Replacing Window Seals

Ok, how hard can it be? Just pull up the video on YouTube and follow the directions, Right?

The only thing is, you can't feel what they feel nor see what they see on YouTube. You just have to experience it for yourself. And today, I experienced it.

Pull this clamp off and expose the chrome ends

I began with removing the chrome from around the window seal. First I grabbed the bottom chrome clamp with my needle nose pliers and yanked it out. Next, I grabbed a chrome trim edge and pulled that out. Soon I was staring at the remaining dry rotted seal.

Trim along the seal with a carpet cutter. Then pull the top
seal to expose glass

I dispatched that quickly by rimming straight through the crevice where the chrome was seated. This in turn split the seal in half all along its length. I chiseled the bottom half with a screw driver and soon exposed the ends of the class.

Chip away the rest of the seal and remove it.

I slid the screw drive tip under the glass and lifted it out. Be careful, the glass is heavier than it looks.

You might have to trim off the head liner if it is glued to the seal.

Put the glass on a soft surface and clean it

Next, put the glass on something soft and clean it.

All done

The most difficult is putting the seal around the glass. Actually, the hardest is to determine which channel the glass fits in. The smooth area with two channels is what you need to focus on. There is one channel for the chrome and one for the window. 

This can be determined by holding the seal. The inside part of the seal has a tight curve at the end. This goes inside the car. The channel closest to it is where you want to put window.

Work the corners on first. I had good luck beginning with putting the left corner on first and forcing the glass into the channel while simultaneously rocking the seal. Then I worked my way around the entire glass. I didn't use any silicone or soap, just plain old rocking and leverage. I used a plastic tool to help seat the seal.

This takes an hour or more (my first time) and takes endurance and forearm strength. Lift the seal 90 degrees away from the glass with one hand and seat the seal with the other. It's still difficult, but it is a good technique.

Have fun.

Tail Pipe Chrome Exhaust

Clang! That's the noise I heard. I knew something was wrong, but did not know exactly what the problem could be. It wasn't until I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a tail pipe tumbling end over end and cars were swerving out of the way, that I understood what was happening. A second later, the perfectly humming engine began it's throaty roar. Not a bad sound actually.

I'd never thrown a tail pipe before, so I started searching the internet and asked experts like my father. Yep, I'd thrown a tailpipe and yes, it's supposed to be loud like that. However, it's just noise and won't hurt the engine. An no, I don't need a new exhaust, just a new tailpipe.

I ordered my tailpipe from www.westcoastmetric.com and it arrived in a few days. I actually ordered two so that I could have a brand new shiny set. However, I only ordered one set of clamps and had to reuse one of the older sets.

The job was easy, just loosen the old clamps, slide the tailpipe into the muffler, tighten the new clamps and your off.

Be sure to insert the tailpipe as far as it will go. Also, install the clamp so that it covers the tailpipe and muffler  lips. If not, the tailpipe won't stay on.

image courtesy of http://www.clubvw.org.au/oldart016

Good looking dash area-Bamboo shelf for 69 VW Beetle

I just received the bamboo shelf from Jbugs.com I ordered recently. It got here in no time and looks really nice and I can’t wait to use it. I set it up just above my drink holder as well. I can’t wait to actually be able to keep the bug clean on the inside by the storage space concealed under the dash board. It looks really good too.

Beetle parts never come with instructions, so you have to search them out. This bamboo shelf came with four shelf brackets and 8 screws. I was planning to drill and screw, but a thought occurred to me; why not see if it fits.

It did fit and looks great. The best news is I didn’t have to use the hardware. For some reason the shelf fits so snug (I believe it is the thick carpet) that it is in for good. I’ll test it on the road and make sure it doesn’t vibrate loose. But for now, it looks solid.

I’ll be moving speakers and radio to different locations so the bamboo shelf can be better featured.