Prep For Winter

[Hydro-idi]

As you may know, winter is just around the bend. I figured I would start a thread in regards to the hood seal. There has been many issues with rain water entering into the engine compartment with these trucks due to worn hood to cowl seals, and can potentially cause hydro-lock, electrical damage, etc. And since winter is approaching soon, why not talk about ways to fix this. Mine too is in need of replacement. So I went on lmctruck.com last night to see if they carried a seal for our trucks. Well I was having a real hard time justifying $40 for a darn piece of rubber with screw holes in it, so I decided to improvise .
Today, I went to Lowes and looked in their weatherstrip section. I came across a garage door bottom weatherstrip package. It consists of a heavy duty rubber strip about 9 feet long and a little over 2 inches wide. This strip is also tapered on one end making it perfect for a hood seal.
The old hood to cowl seal will be taken off and used as a template for the new seal. Simple enough aye?

Price= less than $10
Where?=Lowes Home Improvement
What? MD Premium Rubber Garage Door Bottom

Hope this helps anyone who is in need of a new cowl seal but cannot justify the price for a replacement one....like me!

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[91idi]

That is a great idea! All 3 of my trucks have water in the engine lid problems. It's a good thing I keep good seals in the lids.

 

[riotwarrior]

I like this idea alot...I think I will be seeing if the local HW store has this...hmmm....Indeed I'll be allover this!

 

[Hydro-idi]

I never have had any issues with water entering into the intake manifold. When it rains, however, the top of my air intake always has a large puddle of water on it so it will need to get fixed before this winter. Shouldn't take me more than 10 minutes to fix with this idea. It isn't worth ignoring in my opinion.

 

[whiteboyslo]

What's this 'winter' thing you speak of?

 

[Hydro-idi]

Haha. The little rain we get here in Cali

 

[dgr]

What's this 'winter' thing you speak of?

it happened back in
79 iirc. If you were there, you remember it.

 

[dgr]

Am i correct in assuming that little plastic shelf along my cowl is the guts of the old seal? Or is that where the seal attaches? Martini lunch for engineers that day

PresPleaset some pics when you do it

 

[Hydro-idi]

Am i correct in assuming that little plastic shelf along my cowl is the guts of the old seal? Or is that where the seal attaches? Martini lunch for engineers that day

PresPleaset some pics when you do it

That's the cowl seal. It used to be rubber, but time and heat will cause it to turn into plastic and not seal water off very well.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Mine hardened and broke away in chunks many years ago.

I have never actually noticed any ill effects from it's absence, but will definitely be looking for some of that garage seal stuff the next trip to LOWES.

I can't swear to this; but, if my memory serves, on my truck, there is a lipped steel strip that the cowl seal is sandwiched between.

The cowl seal goes against the fire-wall, then the metal strip over the seal, then the screws through the metal strip, through the seal, and into the fire-wall.

I hope I haven't lost that metal strip.


Although it may prevent some water intrusion, I actually believe the intention of that seal is to prevent oil and such from spattering the wind-shield.

Gallons of water can pour in along either edge of the hood.

 

[Kevin 007]

LMC is selling them cowl seals for 29.95 now. I just ordered one. Couldn't find any appropriate weather stripping around here.