Just a quick Hello first and hope you guys don't mind a woman joining in and getting a few hints.
I have a 1973 Thing and thankfully my son had done most of the mechanical repairs before he got bored with the project.
I have been reading your post about the truck liner and somewhat confused about which side are you applying the liner? Are you applying it underneath or from the inside? The belly pan is one of the projects my son never got around to.
And one other question, I know this is crazy, but after replacing all the rubber on and around the frame and body of the front window I still have a problem with the rain coming in underneath the front bow. Is this something that is common with a 181? I know if I take the top down and the first rain comes after putting it back up the rain comes on in. I worked too hard on removing the rust, freeing up the hinges and reupholstered the sun visors to only have them ruined again. Does anyone else have this problem?
Welcome to the list. I guess your son left you guys with quite a project. As for the bedliner coating, Jeorge was coating his floorboards on the inside of his car I believe. They get pretty rusty especially under the battery. Are you talking about a leak between the top and the windshield frame, I had a little problem with that. It does not rain hardly at all in Southern California but if you have replaced the seals maybe try something like armorall to repel water a little. Maybe someone has a better idea.
The rain comes in from underneath the front bow and windshield frame. The problem I have with using some silcone based sprays is the nice black streakes from the water coursing over the rubbers.....The Thing soon begins looking like a Zebra.
Mine leaks pretty badly when it rains. It's only rained a few times in the two years I've had it.
I'm not sure what the best solution would be. I don't think it's caused by old rubber because the gasket on mine is still very flexible. I was thinking of getting some extra latches so I could clamp it down more in the middle. I'm pretty sure that would work since the water only leaks in the middle. The sides where the existing latches are seem fine.
Just in case, I wouldn't use any upholstery materials that can't take getting wet.
