Date:         Fri, 17 Sep 1999 21:36:53 -0400
Reply-To:     Caston/Payne <happycampers@PICUSNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Caston/Payne <happycampers@PICUSNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: popseal installation tips
Comments: To: Sussmn@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <5bcf28c.2513c1cb@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 12:09 PM -0400 9/17/99, Carol Sussman wrote:
>Just ordered the aftermarket seal from Bus Depot.  They don't include any
>instructions. Anything someone who has already installed one can tell me will
>be welcome.  I am not replacing the luggage rack seal in front--- any advice
>on butting the ends of the new seal on the sides to the front seal?
>     I decided not to mess with cleaning/reinstalling the OEM seal when upon
>opening the side door this morning (post-Floyd in south NJ) I found puddles
>on the floor.
>Thanks,  Carol S Sussman

Carol,
The seal is really easy to put on.  To make cuts, use a heafty pair of
shears like kitchen shears (what I used).
Begin taking off the old one by cutting the perimiter seal away from the
flat seal that goes across the top. Just make sure to cut accurately and
smoothly. You may want to make an initial cut about a foot or so away from
that flat seal to relieve pulling pressure on the  top seal. To get a good
square cut, bend/pull the flat seal downward a bit to reveal the rubber you
need to cut smoothly.
Take off the old seal. Just pull.
Use a scraper to remove any gunk from the underside and outside of the
poptop where the old seal was.
To get a good square cut without metal showing on the new seal, twist the
seal a tiny bit as you cut it to allow the shears to work their way between
the aluminum crimps in the seal. This way when you do finally make the cut
it will be through a very short span of aluminum. Practice on the very end
before you make the real cut.
Begin pushing the seal onto the poptop so it will stay. I found that
allowing the top to be unlocked and gently pushed open a bit allows one to
work at a reasonable height. You will need to fully erect the top to make
the span across the rear.
Work you way around the van and finish by cutting the same way you did in
the begining.
The sharp corners are the toughest but are still not really hard.
After your done take a block of wood and tap gently with a mallet to firmly
and evenly seat the seal.
Your done.
Later,

Dave & Sherrie
Williamsburg, VA
           zzzzzzzzzz__
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