Door panel water paper adhesive?

[junnyquest]

The manual calls for 'body caulking compound'. My car currently has what looks somewhat like plumber's putty, but is more brittle. A Google search renders body seam sealer results, which are tar based compounds.

Wondering what Chevy means when they say body caulking compound...

Thanks

[spyderman64]

I just use duct tape. Nobody will see them when the door panels are installed anyway.

[66vairguy]

Yes it's a lot like plumbers putty and stays soft for many years, but after 5 decades it's dried out and hard.

You can still find it - 3M Strip Caulk in black 08578 or gray - see http://www.amazon.com/3M-08578-Black-St ... B000PEZ1L4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Many auto supply stores can get it for you.

Forget the old paper liner - cheap and leaks. I use heavy vinyl. It will stick in place with the caulk and you can repeatedly remove and re-install it. Yes you can use duct tape, but it will dry out and come loose. The caulk will stay sealed and flexible for many years. I've got a box that's 15 years old and still good.

[terribleted]

Yes it's a lot like plumbers putty and stays soft for many years, but after 5 decades it's dried out and hard.

You can still find it - 3M Strip Caulk in black 08578 or gray

This is the best material I have found as well.

[junnyquest]

Thanks for the info, guys!

[Nickshu]

+1 on 3M strip caulk. Store it in the freezer, take out in small sections to keep cold while you install it, makes it much easier to handle.

[junnyquest]

+1 on 3M strip caulk. Store it in the freezer, take out in small sections to keep cold while you install it, makes it much easier to handle.

[terribleted]

Make sure to install the door papers correctly. They are cut so that the bottom ends stick into the drain slots in the inside steel panel of the door. They should be totally sealed from these slots up both sides to the top on the paper. The top edge is secured leaving gaps in the adhesive so any moisture that might accumulate between the very top of the paper and the door can drain into the door.

[Fast Eddie]

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I used duct tape and lawn & leaf bags.

[terribleted]

Duct tape is a poor choice the way you have that installed the plastic and tape can collect water between the plastic/tape and the door frame where it can cause rust. Nothing wrong with plastic but attach it with the material mentioned above and run the sealer in the right place, ie. close to the edge of any openings and it will work much better. Duct tape also does not stay in place for the long term in the application. I have watched it fall off plenty of car doors when I take them apart to repair collision damage and someone else has been in there and used it. It gets hard and the adhesive releases much faster than you would think.

[tommy44432]

Duct tape is a poor choice the way you have that installed the plastic and tape can collect water between the plastic/tape and the door frame where it can cause rust. Nothing wrong with plastic but attach it with the material mentioned above and run the sealer in the right place, ie. close to the edge of any openings and it will work much better. Duct tape also does not stay in place for the long term in the application. I have watched it fall off plenty of car doors when I take them apart to repair collision damage and someone else has been in there and used it. It gets hard and the adhesive releases much faster than you would think.

Gorilla tape...duct tape with attitude. Used the stuff to repair a small hole in my convertible. Two years before I replaced that top. It never leaked and out of curiosity I tried to remove it after those two years and it wasn't easy. Just my two cents.

[terribleted]

Duct tape is a poor choice the way you have that installed the plastic and tape can collect water between the plastic/tape and the door frame where it can cause rust. Nothing wrong with plastic but attach it with the material mentioned above and run the sealer in the right place, ie. close to the edge of any openings and it will work much better. Duct tape also does not stay in place for the long term in the application. I have watched it fall off plenty of car doors when I take them apart to repair collision damage and someone else has been in there and used it. It gets hard and the adhesive releases much faster than you would think.

Gorilla tape...duct tape with attitude. Used the stuff to repair a small hole in my convertible. Two years before I replaced that top. It never leaked and out of curiosity I tried to remove it after those two years and it wasn't easy. Just my two cents.

Ok but you missed the point. Unless the tape is adhered right at the edge of the water channels and openings in the door and the water papers are cut undersized so there are no pockets where water can collect between paper and door, the function will not be as intended. The taped on paper above has numerous pockets between the paper tape and door metal. Simplest way is to use precut door papers and strip caulk applied in the factory locations leaving no pockets in which water can collect. If maintenance inside the door is needed the paper generally can be peeled back, removed and re-installed without damage and often without any additional strip caulk. It would be difficult to remove any tape from the door and paper and securely re-install it.