Caulking Strips

[NOT A T5]

Does anyone know where these genuine FORD caulking strips are used?  This is a TEST of your knowledge!   :whistling:

 

[Stanglover]

Does anyone know where these genuine FORD caulking strips are used?  This is a TEST of your knowledge!   :whistling:

 Along the top of the fender aprons between the fender and apron. Yes, no, maybe?  My body shop guy used a similar mastic strip when my car was re-assembled, so perhaps that's is what theses are intended for. Other uses come to mind.

 

[midlife]

What is this... a strip tease?

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Yes Ford put the strip calk on the inner fender before installing the outer and they did that as far back as 1949 that I know of. Helps keep the road grime and water out of the engine compartment.

I use it on the roof rail trim sometimes also. It stays soft and does not harden so it can flex some when needed and not leak. I use around the studs in the tail light panel and anywhere it needs to be sealed up. Also on the quarter panel end caps.

Also have used to seal up the tail light assembly to the gasket. I have also used the 3M windshield mastic but it is way more expensive and very sticky if you have to take apart.

You can buy rolls of the stuff at your home supply or they sell the boxes of strips like you show at the car paint supply. It works and has for years and is better at filling big voids that the thin foam tape they put on the roof rails that about always leaked new.

 

[NOT A T5]

You guys know your stuff! And NO...I'm not gonna beat anybody up LOL

 

[Stanglover]

Yes Ford put the strip calk on the inner fender before installing the outer and they did that as far back as 1949 that I know of. Helps keep the road grime and water out of the engine compartment.

I use it on the roof rail trim sometimes also. It stays soft and does not harden so it can flex some when needed and not leak. I use around the studs in the tail light panel and anywhere it needs to be sealed up. Also on the quarter panel end caps.

Also have used to seal up the tail light assembly to the gasket. I have also used the 3M windshield mastic but it is way more expensive and very sticky if you have to take apart.

You can buy rolls of the stuff at your home supply or they sell the boxes of strips like you show at the car paint supply. It works and has for years and is better at filling big voids that the thin foam tape they put on the roof rails that about always leaked new.

 David, I think you covered the "other uses come to mind" bit. Yes all of those and likely more.

 

[SVO2SCJ]

Does anyone know where these genuine FORD caulking strips are used?  This is a TEST of your knowledge!   :whistling:

Well ...I would have said "the style and color" you showed was used on the earlier models - but you won't find gray on 1971-73

AND though shown in the assembly manual as a "tape" between the fenders  and inners .............would someone else who as disassembled over 40 71-73's show me remnants of sure use?

We have many photos of San Jose and 69/70 with the gray putty in areas of fenders, shaker ring and under gas tank BUT 71-73 Dearborn not so much.

I have heard of people using a "roof tape" 3/4 inch thin tape between the fenders BUT I'm not sure they did on the line!  

Mark

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

I just tore down a 72 vert one owner last month and it had calk on it. Don't know history was not my car from factory. The assembly manuals are not 100% either. My 73 Mach 1 had flat black paint sprayed around the front parking lights before the stripe was applied and the side marker light frame is black. I ordered the car new and had it undercoated before taking delivery so you can clearly tell I have not taken them off and painted. The assembly manual does not include that either. Every original 73 I have check out was painted around the marker light.

I do know in the past that Ford did use it I have torn down cars in the 50's that had it.

I would put it in when doing a car. Nobody will see and it does keep the water from getting between the layers and rusting out like so many just above the shock towers. Costs pennies and will save thousands in rust damage.

 

[Stanglover]

When I took the fenders off my 71 Mach 1 that I absolutely believe had never been taken apart, totally original other than a quickie surface paint job, the seal strip, or what was left of it, appeared to be black under a load of plain old Californian dirt! Best I could tell and really didn't pay too much attention as it was coming off for the aprons to be repainted.

 

[Pastel Blue]

The original caulking on my '71 vert restoration...

 

[NOT A T5]

I bought these caulking strips from a reputable company that sells only original Ford parts and these ARE for our cars 71-73 indeed!

 

[Stanglover]

The original caulking on my '71 vert restoration...

 That's what mine looked like too. I did say "appeared to be black" Perhaps not though.

 

[SVO2SCJ]

The original caulking on my '71 vert restoration...

 That's what mine looked like too. I did say "appeared to be black" Perhaps not though.

Don't talk yourself out of that!   I found this very interesting as it has been discussed and documented in other forums. Mark