Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Clifton on Saturday,July 06, 2024, 06:04:30 AM
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Anyone with a TC know what the seal looks like on the hood/bonnet latch plate? Number 16 in the pic. I assume sheet rubber with a cut in it. I have also seen what also looks like an enclosure behind the latch to keep air from the cabin. I plan on using EDPM sheet for a seal unless someone knows of a better method.
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Hmmm… how to describe such a simple thing…
It’s rubber with an “enclosed” slot for the lock tab to go in. It keeps water from getting in the cabin. Not sure that helps… Think of your rubber sheet with a slit only make it a slot. Then add a cover over the slot that the lock tab goes in and encloses the slot.
Not easy to make. Maybe 3D print it? Or your rubber sheet with a slit that closes around the lock tab might work too.
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So it is enclosed. Thanks!
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From what I understand it's nominally shaped like the sketch below; made of thin rubber. Probably not sharp edges to the recessed 'pocket' though.
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Thanks for posting this. Had no idea that there was supposed to be a seal there as it was long gone when I removed the metal slots on my TC. Very interested in any solutions created! :)
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Perfect application for a TPU 3D print or something simple cast out of polyurethane.
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The foam I used is a little too soft but I have a lot of left over. I'll do some freeway driving and see if it stays or folds back to the cabin. Anything to stop the hot air.
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That probably does 95% of what the original does. :beerchug:
You could get to 99% by knife-edging the lock tab! ;D
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The snag with using a plain gasket is when the car is standing outside in heavy rain. Water drips between the body & lid, lands on the flat bit of steel that does the locking and ends up dribbling inside the cabin. You'll not even know it's happening and if you garage the car the likelyhood is you'll never have a problem. But if it's outside regularly then you build up cabin moisture and in winter the screen has a tough time demisting, plus you get assorted rust in places you never see !
If you have room to fit a short section of foam rubber on the body above the lock such that it diverts water around the locking plate, then I think that's as good as the little rubber sock, which usually tears over time anyway.
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We get rain like 5 days a year in Phoenix. The heat is the problem here. Today is 113f/45c . I know the UK and some parts of the US get a bit of rain though.
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We get rain like 5 days a year in Phoenix. The heat is the problem here. Today is 113f/45c . I know the UK and some parts of the US get a bit of rain though.
Did you see the F1 today? Not a massive fan of the UK commentator, but when a team radio message was broadcast saying "25 minutes from rain" his response along the lines of "that's basically a description of an English summer" was spot on! That is some serious Arizona heat though!
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Yea, Tuesday is 117/46. The older I get the more I hate it here. You run from a/c car to a/c house or business.
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Living in New Orleans is similar except that it can be 97°F with 97% humidity. I won't say New Orleans heat is worse than Arizona heat but it's a lot different. It's a curious sensation to feel yourself sweat after closing your door to walk to the car (my garage was full of different things so my poor car sat outside)!
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I tell my wife that she didn’t tell me to stay home when going to work in Orlando daily. Now it’s stay in garage with the A/C on , so, I do.
I really need another garage!
Dakazman
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This is what I should have replied:
Yea, Tuesday is 117/46. The older I get the more I hate it here. You run from a/c car to a/c house or business.
Yeah, but it’s a dry heat. :FUNNY:
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LOL.,
On the Bonnet seal, I cut a block of aluminum and drilled two holes and a notch, used a simple gasket and the water cannot go thru the block . Get rid of just the interior plate.
Just say'in.
Dakazman
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An enclosed box would be ideal but I don't have access to the back side. A Vintage Air AC/heater takes up the space. I am sliding every thing through from the front. I ditched the foam and used a silicone strip from a stick on door seal. I'm sealing up the pedals and steering shaft better now with neoprene instead of soft foam. Only the column left to do. Back plate has foam to seal against the FRP, front plate sandwiches a 1/16" thick neoprene washer. It makes adjusting the washer easy. I ordered some Thinsulate to add between the carpet and felt on backbone area and thicker foam for the foot wells. A 15 minute drive is nice but around 30 minutes the heat starts getting through the felt and thinner foam.
https://www.voguefabricsstore.com/3m-thinsulate-fabric-thermal-lining-cs150.html
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Pretty nice. As I remember when I was building my car, there was a seal similar to that already on the steering column. I'll have to check my car and see what seals around the M/C push rod.
One of the leaks in my car is under the elbow pad. I remember when my car was new, there was a piece of foam rubber that filled that area. I've lost it but I'll be looking for a similar piece. You might consider something similar.
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Think I have what is an original hood latch seal , a thick rubber elongated boot with a chromed or polished stainless steel surround. Can post pictures if interested. I cannot use it as the hood rubs on it.
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The rubber boot should mount from inside the car. There should also be steel surround like the chrome one that acts as the nut plate. The chrome goes on the outside. (IF I remember correctly. I drew an exploded view of it. But it's at home and I'm not.)
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I can slide the nut plate in from the front with a longer screw to get it in with out fear of dropping it but I have zero access from inside the car.
I just finished the steering shaft seal. I took better pics of the pieces. I'll start a new thread for it.
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Pic of seal ….
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Tell us more. What are we seeing there?
I realize that it's a view from under the dashboard. But... did you get a proper seal from somewhere? It looks like there's light shining through the slot for the locking part (whatever a locksmith would call it).
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I think the apparent light is a glint off of the shiny leading edge of the rubber seal.
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That is glare … amazingly the original part is still good!
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The entire latch was missing from the S2 I've just finished. I just made up a stainless trim piece for the outside with two countersunk bolt holes and a central slot for the lock tongue to go in with the slot at a slight angle to allow the tongue to pull the front cover down slightly. To seal it I cut a short length of 3/4" box section, cut a hole on one side bigger than the slot in the stainless trim and put two rivnuts in to align with the countersunk holes in the trim. I squirted some polyurethanse window sealant up each end of the tube to seal the box and put the tube inside the car, just above the wiper rack. Oversizing the holes in the fibreglass makes the whole shebang adjustable to get a nice bonnet fit. No-ones ever gonna se it so I wasnt too worried about originality ;)