Sealing Hood Split D25C

[Happy 46R]

When I wash my cluib coupe I get water sitting in the spark plug wells on the head. The reason is the center crease in the hood, which is covered by the stainless, leaks. Is there a tried and tested means of sealing that off to prevent the water leak. I have checked the shop manual and the parts manual that I have and neither shows any type of seal between the two hood panels. I have searched the forum and although there are many entries about hoods there doesn't appear to be anything about this issue.

 

My two hood panels appear to be spot welded together along a central seam. The chrome strip has 4 tabs that slip between the two pieces and are then bent over to hold the strip in place. The spark plugs are directly under the seam and fill with water. Other than removing the strip and siliconing the seam I am at a loss as to how to solve the problem. My car is not a show car but I don't want to do something that will damage the car or make future restoration more difficult. 

 

Hope someone has an answer.  Dave

 

[Sniper]

That's why they came out with the everdry sparkplug boot setup. 

 

[plymouthcranbrook]

Is it possible for you to make a drip rail and suspend it from the center rod with a slope in the direction you want the water to drain towards. Probably to the rear but I don’t know enough about your engine compartment layout to say for sure.

[RobertKB]

I have a D25 also. Those rubber boots kinda work but deteriorate. Best to take the strip off, use some clear silicone and replace the strip. Make sure you have lots of sealer where the tabs go through. My car lives inside and I only get water in the spark plug wells when I wash it. I just run it for a bit and they dry quickly. 

[Frank Gooz]

What about some seam sealer for the small gaps and some Duct seal for the trim tabs.

That is what i intend to use on my 1950 dodge hood.

[Happy 46R]

Thanks Frank, My worry is the water getting in as I have a good set of wires and caps and don't experience any hesitation or missfires. It certainly doesn't help the appearance of the car with all the calcification building up in the spark plug wells and it makes cleaning it off tricky when I want to remove spark plugs. Do you have a suggestion for the seam sealer as I don't want to use something that destroys the paint or discolors the stainless.  Dave

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you plan to seal it....seam sealer and RTV are not your friends here IF for some reason you should have need to remove the strip down the road.   A good dum-dum putty found at the local paint and body is a very good product that is easy to apply, remove, work with as needed.  

[Plymouthy Adams]

most of the ever dry kits keep the wires dry but does not prevent water sitting in the plug well and in facts traps it there for longer time if not driven daily to evaporate the water with the added heat from running the engine.  Recall a few comments on here with the horror stories of plug removal (actual breaking) with these installed on engine left to sit.  

[Happy 46R]

I was at an area body shop on Tuesday and they were kind enough to give me a package of the dum-dum putty in strips. Each strip was about 12" long and a 1/4 of an inch wide. Chrome strip was easily removed by straightening the tabs on the bottom side after unbolting the hood ornament to give the front end of the strip clearance. I used the putty to seal the entire seam back to front and then created a second layer of protection by encircling the tabs on the center chrome piece with the putty. Long story short the strip is sealed and there is no water on the engine after a wash. Thank you Plymouthy Adams for your insight.

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

right post, wrong thread.....lol

Edited September 9 by Plymouthy Adams