68 to 72 wiper cowl area

[Michael Ketterer]

Hello to all,
my question is in the cowl area of the wiper mechanicals of 68 to 72 with the wiper door they have a mat like material ( looks like foam with tar like stuff spread or sprayed on,
How do you repair the mat the right way? Edges lifting and a crack here and there.
Thanks
Michael

[Chuck S.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Mat??!! Looks like foam?! Mmmmm...Take a closer look; the presence of any "foam mat", roofing paper, etc. sounds like Borat engineering to me.

Original cowl plenum areas are waterproofed with some tar-like goop applied liberally (mopped?) all over, but particularly on any seams or bolted parts like the wiper transmissions. If you're restoring, strip it all out and start over; if you're trying to keep water from leaking into a driver car, well...you can try some roofing cement on the lifting edges...but, ultimately, the answer for certain success is the same as for restoration.

General cracking is typical and may not be a problem unless they are all the way through at precisely a critical area.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Chuck
Thanks, yes it is like a seam sealer?
Is tar the right way to replace a striped area?
or another material right for this job? and what is it
thanks again

[Chuck S.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

No, not seam sealer...this material was applied much more generally than seam sealer. Tar is not a good option either.

The closest product I have seen offered to the public is evaporative cooler sealant that is available in every Home Depot and Lowes in the west and southwest...if you've never lived in the southwest, you won't have a clue what I'm talking about. It's like an asphaltic based paint that is painted on cold; it builds thickness well, and will end up smooth when painted out of a fresh just-opened can.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Chuck,
Thanks for all the info.
I will look for this product, but Im in the Southeast.
I did not have water coming into car, and the material on parts that I have scraped up was very crumbly for the most part under the slabs of material that came up. the seams all have a white sealer thats hard as nails, very little surface rust on wiper mounts, bolts and such. found a very little bit of silicon on the drivers side under wiper mount point thats covered in the same stuff what ever it was. I just hope I can find this evaporative cooler sealant.
And is that the same as cool seal for moble home roofs? or even the stuff they use for inclosed trailers on roof panles to seal them up?
But thanks again for everything.
I Just wanted to install the original wiper door back on and did not want the car repainted with that stairing back at me with the door open. The cracks and pealing on edges
I should have just slaped the door on and that be that. BUT OH NO not me, cause I know it is there!

[Chuck S.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

I just had a thought looking at Home Depot's corporate site...Another product that is probably close to the same stuff is the driveway sealer used on asphalt driveways. It's probably more widely available than the swamp cooler sealant.

Up north, everyone painted their driveways with it in the fall to keep snow melt from freezing in the cracks and breaking up the driveway. Regardless of how well it worked for the intended purpose, it made the driveway look nice and black for a little while.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

I have used this before ( on drive ways ) we used squeegees to spread it out but its liquidty. they have a product for moble homes with tin roofs thats silver and will build its self as you roll or brush it on.
As they say here in the south whats a tornado and a divorce have in common,
Someone is going to lose a home!?

[Chuck S.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Yeah, I've used that silver stuff as roof coating before...it's also liquid; it's essentially asphalt paint with fillers. The toughest part is getting the solids up off the bottom of the pail and keeping them suspended until you can roll it out on the roof.

In our area, all built up roofs made of roofing paper and tar use that stuff as the finish coating to seal any possible cracks and UV protection. Lowes sells "Silver Dollar" brand; it's about $35 for five gallons.

Sorry, but I couldn't bring myself to use it on a Corvette though...it would remind me too much of my cousins, Cletus and Leroy.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

yea
one buddy of mine would never let me live it down!!!! if he caught me....
I could see him all over town, crying about what i just smeared all over my vette. And hes the one I helped with the cool seal.
Go figure

[Chuck S.]

Fool'im...Get Black (I Think It Comes In Black) *NM*

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: Fool'im...Get Black (I Think It Comes In Black

Hey
thats great, My wife is laughing at me over this.
I just bought a tube of Acryl-R by schnee-morehead inc, Don't laugh its true!
Its for my inclosed trailer roof vent that got shattered in the hail storms we had. The guy at the trailer shop said its the same as hallmark except for color, its gray and he said its what they use on big rig trailers, but reading the instructions it states that it stays ductile. but no mention of exspansion.
I may just have to give it a test where I can get back at it to remove if not what i want.

[Dick W.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

I have used the black plastic roofing patch material for years with good results. Just take a putty knife and spread it generously in the vent area.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Dick
thanks, will it stay pliable, I thought that plastic roof patch got hard as nails?
but thanks again for more info
anyone else messed with this part of the car? any other ideas
thanks
Michael

[Dick W.]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

The "plastic" patching material will stay pliable.

[Michael Ketterer]

Re: 68 to 72 wiper cowl area

Dick
thank you very much
looks like im off to the home improvment stores
Thanks again
Michael