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MG TD TF 1500 - Firewall putty

I have read somewhere that there should be putty placed between the firewall and the tub before fastening the two together. What are members using for this? Any tips for applying? Thanks.

Bill
Bill Reid TD4618

Picture attached of what I use. It's called strip putty.

BD Darsch

I used the same thing, worked well. I think I got it on Amazon.

Tim
Timothy Burchfield

Yep. I got mine from a RV/Trailer supply. Just make sure it's paintable.
Christopher Couper

I used 3M caulking strips. It can be painted.

Frank

TF 1414

Frank Cronin

I use a former black Telecom product which came in nice long lengths. It 'oozes' nicely like the original type of seal used. If you look under the interior side of the scuttle, you can see the edges of the material coming out of the edges where the bulkhead flanges meet the wood pieces. On an untouched TF body tub I have, the same form is evident.

Cheers
Rob Grantham
TF3719("Aramis"),TF9177("Athos").
Rob Grantham

I got the same 3M material as Frank used. I is nice in that you can put it on either side of the bolt holes. It will squish out when you bolt it up. Bill Chasser gave me a package of it. He used it on his current TD project.
Bruce Cunha

One other note: My experience is not to rush the paint job after bolting this all up. This stuff continues to ooze weeks (months?) after. If you paint too soon you will end up touching up the oozed caulk. This is especially true if you experience a drastic temperature change during the period. I have also gone back in and made sure the bolts were snug too after a few weeks.
Christopher Couper

Oh bother! I was not aware of this use of putty and my firewall is well and truly bolted up. The rest of the bodywork has been temporarily bolted up before dismantling for final painting.
I live in a reasonably dry subtropical area and am wondering if it is worth the significant effort to separate the firewall to add putty? I had not tended to take the body off the chassis for painting (it is primed). Am I cutting too many corners?
Chris
C I Twidle

Chris: If it was me I would take the time, but that is me.

Will it make a huge difference? Probably not. It's only about 1/8". That can probably be taken up by slack in other places.

The question is will you lie awake every night thinking if you should have? Or when your bonnet just does not fit quite right will you ponder if this would have made a difference. :-)

I wonder if you could loosen everything up and then wedge something between the firewall and wood to allow you to "slide" the caulk strips in place and then tighten, rather than having to pull the body off the chassis and completely separate everything?
Christopher Couper

Chris, thanks for taking the time to think of a potential way out for me. I thought TF2071 was being particularly cantankerous when having those parts of her anatomy brought back together after being apart for some 40 years and I am very keen not to disturb what I think is quite a good fit between the bonnet and firewall.
One further question if I may: the bonnet hinge seems to work smoothly but the RH bonnet panel is very easy to slide backwards down forwards. Is there some secret method for locking it in the correct position?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
C I Twidle

Chris: I would start another thread on your bonnet hinge question.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 24/12/2019 and 29/12/2019

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