Reply To: Sunshine roof seal

David is correct. There never was a seal between the sliding roof panel and the roof itself.

The sliding roof support frame is of a “channel” section in four pieces and the front and rear pieces are slightly curved in length so that the rain runs to the sides. Each side piece has a short metal drain tube welded/brazed at the front and back. You then attach a length of PVC tube to each outlet, with hose clips. These discharge under the car.

There is a “U” shaped rubber seal fitted along the edges of the “side pieces” of the roof frame, which in theory stops the water running onto the roof lining.

As David says, If you have a leak, it’s generally because the drain tubes are blocked or rusted away. You can see the front two tubes as you open the sliding roof. Check these are clear. I use a length of fence wire, gently! The rear two will have to be done “upwards”, from under the car.

With the roof partially open, using a jug; pour water into the channel. You’ll soon see if the tubes are blocked.

Unfortunately, as I discovered to my cost, many years ago; the roof frames don’t last forever! The channel or the drain tubes can rust away.

My car had been sitting in a open barn for many years and I decided it was easier to have a new frame made. John Gillard from Classic Restorations was able to help. Obviously it was much easier to fit the frame before the car was trimmed, but one of the problems I found was that the four “legs” with which the frame is fixed to captive bolts welded to the underside of the roof; were not welded in the same positions on the production line. John had used the bolts on the car he had, as a template, but they were not in the same place on my car. It was much easier to re-weld the legs in the correct positions.

Generally if the drain tubes are kept free and grease applied sparingly to the runners; plus oil to the opening handle; the sliding roof works well.

However, sometimes in very heavy rain the channels can’t cope with the water flow and the roof lining will get wet. John Moon (TOC) has attached a thin strip of rubber to just the front edge of his roof panel. This helps deflect the rain into the channel and away from the roof lining. I have bought some rubber and hope to fit it to my Light 15 during this winter.

Hope that helps Jack?