Engine compartment seal VS

I've changed the engine compartment seal in my VS once in 7 years and now it's ready again; so that means it's gone through two VW Bus foam H seals in that period of time. That seal is the perfect shape but somehow they don't seem to last and literally disintegrate in time. Do any of you have a source for better Bus seals than the ones I've been getting? Maybe rubber? Thanks!

Are they installed upside down in error?

Does the H-shaped bus seal have a top and bottom?

smooth side towards the engine and porous side out? that's how I installed mine and it is just now starting to fall apart at points closest to heater boxes/exhaust. mine is going on maybe 5 years.

I need one of these. Can someone please point me to the correct part number or the year of the VW van the one I need is used on. Is it any of these?


http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/engine-compartment/engine-compartment-wstrip-rear-111813705-a

http://www.kustom1warehouse.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Enginecompartmentseals

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111813705a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Body-Engine-SEAL-VW-BUG-66-Bus-1971-111813705A-/390304294651?item=390304294651&vxp=mtr

I think it may be more like this. I got mine from the BusDepot in Northeast USA.
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=411813225

DRCLOCK: Please elaborate as to which side goes up? Shiney side?
Thanks

Ordered it today from CIP. Pre Black Friday 20% discount for everything from them right now. $31.96

I always install with the shiney side down.

shinney side down? that would be to the outside then?? and foamy porus side in the engine bay. upps...then I installed mine wrong.

Me too. I put the purdy side up where I could see it.

~WB

Thanks Alan: Good info passed on and it appears it was needed.

I did find a post on Samba confirming what Alan said, shiney side down.

What? was I lying or something?

FYI, mice like them so keep a couple traps nearby over the winter.

Of course not! It looks like a few of us have made that same mistake, it just seems like the shiny side should go up. I was actually trying to figure that out before your post when I searched Samba and was just confirming that you know of what you speak!

Saw them at CIP too for $31.96 with the coupon. Somehow it seems they don't last.

And it seems that VS installs them wrong from the shop too....

Got it at CIP; Jjr fashioned a seal from two types of rubber windshield seal. He offered to help make one like it for my car but since it needed a little bit of fabrication I chose to just get the H-seal because it's easier; I just want to replace the seal and drive the car!! Haven't been able to really use it for the past few months because of things needing repair and not having enough time when I go home.