I used a urethane caulk intended for metal storefront extrusions.

 

Great Point, I should have mentioned this. Make sure your seam sealer can be applied to bare metal and follow the instructions! The Eastwood high solids sealer that I used stressed that the surface must be perfectly clean but did not mention any requirement for primer or paint.

Another thing I wish I had done differently would be to use masking tape. If I had used 2 strips of tape and sort of smeared the sealer back and forth, I could have peeled it up and had much better lines. Mine doesn't look terrible though for my purposes, it would be an abomination of a job on a show quality muscle car resto project though!

 

i noticed a small water drip from the trim at the ceiling of my truck. it was on the plastic molding inside the cab where the molding meets the windshield. the drip was pretty much right above the steering column. I don't think there are any rain gutters around there? What should I do here? could there be some kind of broken seal underneath that chrome trim that surrounds the windshield?

 

I've had the same leak there - you probably need to have your windscreen removed & resealed.
There's no rubber seal there..........the windscreen is 'glued' directly onto the cab with sealant.

 

I know this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone sees this. $30 for the Eastwood brand seems a little steep for a tube of sealant. Is it worth the cost? How many tubes would be needed for a full rain gutter job?

I'm seeing Vulkem sealing products that look compatible for the same purpose, but at much cheaper prices. Around $5-$10/tube.

 

I used some Sikaflex product and haven't had a problem.

I'm sure it wasn't more than $10 a tube.

 

I did not have to re-seal the rain gutter but where the roof panel meets the front & rear posts.
I used 3M drip check sealer for the small seams but I know from the past it can get hard and crack if put thru a lot of flexing.


When I replaced the floors, rockers, cab corners I used SEM seam sealer on the edges, it stays flexable. I used a tube & gun on the first pass to force it into the seams. I then went over the seams with SEM brush on to make sure the seams were sealed. Oh you can paint over the SEM sealer.
For the gutter if you put it on thick and use your finger to smooth it out I think it would turn out good.
Dave ----

 

Silicone is a VERY bad move, Silicone eats the sheet metal, and you will cross contaminate any where you touch and will never hold paint!
The Silicone patch may look good, But give it three years and you can easily drive a screw driver through the silicone and the metal under it......

Just look back at all the people who siliconed the windshield and wondered why the windshield frame rotted anyway....

 

You must be talking about the other guys as mine is made for use on cars & trucks.
Dave ----

 

Correct FuzzFace, I used SEM seam sealer too. As for the windshield there is no "Sealant" as in something from a calking gun, The trucks of this vintage use a Butyl tape to adhere the glass to the frame, actually the "chrome trim" applies a small amount of pressure to the seal....

 

What ever sealant you use, it has to be very flexible and stretchy when it dries. You would be surprised how much these trucks flex as they go down the road. The only thing I have seen that might even come close at a regular hardware store would be that sealer you use for aluminum gutters when you put them together.

 

That is butyl too.

Just like the urethane I used, different applications call for different viscosity.

You might want something thicker to seal the seams from gutter to window front and rear.
Gutter seal is good for wicking into joints but would likely run right through there.

It does get brittle in 5-10 years.
​​​​​​​Which is why i went with urethane over butyl

 

I been using GE clear silicone last couple times i've done it. You can do many trucks with one tube. The GE is 8-10$ a tube, really soft stuff, easily spread it around as you wish, once it drys, remains flexible. Fantastic product, not just for Ford rain gutters either!

 

SEM 1k Seam Sealer seemed to do the trick!

 

More Silicone? Arrrgh!!