Bonnet to heater plenum seal

[Chillidoggy]

The oval foam one that sits over the plenum. This now looks to be obsolete, anyone have any alternative ideas? I am assuming it needs to be a closed cell sponge of some kind.

P/N is A082U7304F or 7305F depending on whether it's 20mm or 25mm thick that is required.

[DanR]

I found a profile similar to this. I stuck it to  an alloy template a little wider than the base of the rubber, and then the template was attached to the bonnet with double sided tape. Did it quite a few years ago and no problems since.

 

[Chillidoggy]

Which way round did you face the lip?

[s4simon]

I replaced mine a few years back with the original.  Its just a low density closed cell foam.  I'd just buy some sticky backed stuff (German Tesa tape).  Or you could go with DanR's option which is an EPDM sponge extrusion.  Both cheap solutions.  

[DanR]

I'm on holidays for a couple of weeks and away from my car so can't remember. The rubber bent better one way rather than the other.

[top-plumber]

Bought some foam from ebay and cut one out. Couldn't get black foam though.

Does the job. Admittedly looks a bit Mmmmmm!

 

Wayne

[Chillidoggy]

Yes, I see what you mean: It does have a bit of the 'Al Jolson's lips' look about it!

 

I did contact Easyfoam, and they told me they would have to get a template made to reproduce that oval shape, and of course that's when the costs start to rise. And as you've found, getting a decent edge is virtually impossible on foam. I don't know what the answer is for this one yet.

[brianc]

I bought some 25mm x 15mm self adhesive backed foam strip from an auto jumble towards the end of last year.  I think it was around £3 a metre and used that to seal the aperture.  It was easy to curve around the hole and looks ok in my opinion.

 

Black too

 

[top-plumber]

Al Jolson? Ha ha ha ha ha. Never realised. Your right. Ha ha ha ha!!

Might put some eyes on it and a pair of jazz hands.

:-)

[Chillidoggy]

I bought some 25mm x 15mm self adhesive backed foam strip from an auto jumble towards the end of last year. I think it was around £3 a metre and used that to seal the aperture. It was easy to curve around the hole and looks ok in my opinion.

Black too

Looks good to me. Is that 25mm deep, and 15 wide? I did look for some tape, but coudlnt find any 20-25 mm thick.

[brianc]

It's 15mm thick and 25mm wide. Any thicker and it would be difficult to shut the bonnet.

[Chillidoggy]

Interesting.

 

The Lotus parts book lists two versions, 20 & 25mm thick as required. When I bought the car, the seal was missing, so I have no idea what it should be. Given the hand-built nature, the gap could be anything.

 

But I suppose it would be sensible to somehow measure the gap that needs bridging. Maybe put some lumps of plasticine down at various points where the seal should go, and then shut the bonnet.

[ramjet]

I have yhe same issue. Mine's dead. Someone told me that Clark Rubber have a comparable foam. I've just never got there.

[Roy Lewington]

When I did mine I used a closed cell foam sleeping mat from a camping shop. Cut it out in one complete unit a put it in with Evostick Adhesive. I would have thought the difference between 20 and 25mm would take up in compression as the bonnet is closed. So 25mm would be the preferred option.