Fabricating Gaskets

All,

I have a 1966 Mercury Colony Park and am finding that a lot of the seals are deteriorated and no longer available. In particular, I'm looking to fabricate the parking lamp and tail-light housing seals.

Any suggestions on material for making these gaskets. Obviously they do not have to be an engine-grade seal, but I do want them to be water repellent and last a while.

Suggestions would be helpful here.

Mark

 

Any idea what kind of material the original gaskets are made from? Are they flat or formed? You can buy flat gasket material (cork, EPDM, silicone, Viton, etc.) from sources such as McMaster-Carr and cut your own if you are so inclinded. Obviously you'd need a decent original to copy from. That and a steady hand.

 

Yeah, they are flat gaskets. Thanks for the ideas on material. That was the plan - take the old ones, as they are, and try to trace them. Can the materials you described be found at a local store? Say even a home depot or auto parts store, or only online?

 

You might be able to find some at a hardware store. I've honestly never looked. Any idea how thick the material needs to be? I'm assuming you would want a black color? I didn't check prices on all of the different materials, but McMaster is usually pretty good on pricing and very fast on shipping. Plus their selection can't be beat.

 

I bought a set of holes punches. They're great for making screw holes.

 

Liquid Gaskets

This may not help because I don't remember what the stuff was. But I used a black silcone type stuff in a tube on a few tail light housings and even to seal vent wings on some cars when original parts were not available. Seems NAPA and Disc Auto, etc. had it. Put it on one surface, stick the parts together gently, then go back and trim excess with razor knife. What shows looks like rubber gasket. :confused:

 

Thanks - I'll look for that or for the McMaster material. Appreciate it.

 

I learned like this.
Place the gasket material on top of the flat surface you want to make a gasket for. Gently tap the edges with a small ballpeen hammer. You get a pattern to cut out if you do it right and might not have to cut it by scizzors because the hammer cuts the edges when you tap on it. Works for cutting bolt holes too!