72buickgs

I own a 1984 Trans AM. I know the gasket has failed over the years at the "cowl" on the hood. Part # 10030132 which is long gone. Would anyone have a picture of this gasket that they could post?
tkx

codyman125

The closest thing to a picture I've seen is the diagram shown in this thread. Since we're back on the topic, as I said over there, if someone has one in just about any condition, I'd be interested in working to reproduce these.

@72buickgs If you've got some basic measurements, or remnants of the failed gasket, I can whip something up in CAD and try to make a prototype reproduction from TPU.

codyman125

If you've got any remnants of an original one, or can take some dimensions of where it is meant to fit (ideally both), I'd be happy to work on whipping up a prototype.

Might take a few attempts to get one that fits well, but these come up often enough that is seems worth some time.

72buickgs

Come spring I may remove the cowl & see what I have. Would I assume that the gasket is rubber?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I have a NOS gasket for them. Its a thin closed cell type of foam. I think, been a while since i looked at it close

72buickgs

I would love to see a picture. Would u be willing to give Codyman a picture + dimensions. If u wanted to sell it, which I doubt, I would be willing to buy. Tkx
Gerry

codyman125

I don't actually own the hood this would be needed for, so I don't need a good one. If you're willing to lend it out though, I could take some measurements and work towards making a reproduction out of a different material!

That said, dimensions would be better than nothing. If you can take pictures using orthographic and isometric views (as shown below) with a ruler set beside it, I can gather most dimensions digitally.



The best situation for me is to find someone who wants to install one and work with them on test fitting prototypes. (A 40 year old foam gasket probably isn't the most dimensionally accurate piece, so prototypes will likely be needed regardless.)

codyman125

Purely speculation in this post, so don't take this as gospel.

An additively manufactured gasket produced from TPU could work for this sort of application since I can vary the infill % to match the stiffness provided by the foam.

I think this part is likely larger than the print bed I have available to me at home, but I may be able to prototype at work where I have access to a much larger printer. Production printing of these would need to be done outside of work though, so I'm probably on the hook for a new printer.

My largest concern with production of this part is the temperature that a hood will get to. TPU will start to get soft around 300F, and will start to melt closer to 350F. I think this is high enough to not be of concern, but on a 120F day in the Las Vegas sun in a black car with a hot-running engine under the hood, it might get dicey. Do you guys think that is a major concern?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I should be in garage this afternoon and can get a picture.
its still somewhat soft. They really didn't last very long, most are dry and brittle pretty fast

codyman125

That would be fantastic! Looking forward to seeing what you've got.

If reproduced from rubber, they should last substantially longer, but we'll see.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

sorry about the bad pictures but the gasket still hasn't flatened out

72buickgs

Great!

codyman125

It really is just a plain flat gasket. I didn't expect that from the GM diagram. I'll see what I can whip up as a template, and probably switch to just cutting it from a sheet.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Im sure it was die stamped from a sheet roll like the hvac foam gasket parts were. It does have the sticky side and is all 1 piece.

codyman125

Just stopping by to say this is still on my radar. I get married in 18 days, so this hasn't been priority number one just yet.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

What offerings? Can't say ive ever seen it

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

I know a guy who makes these sorts of gaskets and seals, but I just don't know if there's enough volume for a piece like this to interest him or not.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

How many would it take to interest him?

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

I don't know. I'll look him up and ask.

battmann

iTrader: (9)

the gasket in the Summit link is for the rear hood to cowl. the piece they're discussing is the gasket that goes under the hood bulge insert - circled in red below

codyman125

@TTOP350 I had a revelation today while looking at this gasket. Do you have a flat bed scanner or scanner/printer combo? That would make getting the dimensions laughably easy. Just scan the gasket with a ruler on there too.

(helps to get my comment in the right thread… whoops)

battmann

iTrader: (9)

Instead of trying to get the gasket to lay flat and straight it would probably be easier to just measure the bottom surface of the hood insert.