Radiator Core Support Seals.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Radiator Core Support Seals.
I'm a little confused about what core support seal kit I should buy for a 1977 Corvette with an L88 hood. I'm guessing I want a good tall foam set for the upper edge of the support.
Thanks for your help everyone.
Thanks for your help everyone.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Apr 11, 2007 at 10:24 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
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I got mine from Doc Rebuild, but ended up using some additional soft foam rubber pipe insulation to supplement the kit, I have an aftermarket hi-rise hood. I used 3-M weatherstrip adhesive to hold them in place.
Call Doc Rebuild, they are very helpful.
Call Doc Rebuild, they are very helpful.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
So the wasn't a kit with a thick enough piece for the higher rise hoods? What did they use when the L88 hood was stock? I wonder if a kit for that car would fit a '77 okay.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Yes, you will need to replace them. The key is to seal all the way around the radiator as Bernie said. You're goal is to let air go ONLY through the radiator.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 96
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From: Independence Mo.
Alternate material for seals
I went to the local hardware store and purchased several roll of weather stripping. I first cleaned the radiator support with a good cleaner and applied a row of weatherstripping, then on top of that more rows as needed to fill in the gaps, it may not be factory but it defintenly works. Hope this helps Gary B.
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Instructor
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From: michigan
I have been looking for a large size foam piece about 2 inches wide for my 79 and the kits I have seen are for the top of the radiator frame to the closed hood and for the sides, too small for the area from top of radiator itself to the top of radiator frame. I guess it's off the hardware store to see if I can fabricate something.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Champlin Minnesota
I tried the pipe foam and while it worked it did not look so hot, so I found some foam that is used on window a/c units and cut to fit, looks much better and does just as good as the pipe foam did.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
Tell me more about this A/C foam. Where do you get it and what does it look like / how is it packaged?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 293
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From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Durango/Hotshot 79 -- I replaced all mine and then switched to electric fans.
You could easily fab your own top seal to match the height of your hood and for that matter all the seals could be made. I have seen the same type of seal material at Home Depot or Lowes.
After I orderd the seal kit and saw what it consisted of, I realized it wasnt anything fancy. It would be very easy to cut the material, add a strip of 3m double stick adhesive to the bottom and you are in business.
Matter of fact if I ever reseal another radiator like this, I will fab my own set of seals -- cheaper and since the seals I got didnt fit exactly right, I could ensure proper fitment.
Cheers,
Crunch
You could easily fab your own top seal to match the height of your hood and for that matter all the seals could be made. I have seen the same type of seal material at Home Depot or Lowes.
After I orderd the seal kit and saw what it consisted of, I realized it wasnt anything fancy. It would be very easy to cut the material, add a strip of 3m double stick adhesive to the bottom and you are in business.
Matter of fact if I ever reseal another radiator like this, I will fab my own set of seals -- cheaper and since the seals I got didnt fit exactly right, I could ensure proper fitment.
Cheers,
Crunch
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
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Home Depot, Lowes or any hardware store. It is approximately 2" x 2" x several feet long (usually black in color) and is used to seal the gap between the window sashes when you install a window mounted a/c unit in your house. Frost King is probably the most widely found maker of the stuff, but any foam rubber (example - foam rubber pipe insulation) will work well.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Home Depot, Lowes or any hardware store. It is approximately 2" x 2" x several feet long (usually black in color) and is used to seal the gap between the window sashes when you install a window mounted a/c unit in your house. Frost King is probably the most widely found maker of the stuff, but any foam rubber (example - foam rubber pipe insulation) will work well.
Sweet, thanks so much. I'll use an electric bread knife to trim it nice to match the hood a little bit.
