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I got a cowl vent seal for my '56. I saw instructions that said to use rubber cement and some clamps or clips. I'm not feeling confident that rubber cement will stand up to the heat. Is rubber cement what you all used? I also noticed that around the corners the actual sealing surface doesn't make good contact to the cowl. Has anyone tried to make any relief cuts to the underside of the seal in those areas? Anyone have a photo of their installation so I can know what is the best I can hope for? Thanks for any info in advance. Matt
3M 08008 is exactly what you need. Common item at parts stores.
Don't cut the corners. Apply a very thin bead to truck, use a small brush (acid bush, toothbrush, etc.) to spread. Do the same to the seal. Wait for it to dry to 'tacky'. Apply another small bead and spread, as before, to either the seal or truck (not both) and install. Mine stayed in place without clamping, done this way it has very good holding power. I closed the cowl vent overnight and haven't had an issue since.
I use it a lot on fire trucks and if firemen can't tear it up it must be good. ;-)
I made two pattern pieces of 1/8" masonite that fit inside the rubber seal at the ends. I used them to hold the rubber in place. I used a heat gun and gentle heat to get the corners to take the bend more readily. I kept it all clamped down foe a few days to adjust to its new shape. When I permanently installed it, I did not let the weatherstrip adhesive dry. There is no way in the world that the rubber was ever going to go back on if the adhesive is acting like contact cement. I installed it, half at a time on wet adhesive. When it was in place, I again used the masonite along with other pieces of wood to clamp the seal down into place. I waited a few days before removing all the clamping. So far, no problems. The adhesive does dry and affect a strong bond, but when installing on "wet" with adhesive, that takes longer. Even though the rubber seal on my truck is well attached and fits well on the cowl, I think it is a bit tall. I'm hoping that when I take the truck out of the garage and the sun warms up the vent, that the seal compresses a bit.
I've been trying for several weeks to get the cowl vent to install properly. At first I thought the problem was because I was missing one of the clips that hold the mechanism to the crossbar. Once I fixed that problem I reinstalled the vent. I did make some relief cuts at the corners to help the seal lay flat but it still doesn't close properly. As you can see in the photo, the driver's side is too high. I don't see any way to adjust the mechanism and can't think of what to try next.
The directions given on that video are great if all your doing is laying out a flat piece of wetherstrip on a flat surface. But the cowl vent rubber has a deep channel that has fit around and be fully seated into the metal of the cowl. If one can install this rubber using the technique offered in this video, I'd love to know how it was done. Based on my own experience installing this rubber, the rubber wouldn't even be halfway over the cowl metal before the grip of the adhesive prevented it from moving anymore and being fully seated. The video should have gone on to show that if the "wet" bond (which failed to hold in the video) had been allowed to sit with a weight or clamp on it for a few days, then the bond would be as strong as the "dry" bond.
Exactly that. My wife installed ours on the 56. She applied a small amount of the 3M just in the groove, enough to allow it to cover the lip but not ooze everywhere, she also opted to install it from under the dash, then we just shut the vent on it for a few days. Perfect. Another **** about face way,but that's how we roll here in the UK!
08008 is't like the contact cement you would use with laminates, etc. I use it quite a bit, without issues. Installing my vent seal was, maybe, a twenty minute job with most of the time spent cleaning/prepping. I'm not trying to argue a point, I've just read quite a few complaints regarding how difficult it is to install and I'm offering up what worked for me.
I've been trying for several weeks to get the cowl vent to install properly. At first I thought the problem was because I was missing one of the clips that hold the mechanism to the crossbar. Once I fixed that problem I reinstalled the vent. I did make some relief cuts at the corners to help the seal lay flat but it still doesn't close properly. As you can see in the photo, the driver's side is too high. I don't see any way to adjust the mechanism and can't think of what to try next.
let us know if you figure out why your cowl if high on one side, mine is doing the exact same thing. Its frustrating.
Exactly that. My wife installed ours on the 56. She applied a small amount of the 3M just in the groove, enough to allow it to cover the lip but not ooze everywhere, she also opted to install it from under the dash, then we just shut the vent on it for a few days. Perfect. Another **** about face way,but that's how we roll here in the UK!
Mate, you sound like an Aussie! And then I noticed you are from the UK. I use that expression all the time
let us know if you figure out why your cowl if high on one side, mine is doing the exact same thing. Its frustrating.
I haven't figured out yet why the cowl vent is high on one side. However, I was looking for a photo taken before I took the truck apart to make sure I put the hood trim back on correctly and this is what I found.
First I was able to confirm that the upper spear of the hood trim was put on upside down by the P.O. and that's why the notes I made were wrong. Second, as I looked closer at the picture I realized that the cowl vent was too high on the left. Apparently, its been that way for a while and has nothing to do with how I put it in.
Nice to know it wasn't my fault but I still don't know how to fix it.
Mine looks the same Dan. I came to me that it may be a simple matter of metal fatigue.
I am on my 3rd Miata. My first was a used first generation model with the headlight doors. They used to get out of alignment constantly. Now, keep in mind, they are aluminum, but could the same principal apply? could it bee the cowl cover has just gotten twisted a bit, over time?
I don't know what the degree of small arc, If there really is one, might have to be but I just can't accept they all look like that and they all leak. I have probably owned 6 or 7 Fords with cowl vents and this is the only one that has ever leaked.
Mine looks the same Dan. I came to me that it may be a simple matter of metal fatigue.
I am on my 3rd Miata. My first was a used first generation model with the headlight doors. They used to get out of alignment constantly. Now, keep in mind, they are aluminum, but could the same principal apply? could it bee the cowl cover has just gotten twisted a bit, over time?
I don't know what the degree of small arc, If there really is one, might have to be but I just can't accept they all look like that and they all leak. I have probably owned 6 or 7 Fords with cowl vents and this is the only one that has ever leaked.
I like your idea that the vent is twisted a bit. However, I had to replace the vent because the original one was rusted out. It would be a real coincidence if both the old and new vent were twisted the same way. I think the problem is with the lift mechanism but I can't figure out how to adjust it. Not much there to bend.
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