Hi, I am just fitting the chrome insert into the rear screen seal. At the two bottom corners, where the insert bends around a tight corner, I have two “triangles” in the seal, which the insert does not fill. Is this normal, and am I being to fussy, or is there a technique to get a tighter bend with the insert? I cannot remember what it was originally like.
David,
On my car both the seal and the infill have been cut and mitred at the bottom corners. Though I must admit I do not know if that’s how it left the factory.
Cheers
John
There are some very tight bends on the Elan windscreen also.
Try pouring some hot water on the filler just prior to pushing it in to the bend.
It worked for me.
The original trim on my '73 Plus 2 was in one piece with the joint at the bottom centre of the window, and no, it didn’t go around the corners very well. When I replaced it with new, I cut 2 pieces and mitred them at the bottom corners as per elanmans comments. Not original but looks much better (although you do have to take a bit of care to get the lengths just right).
I believe that were 2 chrome “elbows” for the lower corners. I don’t think they worked very well, (they fall out, lol) thus most people don’t refit them.
I have a pair around here somewhere, will try to find them and snap a pic.
Interesting… I have never seen those before. I wonder what age of car they came off? Post 72ish did Lotus not use a much wider stainless insert, or was that just at the front? I wonder where I can get some from?
Since posting the original message I have found my original insert, which is one piece and bent around the corners. Judging from the colour and condition I guess it is original.
I too have never seen these corners before. My car, a '73 Plus 2S 130/5 certainly didn’t have them. I guess it would have been much quicker and cheaper to fit the insert in one piece (even if it didn’t look as good) and if they didn’t work very well anyway, Lotus probably did away with them towards the end of the production run (they may have only had a certain number made anyway)