Sealant Used on Trim Screws

[basstrix]

What is the sealant used on the tips of certain trim screws? It's some sort of wax, but want to find out what type....maybe beeswax?

Thanks,

BT

 

[secluff]

Most of those type screws saw use as wheel opening molding screws. Ford replaced the ones used in 71-72 with the 73 screws (384439-S47X). In Ford talk, S47X means chromium plate with wax sealer. Catalog did not specify type of wax, but the coating on the screws I have feel sorta soft and rubber like, so beeswax sounds good to me.

 

[72HCODE]

when you bought those factory screws they came with that sealant on them, it looked like RTV to me when i installed them.

 

[basstrix]

That's just a picture I snagged off the web to illustrate what I'm asking.

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

I imagine it is a petroleum based micro crystalline wax with a higher melting point than beeswax which melts at ~145 degrees

I added a roof rack on a Volvo and they included self tapping screws with a similar looking wax- IIRC it was firmer than beeswax.

 

[basstrix]

Jeff, yeah, I looked up the melting point and I agree...seems a bit on the low side...especially for something chrome sitting in the AZ sun.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

When I want to seal a screw I take a small amount of the material used to seal the front windshield and roll it down and put around the screw. It will not melt and seals out any water.

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

I've always used a dab of 3M Strip Caulk to seal screws and the occassional bolt.

 

[OMS]

I've always used a dab of 3M Strip Caulk to seal screws and the occassional bolt.

Plus 1 - it was good enough for Ford at the factory ::thumb::

 

[basstrix]

Thanks guys! That's exactly what I did this past Saturday when I installed some trim clips onto my ranchero. I wanted to get the job done and thought the strip caulk would be a reasonable substitute.

While we're on the subject of sealing...the retainer for the roof-rail weatherstrips screws to the body. I just checked the assembly manual and the body manual and ford didn't call out anything between the retainer and the body. My ranchero appears to have about a 1/2" wide by 1/16 to 1/8" thick foam tape between the two. Should it be installed per the ford literature or use the foam tape?

 

[OMS]

I would put something in there, other wise you could have seepage between the body and the channel

 

[tony-muscle]

If you care to know exactly whats on the tip of the screw you cand send me one and i can perform a FTIR analysis here in my office to identify the material. Obviously, it will be free for the sake of curiosity.

You dont even need to send a screw. I just need a sample of the substance.

PS: FTIR is a test used to investigate the gross molecular composition of organic materials.

1971 M-code Mach 1

 

[basstrix]

Forier Transfer Infra-Red examination (or something along those lines), if memory serves. I've used it to ID contaminants/particles in my line of work. Very cool that you have that at your disposal and actually perform the analysis! ::thumb::

The only screws I have at this time are old and somewhat dirty...but I can scrape off a bit and put it in a baggie and send your way....do you think the contamination from it's age/history will deter from ID'ing the substance? If so, I'll order a pack of new screws and we can start with a less contaminated substance.

 

[tony-muscle]

Forier Transfer Infra-Red examination (or something along those lines), if memory serves. I've used it to ID contaminants/particles in my line of work. Very cool that you have that at your disposal and actually perform the analysis! ::thumb::

The only screws I have at this time are old and somewhat dirty...but I can scrape off a bit and put it in a baggie and send your way....do you think the contamination from it's age/history will deter from ID'ing the substance? If so, I'll order a pack of new screws and we can start with a less contaminated substance.

We can start with that, but we may pick up some contaminants but maybe capable of figuring out whats the base. When scraping put it first in aluminum foil and then in the bag. PM me.

1971 M-code Mach 1