Hood "gasket" or hood "trim" on 330 GT?

[330GT]

Here are a couple of pictures of the rubber replacement (left) vs. plastic (right). I can't be sure that the plastic is original, but it would have been bought in the early 80s, either from FAF or Lyle Tanner if it is not original. When I bought the car back then, it came with some replacement rubber and I bought the rest.

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The rubber (on the left) is what I bought several years ago from Cicognani. The writing on the label is MT 16 and Fil 816 as best I can read. This was before they went to their current numbering system so I'm not quite sure what the current number would be.

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Unless one was to feel the rubber, I think that one would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

[peterp]

Awesome info as usual Kerry. Of the 2 rectangular trim types they sent, the one I thought was a match is marked 844, so I'm thinking that the handwritten might say "844" (it's really hard to tell). This is great news, I'm goin to ask them to replace what they sent with 844 and then decide whether to use the new or keep the original when I see it. It's good to hear they look very similar in person.

[peterp]

Kerry - they are asking how long the trim needs to be. Am I reading your table (http://www.330gt.com/Encyclopedia/RubberParts.htm) correctly that it is 12 feet? The columns on the the table are a little hard to read -- it almost looks like the 12 is in the "meters" column, but that can't be right. I just want to make sure what I request isn't too short since it's going to take a while to arrive from Italy.

[330GT]

Hood takes 12', trunk 11', total of 23' if you are doing both.

[peterp]

Thanks Kerry. I ordered for both front hood an the trunk. I believe the hood trim was original, but I know the trunk trim was replaced. What is in the trunk currently is pretty close, but the edges are slightly rounded rather than rectangular, so I'm looking forward to having more correct trim in the trunk.

[peterp]

A brief update. I received the replacement "844" trim rubber (Italy was closed for August, so I just received it now). Unfortunately I don't have access to my car right now to try it out, but the new 844 trim looks correct. The rubber actually looks a little thinner than the one in Kerry's close-up photo, but that just may be the angle. I will post photos when I'm able to try it out.

[peterp]

I finally had a chance to try out the 844 rubber trim. The rubber is a bit chalky and flat as delivered, but cleaning it with Acetone and conditioning it with 303 protectant (kind of like Armorall but water-based instead of silicone) makes it look quite close to the original shiny plastic. What I don't like about the rubber is it doesn't seat as nicely on the edge. The plastic plunks down and will stay there under it's own weight, the rubber fits well, but it really needs something to tack it down a bit to stay in place.

Any suggestions on what to use to tack it down? I don't want something permanent like super-glue, just want to hold it in place, but still have it be removable without extreme force and without damaging the paint on the edge.

[afwrench]

Hi Peter, perhaps a bit of silicone caulk ? Good luck Mike

[330GT]

...
Any suggestions on what to use to tack it down? I don't want something permanent like super-glue, just want to hold it in place, but still have it be removable without extreme force and without damaging the paint on the edge.

Check at an auto paint store and pick up some trim adhesive for use with rubber. Of course, you'll have to re-clean the inside to get it to stick.

[peterp]

Thanks for the suggestions. Kerry -- do you know if the adhesive for rubber is designed so that you can remove it later without excessive force?

In all likelihood I will keep it, but like the idea of it being removable in case I decide later that I like the original plastic better (despite its flaws).

[330GT]

If the rubber is solid it should peel away. But if you use it for foam rubber (like the seal on the underside of a 330 trunk lid) then the foam will tear off.

Rubber to rubber bonding is best done with instant glue. An example is using this rubber molding on the trunk edge. Where the two ends meet, they should be glued together with instant glue. That way, they will stay together and shouldn't shrink apart. I also do this on grille rubber and the rubber around the bumper strut escutcheons.

[peterp]

If the rubber is solid it should peel away. But if you use it for foam rubber (like the seal on the underside of a 330 trunk lid) then the foam will tear off.

Thanks Kerry. This sounds perfect for the application. Is there a particular brand to look for?

I looked at 3M 08008 Super Weatherstripping Adhesive (http://www.amazon.com/3M-08008-Black-We ... r+adhesive) but from the reviews it sounds like it might work like contact cement, which wouldn't work for trim that needs to slide on. It also sounds a little too strong. I don't know of local paint supply shops, but our local Autozone carries a lot of 3m and Permatex adhesives --not sure if that will work or if I need something more specialized.

[whturner]

My trunk trim is the original plastic. it broke or separated due to shrinkage over the years leaving a gap (along the back rim) of about 3 inches. I reattached the two ends to each other AND the pinch weld using black silicone glue. Now the trim was too short, but using the heat gun it could be stretched around the corners to get a complete fit.
It lasted about a year - the stretch "shrunk" and will have to be done again, when the weather gets warm enough in my unheated garage.

Cheers
Warren

[330GT]

Recently, there has been an ad for 'correct' PVC hood and trunk reproduction trim in the Ferrari Market Letter. I contacted the seller and he sent a sample. This looks identical to what is on my car, bought in the early 80s from FAF. I don't know if FAF was selling NOS or a reproduction at that time.

Anyway, The proper PVC trim is now available. If you don't subscribe to the FML, PM me and I'll provide the seller's contact details.

Note, I asked about shrinkage and the seller replied that the manufacturer said that it should be negligible.

[peterp]

Thanks for the update regarding a PVC supplier. It's great to hear there is a source now.

For my car, I ended up leaving the original PVC in place rather than replacing it with the new rubber stuff (which is now just sitting in the garage). In the end, I couldn't convince myself that "new slightly incorrect" was better than "original imperfect" since the original still looked very good with the exception of being a few inches short from shrinkage. It would be great if you could PM the supplier's contact info.