Rubber Seal Fitment

[SteveG.]

I'm currently fitting my door seals and quarter light seals to my series 2 2+2, after painting the car.
I bought the door seals from Baines. I'm having no luck getting the seals started in the retaining strip, I didn't remove the retainers when the car was painted, I've managed to fit one old quarter light rubber after scraping the paint out of the retainer. Have I got to clean all the paint out of all the track?
I think I know the answer already, but I'm just wishing this isn't the case.
I've tried using lots of soapy water but I'm not having much luck.

[abowie]

Probably yes. Worst comes to worst I suppose you could trim the lip off the rubber seal and just glue the seal in place.

[Hub B]

Steve,
I had the same issue on my car, and the retainers were not even painted.
It seems that the bottom T shape of the new door rubbers is too fat to squeeze in.
Then I used a pair of pliers with a piece of 3 or 4mm steel rod and carefully open the rounded edges of the retainer; inch by inch I was able to reshape the retainer to accept the seal. Lots of patience and care needed to avoid scratching the paint.
The reward is a rubber fitting like a glove.
I had no issue with the QL rubber though, the T shape was a good match.

[Nick]

I found the rear 3/4 window seals a real pig to do. Basically the Baines (& all the other seals it seems) use solid rubber in the dovetail T where the originals used a foamed cell (like an Aero bar) which was much more compliant.

Did someone say that Hutson's rubber seals are better than most ?

Nick

[SteveG.]

Thanks for the feedback gents, I'll try again this weekend. Very un-nerving round the new paint though!

[abowie]

Removing the channels isn't really difficult; just drill out the rivets and remove the screws (that hold in the interior trim). They are sealed underneath with some sort of pitch compound.

Then you can do what you like to them, make sure the seals fit while comfortable at your bench, and then reinstall them. The channels can't be seen once the trim is in so scratching them doesn't matter.