Date:         Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:04:41 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuart@COBALTGROUP.COM>
Organization: The Cobalt Group
Subject:      Re: Luggage rack seal
Comments: To: Steve Sullivan <Steve@NORTHWESTWATCH.ORG>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Steve,

You may have to wait for warmer weather or attempt to warm the seal/roof
with a hairdryer to compress it.  I put one of these on my '84 last
summer and it compressed easily after warming in the sun.  Don't cut any
drain holes either, the water drains out of the gap between the rack and
the roof at the back near the rain rail.   A tight seal is necessary to
prevent wind noise caused by blowing through any gaps between rack and
roof.  The pop top should not be a problem at all, there is more
clearance there and the sides flex out a bit when you close it.

Once you get it on you will love it, these seals work great and won't
rust out.

Steve Sullivan wrote:
>
> Volks,
>
> Inherited a new luggage rack and pop top seal kit from PO. Installed the
> luggage rack seal and am having problems getting the rack to fit back on the
> van.
>
> The old seal is a U-shaped plastic/rubber channel that fits over the lip of
> the rack with a straight piece of rubber that fits against the side of the
> van roof. The new seal is "new style" according to a local VW parts haus. It
> has the same U-shaped channel, but the actual seal is O-shaped (and sits
> next to, and sorta down a bit from the U-channel) and is supposed to fit up
> against the van roof and side.
>
> But it doesn't! I've put all my weight on the rack trying to compress the
> seal enough so I can bolt it back onto the van, but to no avail. I'm afraid
> I'll break the rack if I put any more pressure on it, and the bolt holes are
> still an 1/8th of an inch or more from lining up.
>
> Can someone please tell me if there are any tricks for getting that seal to
> compress enough (I'm tempted to cut part of it off to make it less thick)?
>
> Second, with the new seal there is no way for water to drain out from under
> the luggage rack. Considering the rack itself has five large drain holes, I
> don't want that water sealed in on top of my roof and starting a little
> subterranean rust garden. Should I cut a couple of drain holes in the seal?
>
> What have others done with this new type of seal?
>
> Many thanks. Oh, as for the pop top seal, it's the exact same type, and I'm
> praying I'll just be able to pull the top down enough each time to get it to
> latch. For the pop top I know I want a good solid seal, but it's not needed
> on the luggage rack.
>
> Steve
> 84 Westy "Calvin"

--
Stuart MacMillan
Manager, Case Program
800-909-8244 ext. 8208

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