Bulb Seal

[oldguy668]

Manual says "trunk walls". Is the rear bulkhead a trunk wall?

[3kcarbon]

I researched that issue a while back over on the other forum and found out you don't bulb seal the rear wall. It seemed to work out ok for me but I must admit I would have thought bulb seal was needed there. It would effect fit. It could probably be done if you wanted to do it.

[edwardb]

Went through the same question on my build a month or two ago. I ended up using bulb seal on the rear bulkhead. It didn't change the fit of the body, and helped to stiffen a piece that is a little too flexible otherwise. Frankly, I wouldn't have been happy without it. As long as it doesn't affect the fit of your body, the main point people raise is that FFR doesn't supply enough bulb seal to also do the rear bulkhead, so you will run out if used there. More is available from FFR or places like McMaster. I did something different with the radiator surround, plus tore some up on the rear side trunk walls taking the body on and off, so had to get more. No big deal.

[Someday I Suppose]

Joe, no for me, just left the carpet a little long and wrapped it over the edge.

[rich grsc]

Same here, leave the carpet hang over the edge.

[3kcarbon]

I wanted to use bulb seal there but I followed the rules as they say. I am starting to see a Mk 4 body sits lower than the older Mk's , the under door fit is one area that tells. When you use the quick jack holes as supplied by the FFR robot it forces a pretty tight fit on the rear wall. After some thought on mine I could have used bulb seal but I would have had to cut the rear wall and it probably would have been a fight and may have had the body in a bind if not for some trimming and tweaking. The carpet over the edge does about the same as a seal and saved FFR some money. So there is what may be the real answer. The reason for why they do it.

[edwardb]

Same here, leave the carpet hang over the edge.

Good idea! That would accomplish the same thing -- creating some friction against the top of the body to give the bulkhead a little stiffness. That wasn't an option for me though. I purchased a kit that had already been started, and the carpet was installed and already trimmed flush along the top.

[Bigguy]

Back when I went through the build school no bulb seal was used on the rear bulkhead. The bulkhead carpet was left a little long and folded back into the trunk.