front bumper seal installation

[peter9616]

Having difficulty installing the rubber seal for the front bumper on my 71 911. I know how it is supposed to fit...but cannot get the center section rubber bead into the front facia panel. As Hard as a Try...the small top front bead does not want to slip in from the front and there does not seem to be any way to slide in from the side. Tried heating with blow dryer and also using soap...but no go without destroying the seal..No wonder the Germans lost WWII. Tiger tanks had the same problem I am sure.

[76911S]

I had to use a slippery soap and a plastic push tool and had to push in about 1/2 inch at a time. Took forever and made my hands hurt but it was all I could come up with. Still not super happy with fit across the whole front of the car. I just chalked it up to quality of products we get now as apposed to new back in the day.

Mark..

[peter9616]

that is about where I am at with this...thank you

[Tim Morris]

76911S had it right. Pain of a job but that's what is needed. Tire soap work well. Be patient and work it in...

[rdelmendo]

+2 on the comments above. I used Griots Speed Shine and a bone tool to push it in. It's a two beer activity.

[peter9616]

I solved my own problem. think about this...either the rubber bead is too big or the metal slot you are trying to push it into is too small. These old cars do get rusty and do get painted over. As a result, the slot gets too small. Build-up of rust, paint, dirt) first step is to sand the inside and the front edge of the slot. (best to be done before paint and use paint sparingly.) Then find a small screw driver which will fit into the slot...and angle it accordingly so that the thickness is slightly bigger than the opening. then simply use a rubber mallet and beat it along the edge to make the slot bigger. Guess what??? The rubber seal is then affixed along the bottom and the top rubber bead simply slips right in. It does not need to be tight and it holds nothing once the bumper is attached. Easy fix...

[76911S]

Can't do that kind of modifying once the car is freshly painted + seal is not held by the bumper along that area so it might start to pop out and show when the hood is lifted, but if it works in your case, great..

Mark..