rear rubber strip

[Jonno]

Hi Folks,

Has anyone found a suitable replacement for the rubber section which sits in here (arrow) between the body panel and an internal horizontal brace in the rear of a ute behind the wheel arch (not sure if this is same in other models)?

Jonno

[craiga]

Hi Jonno,

Good question!

I had the same problem when I did my car and just prepsoled the originals.

It would be possible to get some rubber from Clark Rubber or similar, cut it to shape using an original as a template, and then shape it with a heat gun. The trick is the angled pressing at the top where it is wedged into the lower rear 1/4.

Maybe a piece could be glued to replicate this?

It really is about time that the clubs put their heads together on reproducing some of these things. Anything is possible, you just need the volume to make it worthwhile.

Check out the remade stuff that available for XU1's and GT Falcons. HEAPS less of them around, but an amazing quantity of excellent quality repro stuff. And at reasonable prices.

The days of relying on the excellent work of Les and the guys at Rares are surely coming to a close as volume declines. Ok they'll continue to do the most popular stuff, things that make true commercial sense. But Les has overheads that the clubs don't so clubs remanufacturing a more varied range becomes more viable. Go on to the web and check out the breadth of low cost manufacturers in China.

http://www.manufacturers.com.tw/search_keyword.php?lang=en&st=1&sk=rubber

http://tinyurl.com/gkfrv

http://www.china-manufacturer-directory.com/china-6123/auto-parts-rubber-parts.html

Come on you clubbies, get organised and make some repro stuff.  :P

There are two of these rubber 'flaps' on every FE and FC - the clubs have what, maybe 300 cars in them, possibly more. That means there's a potential market of at least 600 of these units.

Cheers,

Craig.

[Jonno]

Hi Craig,

Good point.  There do seem to be quite a few bits that have escaped the repro market. I have also had a hard time finding the rubber cable protectors that surround the wiring passing through the guards to the front lights. Luckily found some at a swap meet that I could bring back to life...but surely this would also be an easy repro item? Also the funny lip that sits in the channel with the door glass, presumably to stop water getting into the door (did that ever work??)... the list goes on.

Jonno