What has been the most difficult part to find for your car?
Discussion
I think for most early car owners MK1 Vixen back the rain gutters are the hardest items.
Due to this some are fortunate and still have usable ones but many if not most dont.
Its something that usually get done wrong instead and people opt to make them like the ones on the later models and fit door seals where the early cars did not have them.
This problem is still not overcome Mathew and would be great to address.
Where MK2 Vixens have a door seal that goes all around the inner frame the earlier cars have a fabric trim there and the weather seal is in the rain gutter on the inner edge butting up to the window frame.
That in many ways is the Holy grail of parts i have never heard of anyone finding an NOS pair
Andrew
Due to this some are fortunate and still have usable ones but many if not most dont.
Its something that usually get done wrong instead and people opt to make them like the ones on the later models and fit door seals where the early cars did not have them.
This problem is still not overcome Mathew and would be great to address.
Where MK2 Vixens have a door seal that goes all around the inner frame the earlier cars have a fabric trim there and the weather seal is in the rain gutter on the inner edge butting up to the window frame.
That in many ways is the Holy grail of parts i have never heard of anyone finding an NOS pair
Andrew
[quote=Astacus]I do have the gutters, but they are stored away and I can't remember how good they are. I do remember that they appear to have been attached by pop rivets through the door aperture rim. I know one or two other cars that have them too. If they are a genuinely hard to find part then i have no doubt some of the skilled ali fabricators around can reproduce them. I think they are made from a straight piece of ali with a rolled over edge. The corners are quite crudely fabricated by cutting a fillet out of the strip and bending it into a curve.
The only one I have a picture of seems to have some sort of rubber seal inboard of the lip
The only one I have a picture of seems to have some sort of rubber seal inboard of the lip
Been trying to put my 1600M back together for years! Can't find anyone who sells motivation anywhere.Andrew Gray said:
I think for most early car owners MK1 Vixen back the rain gutters are the hardest items.
Due to this some are fortunate and still have usable ones but many if not most dont.
Its something that usually get done wrong instead and people opt to make them like the ones on the later models and fit door seals where the early cars did not have them.
This problem is still not overcome Mathew and would be great to address.
Where MK2 Vixens have a door seal that goes all around the inner frame the earlier cars have a fabric trim there and the weather seal is in the rain gutter on the inner edge butting up to the window frame.
That in many ways is the Holy grail of parts i have never heard of anyone finding an NOS pair
Andrew
I do know a very skilled fabricator who could make them.. The usual issue is that of demand though so in this instance you would doubtless be paying the hourly labour costs of a skilled man to make a one off. As well as a pattern to copy from they would be best shaped into the actual door aperture. I dare say you could make some to a timber blank aperture to allow for final fettling on any particular car.. I took a set off the race car which still has door rubbers all the way around so I am not really a fan and would always look to replicate the later S2 Vixen set up if I really wanted a rain gutter.Due to this some are fortunate and still have usable ones but many if not most dont.
Its something that usually get done wrong instead and people opt to make them like the ones on the later models and fit door seals where the early cars did not have them.
This problem is still not overcome Mathew and would be great to address.
Where MK2 Vixens have a door seal that goes all around the inner frame the earlier cars have a fabric trim there and the weather seal is in the rain gutter on the inner edge butting up to the window frame.
That in many ways is the Holy grail of parts i have never heard of anyone finding an NOS pair
Andrew
N.
I have fabricated a small batch of gutters to match the profile of my Grantura pictures of which can be seen on the Grantura face book page ( Andrew posted the pictures when he kindly introduced me to the group)
As has been pointed out the gutters are not as the original inner profile but they keep the water out and do look good.If I had the profile of a Vixen door or beter still a original gutter same could be fabricated P. M.me if you wont more info
Regards Baz
As has been pointed out the gutters are not as the original inner profile but they keep the water out and do look good.If I had the profile of a Vixen door or beter still a original gutter same could be fabricated P. M.me if you wont more info
Regards Baz
OK, I've dug out mine and the profile is more complex than i remembered:
and they are not in fantastic shape, probably repairable with some effort, but I might be in the market for a new pair if not.
Its not clear whether the inner profile should be folded over so much. Maybe it is pinched in to hold the rubber.
and they are not in fantastic shape, probably repairable with some effort, but I might be in the market for a new pair if not.
Its not clear whether the inner profile should be folded over so much. Maybe it is pinched in to hold the rubber.
Edited by Astacus on Sunday 23 September 17:51
Astacus said:
OK, I've dug out mine and the profile is more complex than i remembered:
and they are not in fantastic shape, probably repairable with some effort, but I might be in the market for a new pair if not.
Its not clear whether the inner profile should be folded over so much. Maybe it is pinched in to hold the rubber.
There are two factors in producing the material first off it the correct grade of material as its softer than what we normally use today once you get there the curved part of the gutter ie the outer part this needs to be done using a roller machine that pulls the material though a series of rollers to create that part, the other two bends will require a break press with a fine blade in order to get it close as a bench finger press can do the first bend but not the second one.and they are not in fantastic shape, probably repairable with some effort, but I might be in the market for a new pair if not.
Its not clear whether the inner profile should be folded over so much. Maybe it is pinched in to hold the rubber.
Edited by Astacus on Sunday 23 September 17:51
Once material is made its a bit of work but with a timber buck just a matter of time and patience.
Its the first stage of creating the material profile that is the major issue.
Without the inner lip that holds the rubber seal its fairly straightforward however to do them correctly its not possible without the lip hence why many opt to fit later door seals.
Its all down to how accurate a person wants to go on a restoration some find these things fun and a challenge while others cant be bothered and happy to just get them done and get driving.
Andrew
If it's any help to anyone, Moto-Lita do still make the 'small boss' steering wheel and boss, I bought one a couple of years ago.
What they do not supply is the original horn button, however, Triumph replicas are available (you would need to get rid of the Truimph badge or letters).
Jim
What they do not supply is the original horn button, however, Triumph replicas are available (you would need to get rid of the Truimph badge or letters).
Jim
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