Cowl Vent Rubber Seal.... Where do i get one

[tankwilson]

I have ordered 2 cowl vent seals. One from Andy B. and one from Metro Molded They are both really different from each other and both are too small.

Andy B really too small but looks like it would be better.

Metro closer to fitting but still just a little to small.

Any secrete to installing one and where do i get one that fits???

puting it on a 49 plymouth club coupe.

Thanks

[Harvey Tank]

Try steel rubber. Iam sure you can find one.

steel rubber.com

[randroid]

Tank,

I have always had the best of satisfaction ordering from Neil Riddle out of Seattle, be it a distributor cap or decals for the engine compartment or an O\D tranny.

I don't think he ever developed a web site but you can call him at:

(206) 285-6534

Tell him what you have and what you need and he'll get it right the first time.

-Randy

[Howard Tarnoff]

I think he sells on eBay as seaplym so you can click on advanced search and search by seller. His stuff is excellent and if he does not have it he will let you know where. I just had him direct me to a guy in PA for a new glove box...the carboard insert. Mine was trash after 59 years

He is always happy to help.

[Ed Griffin]

Neil or Steele probably have it but I would try putting some glycerine (sp?) on it or even let it sit in the sun before trying to fit it on. Maybe try the sun first if you plan to glue it down. I have a Metro cvrseal too for my 48 but it's still in the bag it came in 3 or 4 years ago so I havent tried it yet. Glycerine is used in many products like Armor All, moisturizer, etc. It may make it more pliable, as the sun would. It has worked for me on other applications.

Kind of like the old trick of using tranny fluid for your tires.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I am not so sure I would try to soak a rubber seal in anything prior to application..the proper bonding of the adhesive may be affect. Having this thing come unglued after assemblying the car would be a big bother. If the seal is a tad small (slight stretch needed) I think I would try to cut me a template of the opening just a tad larger and stretch the seal around this and let it sit for a bit. I have a seal out in the shop now, actually two, oneis for the 51 and the other is for the 52..I got one from Mitchell, the other..cannot recall, both are same size..both are different from each other..the one from Mitchell seem to be the better seal as it is molded to fit the round curve of the recessed opening and has a small upturned lip to seal agains the lid...both pieces are of soft seal rubber and extremely pliable and will stretch with no problem or distortion....both are just a tad smaller but when I test fit withour adhesive..lay in place well. Placing in position once the glue tacks on each surface would be a breeze and stay in place without fear of failing.

Mitchell's old ctalog shows this:

1949-52 all models use 1245657

1940-48 all models 873278

53-54 Plymouth (D47, D48, D52, D53) use 1433660

53-54 ecxcept for those listed above use 1455547

[steveplym]

I bought one from Robert's for the '47. I probably will be installing it next week. It is a bit smaller, but with some 3m weatherstrip adhesive I'm sure I can get one side glued down then do the other side. It stretches well around the vent.

I'll try to post some pics when I install it.

[Don Jordan]

I got a bunch of stuff from Restoration Specialties - you can check them out on line WWW.restorationspecialties.com

I've also used Steele with satisfaction.

[Uncle-Pekka]

I bought mine from Andy B. and installed last winter. The rubber is a bit small, it needs to be stretched quite a bit to fit in the groove on the cowl panel.

What I did, I removed the vent door & linkage (removed rust and painted with POR15), sanded the paint in the groove, applied contact type adhesive in groove and on rubber. When installing, I used clamps and pieces of plywood in each of end and in front "v"-head to hold the rubber in place.

I do not think it is possible to install the rubber without help of clamps, it really appears a bit too small. It may be intentionally, I recall having read an old instruction of installation where stretching & using clamps was mentioned also.

[Ed Griffin]

Something a lot of people forget is that you need to warm up items like this so they will stretch and be more pliable. Same with upholstery. Lay your material out in the sun before putting it on. This way it takes out those wrinkles you get from not warming it up. Works on rubber and vinyl.

[woodie49]

I ordered my vent seal from Birnbaum, and it fits really pretty perfectly. I did have to remove the entire vent in order to be able to access the area to make everything fit neatly, but once I did, just a little stretching and the seal went right into the groove.

I put the vent back into place and wieghted it down for a couple hours to let the cement dry, then reinstalled, closed and tightened it. It looks great, the vent closes flush with the cowl and I get no water when I wash the car.

I am in Co. Cal., so the car will never see rain.

[Plymouthy Adams]

here in southern Georgia..I also don't think it rains enough to worry about..my poor yard has this "toast" look this evening...

[RobertKB]

I order all my rubber from Steel as I think it is the best. When anything appears to be a bit small, I take a heat gun and warm it up nicely and stretch it to put in place. A little adhesive where your cowl vent rubber is going to go should be put in place first. Heat the vent rubber and it should go easily. Do a trial run first without the adhesive to check things out.

[CNP934DC]

My Andy B cowl gasket was about a quarter inch shy also. Even heating didn't quite get it where I needed it to be. So stretching around the last corner, I snapped it. I filled the remaining tiny gap with 3M weatherstrip adhesive rather than spend the $$$ for another gasket, but it seems fine. My P-15 isn't show quality anyway, just drive for fun but you really have to look close to see the repair. Wish I would have had this thread before I did mine. The tips posted probably would have saved me a lot of grief. GO FLATHEADS!

[steveplym]

I started to put mine in this evening. I purchased the molded one from Roberts.

Had to use clothes pins where I could and clamps. Started to use paint sticks, but they did not hold so well. I got out the bondo paddles and the worked just fine. It does have to stretch a little to get it into the groove all the way around.

I started gluing it in on one side and then move around to the other. Clamped it into place after gluing, before moving on to the next section.

I've got the clamps holding overnight, will see what I need to reglue tomorrow.

[tankwilson]

Got mine from Mitchell motor parts of ebay. Fits better than the rest. Installed it tonight. Used 3M weatherstrip glue. Any secrets to glueing them in??? Going to install trunk weatherstripping tomorrow.

Thanks