I completed the hood seal install this weekend and let me say it is a trial of patience and something that absolutely cannot be rushed. It actually took me about two full days to install the seal because you can only lay down about six inches at a time on the straight runs, and as little half an inch at a time while making corners - and there are eight corners with the fuel flap cut out!
I watched an excellent video by DMCH on their Knowledgebase page that showed how to lay down the seal and it especially stressed the importance of patience and allowing for adequate flash and set time before doing the next short section. The advice on doing the corners was really helpful and key to my own success with this. I'm glad I watched the video before starting.
Each section basically goes like this:
Since the hood was freshly painted, I simply cleaned both the hood application area and the underside of the seal with an alcohol wipe and let it dry before continuing. As I mentioned, don't try to do more than 6 inches at a time in the straight parts. I first laid the seal down and masked off the application area with blue painter tape, then set the seal aside and laid a second piece of tape about 3mm inward where the first one ended. This kept me from getting adhesive too close to the edge of the seal which would be unsightly. I then put a piece of tape down where I want the application to end (up to six inches down the hood). Then I laid the seal down again and wrapped another piece of tape on the seal in the same spot so that I knew where to stop applying adhesive.
I started on the passenger side halfway down the hood and laid a narrow bead of Permatex weatherstripping adhesive to both the hood and the seal, up to the tape stops, then used a flux brush (36 of them for $3 at Harbor Freight!) and spread the adhesive flat. I then waited five minutes (timer on my phone) before I peeled the masking tape off and then laid down the seal. I held it flat with my hands for a few seconds and then used a piece of very heavy cardboard (corner protection pieces from a heavy duty box) along with two ratcheting clamps to hold the seal in place. I then set another timer for 20 minutes. After that time the adhestive has set pretty well and I can repeat this doing another short section. I put some thick foam on my clamp jaws so they won't mar the top of the hood.
At the corners, you have to start to the turn the seal in small increments around the corner, no more than 1 inch of seal at a time, and every lay requires another set of tape, 5 minutes flash, and 20 minutes bond. It takes four to five incremental turns to round a corner, after which I laid a shop towel and then a brick on the seal to keep the corner flat for a couple more hours as I worked on the next straight section.
So, it just takes a lot of time, patience, and attention to detail but the seal can be installed this way with a nice permanent hold.
PXL_20240309_194028960.jpgHere you can see the 6-inch section taped off with a piece of tape showing me where to stop along with another matching piece of tape on the seal. That way I don't spread too much adhesive on one side or the other.
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I used these flux brushes to spread the adhesive which worked really well. Just toss em as they get stiff. Next two pictures are of the clamps with foam on the underside holding down the stiff cardboard to help the seal stay in place while bonding.
I then used these bricks to hold the corner down for a couple hours while continuing along the hood.
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Voila! An example of a perfectly-formed corner, which, as I said, takes at least two hours to slowly form and bond.
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Originally Posted by Timeless
Dave M vin 03572