Ghia Engine to fire wall seal gap

[Marcdeb]

When looking behind the engine shroud, where the engine fits under the firewall, I noticed that the rubber seal does not close the gap. Is this normal? I've read so many posts about how important it is for the air flow to be maintained as designed. Is there something wrong with how this looks? Or is it normal?
Here's a picture of the drivers side of the engine seal and the passenger side. The gap is quite wide at least half an inch or more.

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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Glenn]

Rubber shrinks over the years. But you'd have to remove the engine to replace the seal.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[Marcdeb]

[Ian Godfrey]

Some times the frame forks that hold the gearbox drop with time and hard starts, so the motor sits lower than it should.
how the the motor look against the rear seal and the panel work beside the motor?

[Marcdeb]

I'm not sure this helps, is there a measurement I could compare that would tell me if the engine is sitting low?

_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[Ian Godfrey]

interesting, the side looks good, how is it at the pulley? is the rear tinware pulling down on the seal or does it look like the side?

[Marcdeb]

[Ian Godfrey]

Marc, well that has me foxed, the rear tin looks about the right height to me, so I don't thing the fork is bent.
Also, I don't think the gap at the front is a problem from a cooling point of view, more air will come in there, but also more dust and dirt.
when I first tried to keep my race engine cool I ran with out the front tin for a few weeks and cooling was better, not worse. I ended propping the front of the boot lid as that worked better again.
Unless some one has new thoughts I think we are down the end of this rabbit hole

[rcooled]

I just measured my '67, and the engine appears to be tilted a bit to the left. For reference, the distance from the rear deck down to the tin on the left side is .80", on the right side it's .62", and in the rear it's .55". This discrepancy does not affect the way the car drives, and I have no gaps anywhere between the tin and the rubber seals.

Several factors at play here. Tin not perfectly flat or a little off in the way it's screwed down, transmission mounts compressed a bit, rubber seal not placed properly, etc.
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'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)

[Marcdeb]

I haven't been able to find any pictures of the firewall seal for comparison, but I too have a feeling it might be installed wrong? For now, doesn't sound like an issue. On to the next item on the loooong list.
Thanks for the help.
_________________
Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio

Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
2003 Saab 9-3 SE Conv
2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata

68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
71 Ghia Vert Restoration: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726710&postorder=asc

[BIGMIKEY]

Late reply....

Here are pictures of my seal installed and with the engine installed. Your seal is upside down compared to mine. Mine seals fine..

Mike T
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BIGMIKEY

Deserter Series 1 project.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=787047&highlight=

1973 Beetle Driver, Marina Blue.