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Flyfishnorth
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2013
Posts: 26
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
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 Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:10 pm Post subject: Engine compartment seal |
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Got new engine compartment seal for my '73 bus. Two questions:
1. Which way up? Seal has a curved side and a flat, would seem the curved side (on which the foam is 'closed') should go down, but want to be sure. What's left of the old one is not helpful, besides not sure I have faith in PO.
2. Any tips for installing?seems straightforward enough
Cheers |
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Bala
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2003
Posts: 2613
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Shinny side down. 
It's super easy to install, but make sure you stretch it a little as you go so when you make it to the end there is no gap. Personally I like it to meet up on the firewall side.
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1976 Westy
1966 Beetle |
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cmonSTART
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2014
Posts: 1915
Location: NH
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Too funny! I just did that an hour ago and had to look it up too! Shiny side down I guess. It was a bit tight on the 1 and 2 side - just took patience. |
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nerdhotrod
Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2014
Posts: 49
Location: CT
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm doing mine Saturday morning... Just showed up in the mail today! |
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Malokin Martin
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2007
Posts: 3099
Location: E-burg
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Installers choice.
Shiny side up: won't soak up stray oil over the years and become fuel for a fire
Shiny side down: won't soak up water/crud from the road
As said above - gap starts at top of tin by firewall
Why they haven't made a double backed seal is beyond me. |
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Flyfishnorth
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2013
Posts: 26
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys, installing tomorrow. Good to have suspicions confirmed.
How long does the seal typically last? (Only had the bus a week tomorrow) |
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matt94gt
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2014
Posts: 245
Location: Victoria BC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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I just did mine the other week, the hardest part was getting the old one and all the little bits out from the back panel/firewall behind the motor (forget the name). It was the 1st thing I did on my bus.
I ended up doing it shiny side up, but didn't look it up. I couldn't really tell why only one side would be shiny, and I thought it would make sense to keep it from absorbing anything IN the engine bay so I guess I did it wrong, but as well I guess it doesn't matter that much?
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72' Sunroof Bus - Kansas Beige
http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-21257.htm
Build thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7257521 |
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Flyfishnorth
Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2013
Posts: 26
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Well I appreciate Malokin's reply above about which side up, but I'm going with shiny side down. For one its thicker and maybe better at keeping the hot air out? And the flat, non-shiny side, seems to be open cell foam and maybe subject to holding moisture and grime, maybe not last as long.
Funny that something integral to the cooling of the engine is not addressed in Bentley (at least I couldn't find it). |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Flyfishnorth wrote: |
Thanks guys, installing tomorrow. Good to have suspicions confirmed.
How long does the seal typically last? (Only had the bus a week tomorrow) |
The seals seem to last about 6 to 8 years for me. Long ago I trimmed the edges of my engine tin to give more room for the seal to fit between the tin and body. This makes installation and removal that much easier and doesn't stress the seal as badly.
I have heard of people coating the seal with RTV silicone to give it protection for the elements. Haven't try it myself as of yet.
I used to put the joint towards the front as others have suggested, these days I put it to one side of the back. My thoughts on this are since the back area sees both more oil and heat it will deteriorate the fastest. By having the joint to one side of the back I can just cut out this bad area and lay in a bit of used but still serviceable seal that I am apt to have laying about. |
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tinlizard
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2010
Posts: 74
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Flyfishnorth wrote: |
Thanks guys, installing tomorrow. Good to have suspicions confirmed.
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x2. I signed on tonight to research the question. Good Samba! Good Boy!
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68 Beetle Vert
70 Single Cab
79 Transporter |
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my59
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003
Posts: 3790
Location: connecting the dots
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Malokin Martin wrote: |
Shiny side up: won't soak up stray oil over the years and become fuel for a fire
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Makes a hell of a gummy sticky mess when you put it out...no matter what side was up.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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