Heater Box Sealant

[Keith B.]

What can be used to reproduce the sealant for the heater box inside the engine compartment for a mid year? Being judged at bloomington and wanted a couple of extra points. Thanks Keith

[John H.]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

The externally-visible gooey/dribbly black sealant was used to repair water leaks on completed cars; it wasn't part of the normal heater box installation.

[Jean C.]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

I have need of the same "stuff" to complete my heater core replacement on my '64. I had the extra step of removing paint from the heater box cover thus I removed all the "fix" done on the line. Paint remover and a Scotchbrite pad easily removed the stuff but it was still pliable after some 42 years! Would The General perhaps have used an undercoat product to make the "leaker" repair? All suggestions will be appreciated.
Best regards,
Charlie

[Anthony F.]

[Terry F.]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

Basicly any thing that protruded through the firewall.

I would like to know what type of sealer was used between the heater box and the fire wall during installation. Was it the same as the dum-dum product? The goop that I found on my car seemed almost white in color?

Later, Terry

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

Terry, when I took my 63 apart to rebuild the box, I found no trace of sealer anywhere. Not even a trace of any scraped-off anywhere. I reinstalled it with the kid from the good Dr. and all is fine. I believe that the use of a sealer was not part of the build process.

Harry

38513

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

That was "kit" not "kid". Fingers aren't working today.

Harry

[Terry F.]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

Interesting. My external box has a flange on it that is cupped sort of. I have taken a few off passenger cars before from the 60's and found a soft sealant in there. Hmmmm. Wonder if more people will comment.

I also suspect something belongs in there because if you tighten down without something in that space the box it will distort the firewall and crack the fiberglass. I think something belongs in there. I have seen foam rubber seals made for it but technically that is not correct.

All for now, Terry

[John H.]

Re: Heater Box Sealant

60's-70's passenger cars that used a stamped steel engine-side blower housing used a pumpable black sealer in a continuous groove that ran all the way around the periphery of the housing flange; it was machine-applied with a sealer nozzle that traced that path with a pantograph-type cam and roller arrangement with the blower housing located painted-side down in a precision fixture.

[Anthony F.]