getting ready for post paint restoration

[tahoe healey]

What is the adhesive used on the rubber around the boot? There is a back weather proofing adhesive at the local auto parts store. Any other suggestions?

Is a sealant used on the glass dome (bee hive)front and tail lights? I had used Vaseline the last time I had a bulb out but there was water in there when I took them apart. I am using all new rubber(?) housings but I don't think they will make a weather proof seal.

Anything I should know about installing the new fender beading like how to contour them to the body? I will be taping the tabs to prevent scratching.

Have a Happy New Year everyone. Be safe. I understand that in the Bay Area (SF)there is a large gathering of old cars to celebrate Anti-Football on TV day each New Years Day.

 

[roscoe]

I just used 3M contact adhesive for the boot seal. So far, so good.

For the fender beading I'll offer this advice (not that I made any of these mistakes, mind you). Do not be tempted to tap on the beading to seat it. It dents very easily. Even pressing on it too hard with a thumb can flaten it. Likewise, do not pull on the tabs too hard as you can pull the tab right out of the beading. A combination of gentle pressure and pulling from beneath gets it done.

The curves can be worked into the final shape a little at a time. Get the wing bolts at tight as you can while still being able to work the bead down. It will kink if you try to do too much too fast. When you are satisfied with an area, snug the bolts and move on. When I got the bead where I wanted it I would bend the tab as acutely as possible to further assist in keeping it from rising.

I suggest you get some old beading and play around with how you want to finish the ends that do not get tucked under another piece of trim (like at the headlight rings). It took me quite a while to form an acceptable shape to the cut end and you do not want to ruin a piece you've just measured for fit buy buggering up the end. Like fitting a top, slow and easy does it.

 

[John_Progess]

Tahoe,
I actually cut the corners off the tabs so they wouldn't gouge the paint. I also ran masking tape along both sides of the beading while I installed it. I pre-bent the beading before installation. Have a good day!

John

 

[Randy Forbes]

All good tips by Jon, so not much to add.

Until you get the beads formed to shape (contour immediately behind the door is the only really troublesome area to shape) blue painter's tape on both sides of the gap (fender/shroud) should be in place. You'll want to take that tape off before the final tucking & tightening, or the bead can trap remnants of tape. An assistant__even of minimal skill__is beneficial.

I've never seen any type of sealant on the beehive lights; you sure don't want them glued on when you need to change a bulb! You can try some Dow Chemical Vacuum Grease, as it is a heavy bodied and very tacky, and it may give you the desired results. As this is silicone based, do this at the end of your workday; once you have true silicone on your hands, you can't hold onto anything the rest of the day! https://www.2spi.com/catalog/vac/dow.shtml

3M makes some outstanding adhesive products, including both a black and a yellow weatherstrip adhesive (in tubes). The black sounds like the natural choice, but it gets somewhat harder after curing than the yellow, so considering the flex in the trunklid, the yellow is the better choice. Just be neat with the application (trunklid removed and inverted__on a protective surface__is recommended) and have some tape ready for securing the rubber until the adhesive sets up. Clean up any excess immediately, using GooGone, or similar. https://www.shop3m.com/60455029953.html

Note: the links above were the first to come up in a quick search. I have no connection to either sales orgnization, and you should research higher/lower selling/shipping prices.

 

[tahoe healey]

Thanks for the tips. Randy, do you put the blue tape down the sides of the "trench" or just close, along side?

 

[Randy Forbes]

Thanks for the tips. Randy, do you put the blue tape down the sides of the "trench" or just close, along side?

Just close to it, but close enough that the bead would cover it. Two layers minimum :wink: