tail light sealing

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BIGREVNEV
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tail light sealing

Post by BIGREVNEV »

It just came to mind that i have all new chrome tail lights to bolt back in but what is the prefered method of sealing the base to the car ?? is there a rubber seal that im unaware of to stop water from leaking through in to the boot
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Blacky
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Blacky »

sometimes they have a sealer of sorts behind them , which is usually as dry as a chip when you pull them off - it sorta looks like a caulking compound ???
When you're faced with an unpleasant task that you really don't want to do, sometimes you just have to dig deep down inside and somehow find the patience to wait for someone else to do it for you.


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Devilrod
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Devilrod »

Beutyl Mastic (or however the hell you spell it) was what we used on mine.
Speed and Style........... One day I'll get the speed bit.
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WayneXG95
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by WayneXG95 »

As Devilrod said, we did mine that way as well... 8)
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mr bean
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by mr bean »

Another thing to try and works well is black modelling clay, you can buy from any art supply shop. Once you have bolted the lights in apply the modelling clay to the gap between the light and body with your fingers, than wipe of excess off with wax and grease remover. leaves a very clean neat finish.
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Rev Tex
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Rev Tex »

Hi,

I've go some butyl mastic ready to seal up the newly chromed tail lights, but I can't work out whether or not to run a bead along the very bottom lip. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether to just seal the sides? The way I figure it, if water gets in through the dust seal holes it might escape between the bottom of the tail light assembly and the lower lip. But then I worried about stuff flicking up from the road, and maybe I need to seal the lower part to stop that getting in?
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Iain
gpi
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by gpi »

way over thinking it. if you have to: bead all the way around and in between the taillight and indicator housings.
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Harv
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Harv »

Run the bead all the way around.

Get the stuff everywhere… your hands, the driveway, all over the caulking gun, and at least one painted surface.

Use some kero on a rag to clean it up, and smooth the bits that ooze out of the joint as you tighten the taillights.

Run out of rags, and curse the mastic.

Least, that’s what I do 🤪

Cheers,
Harv
327 Chev EK wagon, original EK ute for Number 1 Daughter, an FB sedan meth monster project and a BB/MD grey motored FED.
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Errol62
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Errol62 »

Factory used a latex gasket originally that sealed around the entire edge.


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Rev Tex
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Rev Tex »

Thanks guys.

And yep - if something needs to be overthunk - I'm your man.

BTW - I have a couple of tubes of black mastic that I bought a while back, but contacted Selleys to see why you can't get the grey stuff - it turns out there's a global drought of ingredients and they've ceased production of butyl mastic for the moment.
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Errol62
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Re: tail light sealing

Post by Errol62 »

Bugger…..


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