Viva HB Front and rear screen rubbers

[Colin]

After a few more hours of battling I've managed to cobble together a rear screen rubber using some more of the 'off the role' screen rubber and part of the impossible to fit East Kent rear screen rubber incorporating its corners. Not ideal by any means but a thousand percent better than the rotten old rubber and dull Mylar chrome insert it replaces.

I had to use a section of the 'off the roll' rubber from one corner over the C pillars and roof to the other corner and the 'cut and shut' section of EKT rubber with its corners on the lower section. It was still a sod to fit but just about achievable with everything liberally oiled. By no means ideal but It will do for now.

I'm reasonably happy with the front screen rubber from a roll. It went in fairly easily.

[Colin]

So, here's what I've learned -

1) Don't buy anything purporting to be a screen rubber for HB Viva other than from either Rare Spares in Australia or the 'off the roll' screen rubber from Retro Car Seals for the front screen - or if you're confident about cutting the 45 degree mitre corners of the rear screen - (which, with hindsight, is what I should have done in the absence of a Rare Spares seal) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-VIV ... 2749.l2649

2) Avoid 'Classsic Car Seals' and 'East Kent Trim Supplies' HB Viva screen rubbers like the plague. They're not fit for purpose.

3) Here are the tools I used. These are sold cheaply on ebay as trim fitting tools but I found them ideal for prodding the oiled rubber seals into place. A small mitre block is used to ensure an accurate 90 or 45 degree angle when cutting the 'off the roll' rubber seal and the chrome Mylar trim-

3) Don't bother with soapy water. It dries too quickly. When the rubber is on the glass and sitting loosely in the aperture use oil or WD40 to make sure the seals are more slippery than Donald Trump's accountant. This is the only way to get the seals over the body lip and movable for positioning under pressure between the glass and the body.

4) Remember that Churchill said that success is the ability to go from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

Colin

[Fred Dukes]

Well done Colin excellent job a triumph over oversalty or something! A good piece to put in the mag David to go along with the problems experienced with the East Kent and Classic Spares product.

[jpsmit]

thanks for this Colin! I am just curious about the use of oil as a lube - any lingering issues with leakage or ????

[Colin]

thanks for this Colin! I am just curious about the use of oil as a lube - any lingering issues with leakage or ????

I haven't checked for leaks yet J.P. but I daresay there will be some. My screen sealant applicator tube is poised!

I must admit I've heard in the past that engine oil or WD 40 shouldn't be used as a lubricant for rubber - but I've never been able to ascertain why not exactly? Particularly with modern high neoprene plastic content rubbers.
I'm sure that if this is so then someone will be along in a minute to enlighten us. It would apparently seem sensible to use oil as a lubricant and rust preventative - certainly more so than high salt content water soluble detergents.

[droopsnoot]

I'd always presumed the issue was oil attacking rubber, but never quite sure why, if that's the case, some engine seals are made of rubber.

[HC Fairley]

Oil shouldn't attack it but it will cause the rubber to swell. I used some on my driver and passenger door rubbers to soften them as they had become very brittle

[jpsmit]

very much appreciating all this! I have also heard that personal lube (KY jelly!) is good as it is slippery but doesn't have some of the other nasties (salt etc)

haven't tried it and er haven't tried it

[Colin]

I have also heard that personal lube (KY jelly!) is good as it is slippery but doesn't have some of the other nasties (salt etc)

haven't tried it and er haven't tried it

Ooh-er!

[rizzo]

Glad you managed to get somewhere with your seals Colin its certainly been a learning curve for sure.
So my first post on Rare spares seals is the rear bonnet seal, although at first glance it looks spot on after comparing however my concern is the top seal flap is longer than the original so wont tuck in on itself like the original, also the seal has to many holes which dont line up with the body, i would imagine you would have to stretch it 10mm or more in places to fit it. It does come with press clips though.
Will i be using it? no i,m afraid not, in my mind its not good enough, i do have a good genuine seal which i have bought back to life which i will be using.

Hope fully fitting front and rear screens shortly