Does anyone know what type of tar??..to use? -> Top of front strut towers

[A horse with no name]

Hi...After rebuilding the F & R suspension, to be able to get a four-way alignment, I had to chip off the original tar like substance that was on the top of the front strut tower assembly, as seen from the 'frunk'...It literally was as hard as a rock!

I would like to restore this area to its original looking appearance...I have looked at quite a few different 3M seam sealers but the original substance somehow seems to be made of a different type of material...Is it?

Does anyone happen to know what the substance is called, including where I could purchase it?..

Thanks in advance!

[steely]

I think it went by the technical sounding name dum-dum.

edit: just googled dum dum putty and got a hit for it as a sealing compound - I did not check availability.

[juanbenae]

I can appreciate your originality efforts, but if the car is not in a weather or salty air local let that dog lie. knock down the rough edges of the existing areas that have cracked with a dremmel wire brush unit then just touch the paint up some. seems the texture of that is kinda smeary and likely not able to be matched easily. anything you gob on there may look like a turd in a punch bowl...

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by steely

I think it went by the technical sounding name dum-dum.

edit: just googled dum dum putty and got a hit for it as a sealing compound - I did not check availability.

Thanks,

I was just searching for essentially the same material because I need something to seal up the rubber furl line grommets that are located at the tunnel. It has to be the same stuff. Really didn't want to use black silicone or RTV sealant. Just in case I ever needed to access it for whatever reason.


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[Kraftwerk]

I love that it is called 'dum dum'
I won't miss it. For the sake of accuracy in restoration, I can understand, but no, I wont miss it.. What was is it's intended purpose anyway?

[bugstrider]

I just found this on the Eastwood site. They say it is even paintable too.






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[tirwin]

Dum dum is different. That's the stuff used in fitting window glass. It is soft and pliable.

[timmy2]

Other thread you started mentions bituminous sealant (aka tar).
Basically it is roofing patch.
It is what we used to seal floor patches 30 years ago in a body shop I worked in while going to college. Likely the same stuff. Never really hardens, can be stinky when it gets hot in the sun for about a year!

[djpateman]

Definitely not Dum-Dum since this has to remain pliable for many years; we have used it daily for over 30 years to seal wires. A similar product to what you are looking for is a rubberized undercoating; I have purchased that as a spray-on coating. Once it sets up fully, then it can be painted.

[theiceman]

I used asphalt based gravel guard and it worked perfect. \there are many different tpes to choose from , just spray it on and it seals. go to your local flaps and ask for it. some of it is paintable.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

I just found this on the Eastwood site. They say it is even paintable too.

Brilliant! Exactly what I need for the 356 that I'm replacing the harness in...

[Jesse16]

I've still got a roll of flat/thick/kinda sticky/moldable material that came with my Griffith AC system that you wrap around the some of the fittings and expansion valve at the evaporator. That stuff seems very similar to whats "was" on my front shocks. I definitely did not replace it after the refresh. I'd supply to anyone for free if interested. Have to check that I actually still have it. Maybe cheap and easy to obtain from anyone who works on AC systems.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Jesse16

I've still got a roll of flat/thick/kinda sticky/moldable material that came with my Griffith AC system that you wrap around the some of the fittings and expansion valve at the evaporator. That stuff seems very similar to whats "was" on my front shocks. I definitely did not replace it after the refresh. I'd supply to anyone for free if interested. Have to check that I actually still have it. Maybe cheap and easy to obtain from anyone who works on AC systems.

I'll be up for some if the offer still stands once you locate it. Will be using for the fuel lines and the AC


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[A horse with no name]

Thanks everyone for your input. I have used all of the above mentioned materials, including the 'roll on roofing'

If possible, I would like to use whatever the 'stuff' was that Porsche used.

Quote: "It's bitumen. Often sold with names such as brushable bitumen or bituminous hydroseal."
"Should be able to buy it at your local hardware shop"

Re 'quote'...This, I think, is more like what the substance was as it was, as previously mentioned, 'as hard as a rock'.

Maybe someone who is in the professional restoration of 911's may be able to verify to the forum what the actual substance is?

Thanks in advance!

[adias]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

I just found this on the Eastwood site. They say it is even paintable too.


...

Is this available in smaller quantities elsewhere?

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by adias

Is this available in smaller quantities elsewhere?

From what I have found, no. A local Automotive paint supply "Jerry's Paints" sells the 3M equivalent. Same deal, pliable, never hardens and is paintable immediately. However, also comes in a 2 lb package. It sells locally for $24.99 and on Eastwood for $16.99, but with shipping its the same price.

I know I am going to order or buy some locally.

Cheers

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by A horse with no name

Thanks everyone for your input. I have used all of the above mentioned materials, including the 'roll on roofing'

If possible, I would like to use whatever the 'stuff' was that Porsche used.

Quote: "It's bitumen. Often sold with names such as brushable bitumen or bituminous hydroseal."
"Should be able to buy it at your local hardware shop"

Re 'quote'...This, I think, is more like what the substance was as it was, as previously mentioned, 'as hard as a rock'.

Maybe someone who is in the professional restoration of 911's may be able to verify to the forum what the actual substance is?

Thanks in advance!

Would this actual item description or number be listed in the PET? I do not have a hard copy to reference for you, sorry

[A horse with no name]

Thanks!..I'll have a look at PET and see if they show it...As I was saying, I would be most interested in knowing what the 911 Concours d'Elégance restorers are using.

[A horse with no name]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

I can appreciate your originality efforts, but if the car is not in a weather or salty air local let that dog lie. knock down the rough edges of the existing areas that have cracked with a dremmel wire brush unit then just touch the paint up some. seems the texture of that is kinda smeary and likely not able to be matched easily. anything you gob on there may look like a turd in a punch bowl...

I know what you mean, but if at all possible, I would like to bring it back to the factory look even though the 'frunk' carpet covers it... I did however chip it all out without damaging the paint underneath it...Amazing but true!

Due to the tires wearing so evenly, all the way around, it was the first alignment that the car has ever had (125K km)

I decided to have a four wheel alignment after I had replaced all of the front and rear bushings.

*Weissach Porsche also are the Lambo dealer in Vancouver, so they use their Lambo shop to do all of their alignments...I thought that if the 'Princess' kissed 'Herr Frog' that he would turn into a 'Prince'

[steely]

Didn't mean to mislead with the dumdum suggestion.
I agree it is more tar/petro based.
I've never seen anything in PET about it, but I've only look at '86+.

There have been some older threads on this very same question, and as luck would have it, the one I recall is the one I can't find for you. In it, someone (the esteemed late Early_S_Man /Warren Hall ?) listed several products he thought might be suitable equivalents - and this was over 10 years ago.

Suggestions as to the purpose of the application included sound-deadening, waterproofing, and alignment preservation (like loctite).