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Furlex and Rubber
- Thread starter Tomster
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Alan_Myers
Luke Skywalker
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Hi,
Yes, it's often called Furflex. That's probably what you are looking for. It's also sometimes listed as a "draught excluder".
Reproductions from some sources have been known to fade really quickly. According to their catalogs, The Roadster Factory became aware of this and has worked to minimize fading. But, I dunno any specifics about vendors selling the quick fading stuff, or the durability of the better stuff TRF says it offers.
I need to mention a couple other things that you *might* find on your car.
Later 6-cylinder TRs came with one-piece furflex that incorporates the rubber seal, all in one. Your car *should* have two-piece: furflex on the "lip" and a separate rubber seal attached by narrow channels that are welded along the rocker and up the A-post/windshield frame and up the B-post. If those areas were ever worked on, it's not uncommon for those rubber seal mounting channels to be left off or removed, and the later, one-piece furflex/seal used instead of the original style. So, you need to check which type of furflex to order: late one-piece or early two-piece.
Oddly, my TR4 doesn't seem to have had furflex at all (but it does have the two-piece arrangement). I think original to the car was kind of textured plastic moulding instead. I'm only about 90% certain this is original, though, because the car was roughly 12-13 years old when I bought it.
However, the non-furflex trim on my car is a very good color match for the "Midnight Blue/Leather" interior that I *am* certain was original to my car. I'm guessing the factory didn't have a good furflex match for this rarely used interior color and had to use an alternative type of trim. (IMHO, lighter Shadow Blue furflex looks pretty bad with Midnight Blue interior... There is a car in one of Bill Piggott's books with the combo.) I've not yet been able to find a good match for replacement, but haven't really shopped non-TR sources which are likely to have something.
I mention this because it seems some cars might not have used furflex at all, possibly depending upon the original color of the rest of the interior. Black, red (both the brighter and darker versions) and the more common "Shadow Blue" interiors all *seem* to have used furflex, but I can't be 100% certain.
With respect to your car, by TR4A days interior color offerings seem to have been whittled down to just a few and production was more consistent. So, I am about 95% sure it would have been fitted with furflex originally.
Finally, it sounds as if your car doesn't have a hard top (often mistakenly called a Surrey top). But, if it does, it would use a single, very long piece of furflex... maybe 17 feet of the stuff! It goes all the way from top of the windshield frame on one side, down that A-post, across the rocker, up the B-post and hardtop, across the leading edge of the hardtop's backlight frame and back down/across/up the other side to end at the top of the windshield frame. Non-hardtop cars just use two smaller pieces.
Hope this helps.
Yes, it's often called Furflex. That's probably what you are looking for. It's also sometimes listed as a "draught excluder".
Reproductions from some sources have been known to fade really quickly. According to their catalogs, The Roadster Factory became aware of this and has worked to minimize fading. But, I dunno any specifics about vendors selling the quick fading stuff, or the durability of the better stuff TRF says it offers.
I need to mention a couple other things that you *might* find on your car.
Later 6-cylinder TRs came with one-piece furflex that incorporates the rubber seal, all in one. Your car *should* have two-piece: furflex on the "lip" and a separate rubber seal attached by narrow channels that are welded along the rocker and up the A-post/windshield frame and up the B-post. If those areas were ever worked on, it's not uncommon for those rubber seal mounting channels to be left off or removed, and the later, one-piece furflex/seal used instead of the original style. So, you need to check which type of furflex to order: late one-piece or early two-piece.
Oddly, my TR4 doesn't seem to have had furflex at all (but it does have the two-piece arrangement). I think original to the car was kind of textured plastic moulding instead. I'm only about 90% certain this is original, though, because the car was roughly 12-13 years old when I bought it.
However, the non-furflex trim on my car is a very good color match for the "Midnight Blue/Leather" interior that I *am* certain was original to my car. I'm guessing the factory didn't have a good furflex match for this rarely used interior color and had to use an alternative type of trim. (IMHO, lighter Shadow Blue furflex looks pretty bad with Midnight Blue interior... There is a car in one of Bill Piggott's books with the combo.) I've not yet been able to find a good match for replacement, but haven't really shopped non-TR sources which are likely to have something.
