@&#*$% beading.

["Alan W. Presley" <awpresley@earthlink.net>]

"Is there a *big* enough difference that Bug beading won't 
work?"
   Toby 


"It COULD be made to work, but it would not be accurate and 
would not be smooth with the body.

   Big Al



"It don't sit in and the water just runs right past it into the inside
of the mudguards (Fenders).  I would have to say there is a big
difference enough for it not to work.  I can also pull it out on several
places...."

    Wayne


***************

Wayne,

The beading COULD work if you convince it to work.

First take a look at your fenders (you'll have to remove them to fix
this anyway).  If you can pull the beading out in several places, your
fendere tops (or sides whichever applies) is probably bent and is not
sitting flat against the mating surface of the body.  I had the same
problem with a Squareback I bought a few years back.  A wonderful,
all-knowing Previous Owner partially welded the fenders to the body. 
(yes, Toby, partially.  He didn't even do THIS properly!)  He then tried
to fill the open cracks with silicone sealant.  When his crappy paint
job (over the silicone, what else?) cracked he gouged out the sealant
and replaced it with more sealant (stupid.).  

Anyway, when I purchased it, I cut away the sealant, hacksawed (is this
a word?) the welds apart, filed the welds down, straightened the mating
surfaces (where the bolts meet), and until I found the beading, I used
household door weatherstripping ( what you put in doorways on your house
to seal against drafts) around the bolts (but not seen above the fender
cracks).

This worked for quite a few months. I even got the Square painted with
these seals in place and then removed and replaced them with the real
T-3 beading.  You couldn't see a paint seam.

If, for some reason, you can't straighten the mating surfaces, try thin
weatherproof foam strip between the T-1 beading and the body (or if
really bad, beading and body also).

This is NOT a permanent fix.  This can work until you get the bodywork
repaired, fenders repaired or replaced, or proper seals.

Good Luck,

Big Al
awpresley@earthlink.net