Re: 55PackardGuy's '54 Clipper Deluxe

Posted by d c On 2014/11/18 17:27:26

While working on another project many years ago I needed to cushion (rubber insulate) the fuel tank and radiator mounts I had fabricated. At my local full service hardware store (not insert any big box store) I stumbled accross 1/4 in and 1/8 in and 3/16 black rubber. He had the 1/4 and 1/8 in rolls 3ft wide sold by the foot-cheap. This is not masticated rubber as sold on some web sites, just black rubber (see pix). I used the 1/8 in to renew the vent flapper seals using the old as patterns traced onto the new and cut with a large pair of old school tin snips I had. They made very clean, accurate curved cuts with speed and ease. For this project all the cuts are straight so a steel ruler or sheetrock Tsq and utility knife will work also. I measured the OD ofthe tube with the wifes cloth tape and the length needed and allowed a 1 in overlap on all sides and cut the rubber sheet, punched 1/8 holes along the edge of the rolled seam, measure and mark a straight line equal to the tube circumference , and rolled the sheet and pushed an awl through to mark the hole. I used a rivet with a plastic washer under the head and a stainless washer on the inside but you may use any combination of hrdwr that suits you. With apprx 1 in rivet spacing I tried to insert a feeler gauge half way between the rivets and the seam is quite tight. You may decrease the rivet spacing if you like but I find there is no air space due to rivet clamping. I had the seam up but if the seam is turned to the bottom as well as the band clamp heads the repair will be unnoticeable, though not accordian style like the original they are flexible, quiet, with no unwanted air,heat, or engine noise. They are easy to remove and install by pinching in the middle and wiggling forward and bending in half. It took an afternoon for the 2 and about eleven bucks. I know there are factory correct black flex hoses on the market and some have said something about organ pipe ducting but the ones I had seen were in the 75 dollar range. If anyone else has a solution It would be helpful to post a link or vendor and a price rather than just a statement of "aftermarket" or "wind pipe duct" .
The vent flaps took about a day including removing,preping, and painting the pipes,flaps,dash heater box etc but that was done when the fenders were off preping for paint.

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