When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm hoping someone can assist here. There's been previous threads on this but no clear solution...
I need to replace the rubber seals on the two flapper doors within the heater box of my 1972 coupe (with factory air, if that's relevant - see pics below.
See attached pics with the two seals highlights.
Zip sells a heater box seal rebuild kit here and pictured below, however these are only foam seals (not rubber.).
I'm happy to cut my own from a sheet of rubber if that's necessary.
Richard (lakerider57), if you're reading this I accidental deleted your PM response! I don't think it was the seals I was referring to though.
I ordered the kit from CC and found it to be a big disappointment; I think I used 4 or 5 of the pieces and made do with my 48 year old seals or cobbled up what I needed. For the most part, I found the materials to be cheap foam and not reproductions.
I ordered the kit from CC and found it to be a big disappointment; I think I used 4 or 5 of the pieces and made do with my 48 year old seals or cobbled up what I needed. For the most part, I found the materials to be cheap foam and not reproductions.
I had a suspicion this was the case. With that in mind, I'm fine to try and emulate the same materials and cut my own seals (both for these flappers, and the others in the kit). They don't need to contain pressure, and not exposed to any fluids other than air. As such I'm not overly concerned with exact dimensions or profiles. And as for materials, I'll aim to emulate what's there (e.g. foam for foam, rubber for rubber).
Many of the kits look to only contain foam seals (as also discussed in other threads).
If anyone else has another suggestion or suitable retail parts, please let me know.
I recently ordered a seal kit and will agree that it was lackluster at best. It is the kit you have pictured above. For me it was the same as 67:72 and I ended up using very little and made my own.
I can't offer advice on the 'foam' seals. But the kick panel door seals can be made using "craft foam" sheets from any craft store (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc). They come in 10"X12" sheets and you can buy them individually or in a pack. They cost about $1 or so for each sheet. From my experience using them, the black craft foam sheets (about 1/8" thick) are a 'dead-ringer' for the original material used for the door seals.
I rebuilt the passenger side kick panel door about 10 years ago using that craft foam and it still is doing the job well with no deterioration.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Oct 21, 2020 at 12:17 AM.
Heater box seals
