fender-tub welting?

As I get closer to re-assembling the various body parts, I wonder what is the "correct" or "acceptable" material to use when bolting the fenders to the tub (and also the grill to the fenders)?

 

i was just going to run a nice bead of silicone. is that ok?

 

What if you want to pull a fender off to work on the motor or something else?

 

I see the argument here Rondog, but pulling a fender seems rarer than, say, pulling an intake manifold--also a candidate for silicone adhesion. Simply reapply a bead of silicone to the fender if necessary (or better yet, some fasteners!).

 

Doesn't silicone have a rep for causing corrosion? I just used strip caulking from my local auto paint store.

 

I wonder if there is a source for silicon rubber gasket material that could be cut into strips and holes punched in it. I would think that would work pretty well.

 

I went to the military surplus depot and bought webbing that is used for belts and such.. It is basicaly the same material that was on my m-models tub and fenders... I keep mine out of the mud just for show..Point being if you use it and get it wet,mud snow etc. I believe it will stay damp and possibly cause rust !!!

 

VW Beetles used to have a fender welting that was made of some type of plastic, a friend used it on his fenders of a MGA. He bought it from VW. With all the Beeltes out there it might be easy to purchase.

 

Mine was sealed with Duct seal, it's flexible, never hardens, takes any shape, and seems to shed water. No issues with getting it apart either.

Paul

 

Herm has a "kit" with all of the rubber gasketing cut to size for each location for the 2A and maybe for the 5s. When I pulled mine apart, there was thin rubber strip cut to size between each body part. It was thinner than auto tire inner tubes, it's supposed to be correct.

I don't think it was meant to seal as much as to keep the metal parts from rubbing, not sure.

 

I used some sort of body putty that comes in a roll about 3/4" wide. Just unroll it and stick it to the body, then bolt on the fender. Stops squeaks pretty well too.

Only problem is ....it was green and I painted my fenders and grill separately so when I bolted them up, I had a little green putty line at my joints.