source of all trimming material for English cars (amazing selection of trim fasteners too!).  He is in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.  www.macgregorukcarpets.com <http://www.macgregorukcarpets.com> 

I attached a few photos of what I used.  I found ¾” wide by 3/16” thick perfect, but as with a lot of Healey details each car is different.

Cheers, Mirek

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of warthodson--- via Healeys
Sent: April 29, 2023 10:39 AM
To: bspidell at comcast.net; healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Slight leak at hood

I would use the thinnest compressible insulation you can find. Remember, it will need to be compressed the full length of the windscreen by the 2 latches at each end. If it is too thick you will have difficulty getting the catches closed & saying closed. 

Gary Hodson 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net> >
To: healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> 
Sent: Fri, Apr 28, 2023 6:51 pm
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Slight leak at hood

There are numerous types of weatherstripping available at your local Home Depot equivalent. They work well; I recommend the 'closed cell' variety and they come in various thicknesses.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-3-4-in-x-7-16-in-x-10-ft-Black-High-Density-Rubber-Foam-Weatherstrip-Tape-R734H/100047977

On 4/28/2023 11:19 AM, Simon Lachlan via Healeys wrote:

Thank you for this. Actually, rather less helpful that most of your other offerings.

Simon

From: Healeys  <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Kees Oudesluijs via Healeys
Sent: 28 April 2023 16:14
To: healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> 
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Slight leak at hood

What could you expect from a British soft top? Most of them are crap. Remarkable as it often rains in the UK. In Italy where it does rain a whole lot less the soft tops from Fiat, Alfa etc. are usually leak proof.
Kees Oudesluijs

Op 28-4-2023 om 16:01 schreef m.g.sharp--- via Healeys:

Simon, there should be a rubber seal along the bottom of the top bow that seals it against the chrome strip of the windscreen frame.  I recently had a new top installed, but I looked after the seal.  I am not sure what the original seal looked like, so I got a couple of candidate replacements from a local English Car trimmer and experimented.  It is tricky, as I found that most of the seal profiles made is very hard to get the top bow on and clamped down, but I eventually found a thin, rectangular section seal that worked.  I have yet to test in the rain, but I have high expectations.

Also, make sure the leak is between the top bow and the frame, not between the frame and the glass.  As tops age they shrink slightly and get very tight and when up can pull the top frame right off the windshield.  I was horrified some years ago when I put my old top up, got in the car, and could see daylight between the glass and the frame!  I took the windshield out, took it apart and re-assembled with new sealing around the windshield glass (actually Rich Chrysler did it for me – it is a tricky job).

Good luck.

From: Healeys  <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Simon Lachlan via Healeys
Sent: April 28, 2023 8:18 AM
To: 'Healeys'  <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] Slight leak at hood

I was driving home the other night in my  BT7 when it started to rain…nothing much, a heavy drizzle.

No great worries….I try to avoid rain, but it’s more or less inevitable in SW UK.

But what was irritating was that it started to leak after about 10 minutes. Not a lot, but it would probably have been much worse if the rain had been much heavier.

It was only in one spot…running down the windscreen right in my direct line of sight. Typical.

I’m sure this is a regular occurrence; they were probably issued with leaks at the factory.

How have you guys fixed(?) this? I thought that I had..I cut up an old inner tube and stuck that to the mating surface of the bow. Now I wonder whether I should put another piece in where it leaked or would that create a little raised section and that it would now leak on either side of that….?

In the past, anticipating a long drive in the rain, I’ve taped it up. Works a treat.

Thanks,

Simon 

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