Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing sidescreen rubbers opinions wanted

As I'm still to new to ownership to have experienced a torrential downpour whilst driving, I'd like opinions on the state of these side screen rubbers.

They look a bit curly, but how well they seal will also depend on the state of your hood. The problem with these rubbers is that it's not an easy job to replace them. Fortunately you have an easy way to test if they are any good or not, the weather at the moment is perfect. Put the hood up, go for a drive and see how wet you get. Odds are the sidescreens won't be the only source of any leaks!

Ruined a mans life, curly rubbers!!!

This might help
https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/sidescreens.html#Replacing

Can the 'U' section side rubbers that are fitted to newer Morgans be retro fitted to older models? Having had both, the newer design is very good indeed.

Neilda, Yes they can and work very well. They also stop the screens "pulling" out at speed or in strong x winds. (2011 4/4)
But fitting is not so straight forward, in that the side screens must be aligned with the w/screen pillars and at the right distance. I was lucky with the distance but had to do some work on the side screen set up to get them parallel with the pillars. Dismantle the side screen & adjust the position of the supports. I needed to elongate the bolt holes to allow a little movement. I stuck the U section straight on to the factory flat "rubber" as that allowed the side screen to be a snug fit.

From the photo, it looks as if the rubbers have been compressed, maybe by being stored tightly in a bag for a long time? They certainly don't look right Maybe take the screens off, lay them flat, apply gentle heat to the rubbers from a hair dryer and uncurl them. Perhaps lay them over some wooden battens with a bit of weight on top for a few days to see if they stay in shape.

There is a car shop not far from where we live and years ago I spotted a one side sticky sponge tape ( different widths etc ) I purchased some and run it down the inside of the metal parts of the side screens you can stick one length on top of the other many times if you wish . It stops the rain getting in . Sticks like money in the wife's purse.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but as you are "still new to Morgan ownership" has anyone advised you to tuck the rubbers under the hood flaps once the door's shut? Mine are pretty curly but that seems to make for a better fit and hence, rain exclusion.

Again, apologies if this is egg-sucking.

When the hood is up I usually shut the door for holding the flap up. For myself I open the windows and reaching out through the windows with one hand holding the flap up whilst shutting the door with the other hand. For some reason has problems doing this and if left to her own device pushes the flap out over the top of the sidescreen, which I don't really like.

If you have the easy-up hood you would do well to follow Dave's advice and stick neoprene pads on top of the windscreen pillars.

I fitted the new rubbers on the windscreen pillars but I did have to adjust the sidescreen position on one side. My recommendation would be to not remove the old flat rubbers as it will undoubtedly pull the paint off the pillars. When I looked at it I realised that fitting the new rubbers over the top of the old rubbers brought the outer surface of the rubber in line with the outer surface of the windscreen pillar, making a much better fit with no step. I did have to bend the sidescreen mounts a fraction to line it all ap well, particularly the rear mount to bring the top rear part of the screen in nearer to the hood. Cut the new rubbers where the front lower point where the step in the windscreen pillar and the material covered panel of the sidescreen starts to curve back. You can not force the new rubber to successfully curve back. I tried to do it and had to trim the rubber quite a bit as well as re-glue it a few times. I had not seen that the factory only fit it to the straight section.