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MG MGA - Rubber/foam experts

Further to my post below I have gap between the cockpit and the engine compartment. Its about 1/2 wide and 6" long. It was formerly filled with horse hair.

What kind of foam rubber product would be acceptable and be able to with stand the heat generated in the engine bay. I realize that its not a huge amount of heat, but repeated exposure to a couple hundered degree air would degrade a bunch of foam products.

Thanks,

Tysen
Tysen

Oakum might be a good bet for his. Get it from a plumbing shop.
John

Second the oakum.
D Sjostrom

Being unfamiliar with the product, is oakum something flexible enought so that you could stuff into the gap without removing the firewall?

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

Oakum, isn't that what they filled the seams of ship's planks with followed by tar?

Is it hydrophyllic?
Tysen

Oakum is a rope type fiber cord that is saturated with a type of sticky grease(glue) mixture. It is slightly dry to the touch and was used to fill the gap in plumbing joints. When a plumber would joint 4 inch sewer pipes togeather he would jamb the joint partly full of oakum to create a seal and then pour molten lead over top of it to complete the joint. Today they just use 4 inch PVC plastic pipe.
So if it could stand the heat of molten lead it should withstand the heat of your engine.
gordon

Oakum- http://www.pollardwater.com/emarket/Pages/P642oakum.asp
John

You may also find it in a marine supply as it was and may still be used as the packing in an inboard's stuffing box.
Doug
D Sjostrom

Tyson, I'd suggest checking with some place like McMaster-Carr for a suitable product. http://www.mcmaster.com/
If you chose a foam product, make sure it's a closed cell foam which will not absorb water. I have about a 10" section of my cowl which requires replacement because of rust from the bottom side due to moisture being trapped in the stuffing at this point.
Bill Young

I just checked that McMaster-Carr website, and they seem to have a good number of high-heat sealants that can be applied with a caulking gun. Would these work just as well as a foam or felt product? Which of their offered sealants would be best for this application?

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

I use fiberglas house insulation, dry easy to replace and does'nt hold water.
w.g cook

http://www.gesealants.com/sealants/residential/portfolio/other/polycel.shtml , http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/auto_marine_aero/marine/node_GSQR1F3842be/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GS4JK4Y166ge/gvel_QH8HT14PGTgl/theme_us_marine_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html ,
and http://www.gesealants.com/sealants/diy/whatsnew/pressreleases/spaceinvaderrelease.shtml
may be of some interest to you.
Bob Muenchausen

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2005 and 19/09/2005

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