jcmiller Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 What have folks used as a replacement for the gasket on the sending unit access plate in the trunk? I made a replacement out of a rubberized gasket material from the auto parts store, but it is not thick and compressible enough to work very well. Maybe a thick felt material? Also, the plate has a raised section for the wires to pass through. Mine originally had a black gooey substance around the wires to seal that raised section. What's a good replacement for the gooey stuff? Thx. Quote
Ulu Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 I didn't use a gasket. I just glued it down with 3M strip caulk. that seals the wires and screws. Do they still sell that? I dunno... Otherwise I'd use rubberized cork .094" thick. Quote
RobertKB Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 You can buy thin sheets of cork or cork-like materail and use that to make a gasket. Silicon will work for the sealant you want. Quote
Mike Petersen Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 Make one from an old inner tube. Quote
Don Coatney Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 The new gasket I got with my new sending unit is made from cork about 1/16" thick. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 The access plate could be sealed down with Mortite, a weatherstrip product. Quote
TodFitch Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 I didn't use a gasket. I just glued it down with 3M strip caulk. that seals the wires and screws. Do they still sell that? I dunno... Otherwise I'd use rubberized cork .094" thick. I think I'd use 3M Strip Caulk too for two reasons. First, it will probably do the job perfectly including sealing the wires but not pinching them. And secondly, I happen to have some on the shelf left over from installing the roof insert on my '33 PD. Quote
Don Coatney Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 TodFitch, on 21 Dec 2014 - 5:07 PM, said:I think I'd use 3M Strip Caulk too for two reasons. First, it will probably do the job perfectly including sealing the wires but not pinching them. And secondly, I happen to have some on the shelf left over from installing the roof insert on my '33 PD. What is the shelf life on this stuff? Quote
Dave72dt Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 I've had some on the shelf for at least 4 years. Still as sticky and pliable as it was when I got it. Quote
TodFitch Posted December 21, 2014 Report Posted December 21, 2014 What is the shelf life on this stuff? I've had some on the shelf for at least 4 years. Still as sticky and pliable as it was when I got it. I got it when I installed the roof insert which was probably late 1997 or early 1998 so that would be 15 or more years ago. I just checked the stuff in the box and it is still just as sticky and pliable as I remember it being way back when. One of the applications listed on the box is for sealing things like the cover jcmiller was asking about. Quote
JerseyHarold Posted December 22, 2014 Report Posted December 22, 2014 FWIW, I've got a package of Mortite that's 30+ years old and still usable if I need some. I stored it in a plastic bag which probably helped preserve it. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted December 22, 2014 Report Posted December 22, 2014 It's good for sealing unused holes in the firewall, also. Quote
jcmiller Posted December 22, 2014 Author Report Posted December 22, 2014 Wow, thanks everyone. I stuck with the rubberized gasket material, because I had already cut it to shape, but added silicone to seal it better and added extra silicone in the wide spot where the wires go through. Per Don's suggestion, I also made a new gasket for the sending unit out of rubberized cork Quote
jcmiller Posted December 22, 2014 Author Report Posted December 22, 2014 It's funny how these projects snowball. This started with me taking off the trunk to replace the hinges and turned into a bunch of extra projects. One thing I've learned over the last few years with this car is that it's a lot easier taking things off than putting them back on. I'm working on getting everything back onto the car that I took off over the last year or so. Quote
Ulu Posted December 22, 2014 Report Posted December 22, 2014 Some silicones don't like some vinyl type wiring insulation. They seal OK, but years later they start to get gooey. There's an chemical reaction. Anyhow I try not to use silicone on wiring. I do sometimes use Plasti-dip, which so far has worked well. Quote
Ulu Posted December 22, 2014 Report Posted December 22, 2014 (edited) What is the shelf life on this stuff? Amazingly long. Dad had a box that was at least 30 years old when I inherited it, and while the top layer was stiff, the second layer was still soft. (BTW, it was called "Scotch Caulk" on the old box. They changed the name in the 60's I believe.) Edited December 22, 2014 by Ulu Quote
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