Emergency waterproofing ideas

[Chris71]

The S has been out and about a lot over the past couple of days and it turns out my 100% watertight hood isn't. Main sign of leakage is dampness in the centre pocket thing on the transmission tunnel. The rest looks pretty dry but tomorrow I'm off to my first airfield day and the forecast looks torrential.

So, any short-term bodges I can resort to?

For example, I wondered if it was the join between the two targa panels leaking - if that's the case, is it worth putting something in between them to seal?

On a more fundamental level, the hood is still sitting a little high (not got round to adjusting it yet...) and so I also have a gap to the sidewindows. Can anyone recommend anything other than water-wings?

PS Just had the first top-down hoon of 2009, complete with new springs. Feels absolutely fantasic!

[Sweet Thunder]

It doesn't have to be a leak. If your car has to live outside in the current weather, the interior will become damp of condensation. My previous convertible had to live outside too, and in winter i had a bowl of silica dessicant wedged behind the passenger seat. Kept the interior bone dry.
waterproofing the roof also helps, especially the fabric around the rear screen can become damp inside.

[jimed]

It may be as above but in the absence of anything obvious such as torn seals, etc. it may be the rubber seals aren't doing the job correctly in terms of seating properly so a spray with some silicon spray lubricant could be worth trying?
Jim

[Chris71]

Found a tear on the seal, directly above 'said pocket, so hopefully that's that one plugged (care of a bit of old inner tube for the time being). Also discoovered that I can let the hood struts down to bring the hood down to the sidewindows. It looks weird, but feels rock solid, nonetheless I think I'll only use that wehn the car's stationary.

So, I should be on the track in about 12 hours!

eta: Wasn't that bad in the end! The weather was truly horrific, but the roof stayed relatively dry. Not bone dry, but it was quite civilised for an ex kit car daily commuter like me.

Edited by Chris71 on Sunday 25th January 21:33