how to apply whale tail gasket?

[Brorag]

I'm redoing my '87 911 and am about to reinstall the whale tail.
2 911's cross country, the sequel


here's the problem:

• The beaded rubber/plastic seal that goes between the whale tail and the rear deck lid is coated with a stick-on adheasive on one side.
  
• I've replaced that seal once before. The original seal had failed at the front left and right curves of the whale tail; the adhesive loosened and the bead shrunk, pivoting the whale tail on the bead. The adhesive side had been placed on the whale tail. The replacement bead was installed in the same orientation.
  
• after several inadvertant drops of the deck lid, the fiberglass started to crack over th loosened bead. (BTW, I later bought the $40 carbon fiber stick from Wayne to hold the lid up since two gas shocks won't.)
  
• the replacement bead has also failed the same way.
  
• any pointers re: keeping the bead in place? I think one contributing factor is the temp fluctuation, being directly over the engine, as well as the difference in material expansion.
  
• I'm considering using 3M yellow weatherstrip adhesive to attach the seal to the whale tail, let it set, then applying the adhesive side of the bead against the deck lid.

anyone have any better ideas?
jd

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I just put the tail on the decklid loosely and slid the thing in underneath. The adhesive isn't all THAT sticky. Once the thing was in place, I tightened all the bolts down and "squooshed" it in there. That, plus heat/time hold the gasket in place nicely.

[group911@aol.co]

Hire an octopus to help you hold it in place while you tighten it down. ! Or use the black 3M product so it won't show up so bad.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I applied it on a cool evening with relatively high humidity. I imagine this helped to make the adhesive less sticky.

+1 on the octopus thing. You need at least 8 hands to get that thing in. Not a hard job, but a bit frustrating at times. Be patient - you'll get it in there eventually. It's an exercise in persistence.

[islandbreeze]

Just did that last week. Used 3M moulding tape (double sided) on the tail lip first and then placed the rubber around the tail and pressed down until held in place. Then mounted the tail to the lid. Of course, I cleaned everything first. Came out nice.

[rusnak]

You use pop rivets. I bought a pop rivet gun and learned how to install aluminum (not steel!) pop rivets specifically for this job, and it has come in handy ever since.

[Brorag]

Rusnak--how long has it been on there?

Island breeze--nice job....................

[rusnak]

Brorag,

I did this almost two years ago. I bought the decklid, tail, everything from another Pelican member, and had it stripped and re-painted. I installed the factory gasket, factory decklid badge, and factory decklid strut on the right hand side.

Funny, the gasket didn't give me any problems at all. I'd say definitely degrease the surface of the tail, use a new gasket, and install aluminum pop rivets. It'll stay on there rock solid. I put the seam at the bottom at the dead center. I glued the gasket ends together with super glue, and the rest using the adhesive backing that the gasket came with.

[rusnak]

[autovon]

Not sure if this will help, but here is a repair I did:

Rear Spoiler Base/3rd Brake Light Repair with pix