Engine firewall seal

[California Westy]

Ok here's my dumb question for 2007. I have 69 bus and upon doing some maintenance today I discovered the Engine Firewall Seal(over transmission) has shrunk up and has a large gap in it on one side.

I'd like to replace it but does the engine need to come out to replace it.

Yes I know the search engine is my friend but nothing came up on this subject.

Thanks

[renobdarb]

Are you talking about the foam seal that circles the engine?
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1978 Campmobile, 2000cc w/hydro lifters, dual Weber 44 IDF carbs (50 idle jets, 115 main jets), SVDA distributor w/Compufire.

[Karl]

68-71 bays did not use a foam seal. It is rubber.

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=111813705A

[sluggo]

[VanderBus]

I replaced mine while the engine was out and so can't comment on how to do it any other way. What I will add is that the new seal I bought left a gap on both sides that didn't look right so I bought another one fom a different supplier and it was the same length. I wasn't real pleased with that but had been running with that gap for the last several years and forgot about it until now. The point is that a new seal might not look any different.
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1969 Bug (in pieces)
1970 Bus (daily driver)

[brenthughes]

Vanderbus,

It sounds as if you have a Type 1 firewall tin in your '70 Bay. The stock firewall tin for your bus has pieces added in the upper corners to give it a more square shape. If you have a doghouse shroud on your engine you will need the '71 Type 2 tin because it has the hole for the oil cooler's air exit.

California Westy,
Could this be your problem too? Check to see if there is a similiar gap on the other side.


For what it is worth, I would not want to run my bus with a gap in the firewall. The fan intake is only inches away and would seemingly gobble up hot air rising off the #3 and #1 Exhaust pipes, especially while sitting in traffic.

I hope this is helpful,
Brent Hughes
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68 Beetle
68 Double Cab
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[VanderBus]

[panic_fan]

[420GOAT]

WTF? same seal for all uprights. rubber yes. gaps in the corners yes...sometimes. apron tin seal 111-705d is also the same and usually fills the gaps.
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once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine

[panic_fan]

[420GOAT]

firewall seal only comes in rubber. the foam is "custom" unless you have a type four motor from a later bus #411-225. yes pull the motor. youll work just as hard if you dont.
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once you realize im not impressed we will get along just fine

[ol'westy]

Hello all,
I pulled the firewall on my 74 westy with an eye to replacing the fuel hoses. In the process, a thin piece of foam fell off the bottom of the firewall. It looks like it is made of simple open cell foam. It is a little brittle but still somewhat squishy. Here are some pics.

Foam still intact and attached:

Foam missing from bottom of firewall

The missing piece of foam. Looks to be 7/16 wide x 3/16 thick

I found this at the local HD. Size seems right but not sure if heat is a concern.

Anyone else replace your firewall seal and what did you use?
Thanks!

[jtauxe]

I would use a bead of plumber's putty. I never liked the idea of foam, since it would be inflammable (what folks call "flammable" these days) and not really airtight anyways, and certainly not gasoline tight.

But, now that I think of it, I have never tested the plumber's putty with gasoline...
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John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[SGKent]