70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

The Bowtie candidates at the convention don't show the gray or silver sealant -- at least not with the tops (any kind) on. I wasn't around if the tops were removed, so I could only look at the cars as they sat. What sealant I could see was black, and looked like strip caulk -- but that is not what you asked about.

I asked a couple of people who have done a lot of restoration work, and they reported that both gray and silver colored sealant was used.

More investigation is needed.

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Hello All,
My opinion about silver is based on my observation of low mileage cars and my 44 K, 71.
Because I also have questions about the make-up of the sealing dam used for the windshield sealer installation, I've looked at the A-pillars, and windshield headers of far too many cars over the last 10 years. I have always thought silver, not gray. There is a bead of gray sealer on the underside of the SS header trim, but that is still somewhat flexible even after all these years, and quite unlike the sealer I'm asking about.
Regards,
Alan

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Hello All,
My opinion about silver is based on my observation of low mileage cars and my 44 K, 71.
Because I also have questions about the make-up of the sealing dam used for the windshield sealer installation, I've looked at the A-pillars, and windshield headers of far too many cars over the last 10 years. I have always thought silver, not gray. There is a bead of gray sealer on the underside of the SS header trim, but that is still somewhat flexible even after all these years, and quite unlike the sealer I'm asking about.
Regards,
Alan

I'm trying to keep an open mind. I suppose I'm skeptical that both silver, and gray, sealant was used...I'll have to keep my eye out for the silver on unrestored cars.

If both silver AND gray were used in addition to the black seam sealant, it should be identified on the AIM page I referenced (coupe). Only two sealing products are detailed on the AIM page, and there are no instructions for silver touch up, etc...any silver "sealant" would have had to be applied by a supplier before the parts got to the plant.

As Terry observed, I frankly would expect to see NO sealant on the outside of the reveal moldings. Any sealant on the outside of the moldings should be incidental and removed before shipping or during dealer prep.

[Alan S.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Hi Chuck,
I agree with you that I wouldn't expect to see any 'sealer' on the outside of the various pieces of SS windshield trim.
I called it sealer for lack of a better word. I believe it was a cosmetic item used to fill a tiny gap between the 2 parts of the A-pillar trim, and the 2 pieces of the Header trim. The place you see the most of it is where the long thin piece of Header trim tucks under the top of the A-pillar trim, and even there, there's very little of it. In the cars that I've looked at it has always been applied in a careful manner, unlike the 'leak sealer' which seems to usually have as much gobbed on as it took to stop a leak.
Once we finish this discussion can we move on to the 'Housing Crisis' and the 'Situation in Afghanistan'?
Regards,
Alan

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Once we finish this discussion can we move on to the 'Housing Crisis' and the 'Situation in Afghanistan'?...

No prob.

Experts say the "housing crisis" is going to bottom next Spring. Of course, it very much depends on where you're trying to sell...or buy...as to whether there's a "crisis". Personally, I'm positioning myself to move to the Texas Hill Country, and quit this dam desert, but Texas real estate is holding up pretty well.

Afghanistan: My opinion...we should hold our stock in Iraq, and pull out of Afghanistan. Let the Afghanis sort it out; Afghanistan DOES have "Viet Nam" written all over it, and there ain't no oil or anything else of value there. Nothing but poverty and sand...kind of like where I'm living now. If the Taliban idiots get to causing trouble for us again, we go back in there and deliver a bunch more of them to Paradise...I love technology.

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Back to the sealants.

There is a lot of what appears to be grey chalking under the corners pieces. Definitely appears to be applied with a chalk gun of some kind.

Any idea what it is and where I can get some?

The rest appears to be dum gum and those foam strips or dams. I have that part figured out.

I am hoping to treat the windshield frame rust this Sunday since it will be 70 degrees!

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Back to the sealants.

There is a lot of what appears to be grey chalking under the corners pieces. Definitely appears to be applied with a chalk gun of some kind.

Any idea what it is and where I can get some?

The rest appears to be dum gum and those foam strips or dams. I have that part figured out.

I am hoping to treat the windshield frame rust this Sunday since it will be 70 degrees!

Bill,

See another thread discussed a couple of weeks ago where Greg Heitman shows some gray Norton brand trip caulk sealant.

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

I read the thread previously and will use some of the gray chalking as suggested.

I was hoping for someone to chime in on a gun applied gray chalking as that is how it appears the factory applied the sealant in the corners of the windshield frame.

[Bill L.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Well I have been doing a little more research.

What about the gray seam sealer that comes out of a cartridge for the corners. Is it possible that is what GM used?

I see a Bondo brand and 3M brand. The 3M requires a special gun so I am leaning towards the brand name Bondo stuff which comes in a standard caulk gun cartridge.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70 Windshield and pillar post reveal sealing

Well I have been doing a little more research.

What about the gray seam sealer that comes out of a cartridge for the corners. Is it possible that is what GM used?

I see a Bondo brand and 3M brand. The 3M requires a special gun so I am leaning towards the brand name Bondo stuff which comes in a standard caulk gun cartridge.

Seam sealer is typically hardening, and that's not what you want for sealing underneath these moldings. Function is the key here; form (gun-applied vs. strip) or color does not matter because the sealant is hidden by the moldings.

Hardening seam sealer is more of a cosmetic filler than a sealant; it's applied to gaps where panels are joined, smoothed, then painted. There are also non-hardening seam sealers, and those are probably closest to the material identified by Tag 57 in the AIM sheets.