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RE: [T3] Seals and Rubber--Why Volkswagen should pull its head out of the sand.


<x-charset iso-8859-1>Perhaps we should be thankful that parts are available, but then again, when
you consider the ability to go to a Volvo dealer and still get original,
genuine parts for a P1800, yet be pushed to the side by your local VW dealer
when you go for a state safety inspection sucks! (please pardon my language)
Volkswagen of America (and Volkswagen AG for that matter) should get their
heads out of the sand and begin to actually DO SOMETHING about servicing
their customers.

Without advertising the Eurovan based Transporter panel van in the Canadian
market, VW Canada developed a strong following.  All I ask of Volkswagen is
the ability to have a choice in product as a consumer, and to continue to
support the vehicles built with parts availablity and service training to
those who want it.

When I moved to Boston in May 1998, the folks at Brookline VW were excited
to see my 1960 Beetle when I arrived for my Massachusetts Annual Safety
Inspection.  When I moved to Burlington, Vermont the following year, I drove
to Lewis Motors in South Burlington, VT and instead of seeing the interested
service consultant and the technicians who all gather to see a 40 year old
daily driver with its original 36 hp motor, I was simply told "we don't work
on air-cooled cars, we won't even do the state inspection on it".

My point?  When someone says we are lucky parts are available, I can't help
but think how lucky the companies like Volkswagen are that they have such a
devoted following and a market of owners and enthusiasts who want continued
service and parts availablity for their little cars.

Allyn de Vars
1962 and 1963 VW 1500 Karmann Ghia Coupes
1967 VW 1600 Squareback
2001 VW Golf GL TDI

-----Original Message-----
From: DGaries808@aol.com [mailto:DGaries808@aol.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 9:16 PM
To: topnotch@nycap.rr.com
Cc: type3@vwtype3.org; vintagvw@listproc.sjsu.edu; list@hvwc.net
Subject: Re: [T3] Seals and Rubber


That's not J.C. Whitney's fault. It's WCM's fault. WCM makes most of the
replacement seals, anyhow, so one can generally fault WCM. So, what's wrong
with
seals that are 2" too long? Just cut out the part you are not going to use.

There is something else that I spied in VW Trends or Hot VW's. Some seals
have built in obsolescence; i.e., they don't last more than a year or two.
There's something that you can treat them with, but I forgot the name of the
product. That's what I'd be watching out for.

One has got to realize that these seals are for 35-40 year old cars. We are
lucky to even have replacement rubber for them. Consequently, if you have to
cut out a portion
of a piece of rubber, just do it and pat yourself on the back at what a good
job you have done. I once restored a 1964 Type 34, for which there was no
rubber at all. I did so by substituting three-makes-two, etc. The Type 34
looks great.

Don Garies
dgaries808@aol.com



In a message dated 1/13/02 7:30:00 PM Central Standard Time,
topnotch@nycap.rr.com writes:

<< Subj:     Re: [T3] Seals and Rubber
 Date:  1/13/02 7:30:00 PM Central Standard Time
 From:  topnotch@nycap.rr.com (Keith Park)
 To:    type3@vwtype3.org

 JC Whitney is a defect and overstock clearance house. You may get good
seals
 from them,, but they have them for a reason.. and its usually returned or
 defective.

 For instance, I got WCM door seals from them years ago... great... but they
 were 2 " too long... which is why WCM sold them to whitney.  I cut out 2"
 and was happy, had they been too short..

 When ordering from whitney you gotta ask yourself one question:

 DO I FEEL LUCKEY??


 Keith

 Keith Park

 Top Notch Restorations
 topnotch@nycap.rr.com
 71 Squareback (with no empty nipples!)
 65 Notchback (still suckin its gas!)
 65 Squareback
 75 Opel
 87 Golf
 88 Rx7 10th Anniversary

 ----- Original Message -----
 From: <veedub@apartment101.com>
 To: <type3@vwtype3.org>
 Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 3:00 PM
 Subject: Re: [T3] Seals and Rubber


 > I don't know of the quality, but JC Whitney also offers rubber seals that
 > way.  Maybe somebody can vouch for their seals.  I've had great success
 with
 > some of their other parts.
 >
 > Jason
 > 68 Notch (Nadine)
 >
 > I proudly buy my aircooled parts and service from...
 > The Bug Stop
 > www.texasbugstop.com
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Jason Weigel" <notchboy@home.com>
 > To: <type3@vwtype3.org>
 > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 12:28 AM
 > Subject: Re: [T3] Seals and Rubber
 >
 >
 > > This reminds me of another possible supplier. I used to be a Mopar guy
 > with
 > > a 50 Plymouth and a 53 DeSoto wagon. I ordered a catalog of
 > > parts/elec/rubber available for my cars. The rubber section consisted
of
 > > side views and dimensions and was special ordered by you by the foot.
 All
 > > generic. I believe I got the catalog from Hemmings Motor News.
 > > ----- Original Message -----
 > > From: "Doug Hampleman" <doughamp@yahoo.com>
 > > To: <type3@vwtype3.org>
 > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 4:53 AM
 > > Subject: FW: [T3] Seals and Rubber
 > >
 > >
 > > > Subject: Re: [T3] Seals and Rubber
 > > >
 > > > HOO Boy, Now I are an expert. Anyway, the full extent of the
wonderful
 > > > wisdom I was about to impart was that this topic was brought up a few
 > > > weeks
 > > > ago by one of our members, Mr. Daniel Baum. He has a web site with
 some
 > > > pictures of his car he has fitted with 'generic' seals.  Heres the
 link:
 > > >
 > > >
 http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/dbaum0000/lst?.dir=/My+1969+VW+Karmann+Ghia+
 > > >
 Type34&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/dbaum0
 > > >
 000/lst%3f.dir=/My%2b1969%2bVW%2bKarmann%2bGhia%2bType%2b34%26.src=ph%26
 > > > .view=t
 > > >
 > > > I'm afraid the link isn't working since it is more than one line and
 > > > won't
 > > > copy into my browser.
 > > >
 > > > In response to my Email query off the list he responded as follows. I
 > > > hope he won't mind if I copy his Email here:
 > > >
 > > > "I bought them from a specialist car-rubber shop in Tel Aviv.
 > > > I imagine this is a bit far for you, but I can't believe there is
 > > > nowhere in the US that sells similar stuff.
 > > > I found the shop by going into a garage and asking them where they
 would
 > > > go if they were looking for universal rubber seals for an old car.
 > > > The round profile rubber in the photos is particularly useful,
because
 > > > it has a metal-reinforced lip that grips whatever channel you have
 there
 > > > for the original rubber. That's why the door seals look authentic.
 They
 > > > are then held in place by the trim and a metal plate which seems to
be
 > > > designed for holding the rubber in place, without any need for glue."
 > > >
 > > > I did a search and here are some manufacturers that might be able to
 > > > help.  I haven't checked any of them out yet, but this is the route I
 > > > was
 > > > thinking about taking.
 > > >
 > > > http://www.car-stuff.com/carlinks/body.htm
 > > >
 > > > Hope this helps.
 > > >
 > > > Doug
 > > >
 > > > 79 SB conv (nice)
 > > > 71 Ghia conv (in need of major rustoration)
 > > > 70 Fasty     ( almost a daily driver)


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