63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

[Kenneth B.]

Hello, folks,

I am in the process of replacing the heater box assembly in my 63.

When I originally removed the core, there was some kind of sealant (dumdum maybe) between the heater core mounting frame and the heater box. I was hardened and somewhat difficult to remove. I'm pretty sure Bubba might have been there years ago, so I'm not sure if that sealant belongs there.

Should there be sealant there? If so, what kind should I use?

Thanks in advance.

[Douglas L.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

Ken,

If the stuff you are scraping off is white, try going to HOME DEPOT or LOWES and buying a tube of glass bedding compound. It's white and works pretty good.

Doug Lee

[Joel T.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

Ken,

Nope, that stuff should not be there... I did my 1963 a little over a year ago, and it was a complete mess. Bubba used some black silicone stuff in mine which I scraped out. Check your core mount, mine was well rusted and needed to be replaced. I picked up a seal kit from Paragon along with a new mounting frame. The instructions which they provide with the seal kit are not that clear. I wound up buying some thin foam rubber from Walmart and making my own seal, at least one. Sprayed the foam with black paint and it blended in perfectly. The other big issue is the mounting bolts, I had to reinforce one or two, from the back, with resin which I also painted black.... Turned out fine in the end.

Good luck,

Joel

[Bryan L.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

I just got through doing that on my 67. I went down to the PPG paint store and bought some of what we used to call rope caulk. It is a 3M product and I think it was labeled sealant strips. It seems to be pretty close in color and consistency to what the factory used. I've got a bunch of it left over, I think the package had 60 strips and I used 4 or 5.

BL

[Jim T.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

Bryan the 3M sealant strips has many uses on many uses on automobiles. Paint will stick to the applied strips and helps keep it cleaner.

[Jim W.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

Ken, Can't advise on what to use , but I just came accross the exact same condition and sealant when I took mine out recently from early 64 . It was dark grey and brittle and I dont think it had ever been opened up before since all the goop that was dribbled over the engine side heater box nuts and firewall insulation fasteners was still intact. I've read that Dr.Rebuild has good repair kits for this subject.

[John D.]

Re: 63 Heater Core Frame - Sealant Type?

Ken, See this years past archives for the answer to your question. Dave Kitch and others had a number of posts and solutions to the question. john