I mention this because it seems some cars might not have used furflex at all, possibly depending upon the original color of the rest of the interior. Black, red (both the brighter and darker versions) and the more common "Shadow Blue" interiors all *seem* to have used furflex, but I can't be 100% certain.
With respect to your car, by TR4A days interior color offerings seem to have been whittled down to just a few and production was more consistent. So, I am about 95% sure it would have been fitted with furflex originally.
Finally, it sounds as if your car doesn't have a hard top (often mistakenly called a Surrey top). But, if it does, it would use a single, very long piece of furflex... maybe 17 feet of the stuff! It goes all the way from top of the windshield frame on one side, down that A-post, across the rocker, up the B-post and hardtop, across the leading edge of the hardtop's backlight frame and back down/across/up the other side to end at the top of the windshield frame. Non-hardtop cars just use two smaller pieces.
Hope this helps.
Geo Hahn
Yoda
Offline
I've had the black repro furflex from TRF on the TR4 for 4 years and have not had any fading. I too just replaced the fuzzy stuff because the rubber looked okay at the time... since it has become more brittle and started to crack (car now being driven a lot after a 20-year 'vacation'). Just ordered the rubber stuff from TRF -- both are on sale until the end of next month:
https://www.zeni.net/trf/britishws2/49.php
https://www.zeni.net/trf/britishws2/49.php
Andy Blackley
Jedi Trainee
Offline
George: I ordered some (on sale) over 1 1/2 months ago and its still on the infamous TRF back order. I am seriously thinking of cancelling and ordering from MacGregor in Canada.
Andy Blackley
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Tomster: Heres the link: https://www.macgregorukcarparts.com/
Just noticed that they are located in "Dundas", Ontario. Must have been named for the First Sea Lord from the early nineteenth century (vis Patrick O'Brian, etc.). A weak link to my avatar perhaps....
I also see that they have "Hardura" the black vinyl coated jute mat, by the yard. Good stuff for trunk lining.
Just noticed that they are located in "Dundas", Ontario. Must have been named for the First Sea Lord from the early nineteenth century (vis Patrick O'Brian, etc.). A weak link to my avatar perhaps....
I also see that they have "Hardura" the black vinyl coated jute mat, by the yard. Good stuff for trunk lining.
Andy Blackley
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Re: Furlex and Rubber Attn: Andy B.
Guess what: mine just arrived today! Very nice. And whats more the package says made in Canada (could it be...MacGregor too?). My sale cost was $98/pair with shipping. MacGregor quotes US$88/pair, without shipping. About the same, more or less.
Guess what: mine just arrived today! Very nice. And whats more the package says made in Canada (could it be...MacGregor too?). My sale cost was $98/pair with shipping. MacGregor quotes US$88/pair, without shipping. About the same, more or less.
Geo Hahn
Yoda
Offline
Re: Furlex and Rubber Attn: Andy B.
You (and whomever) might consider subscribing to the emails that Charles sends out (about 3 per month) -- they tell you about web specials and offer special deals not noted elsewhere. One they do every once in awhile is a flat $5 shipping on an order placed over the weekend (usually announced on a Friday). Let's them come in to a mailbox full of orders on Monday and really gets you to order what you need rather than saving up for one big order.
No financial interest, indeed I use both the Big 2 vendors, just a way to save a couple of bucks.
You (and whomever) might consider subscribing to the emails that Charles sends out (about 3 per month) -- they tell you about web specials and offer special deals not noted elsewhere. One they do every once in awhile is a flat $5 shipping on an order placed over the weekend (usually announced on a Friday). Let's them come in to a mailbox full of orders on Monday and really gets you to order what you need rather than saving up for one big order.
No financial interest, indeed I use both the Big 2 vendors, just a way to save a couple of bucks.